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“You can’t learn qigong online,” he said.I was chatting with a colleague via Skype. He was expressing his concerns about my new project, a comprehensive online qigong course for beginners.His concerns are actually common in the qigong world. Many teachers share this idea that qigong can’t be learned online.“I used to think the same thing,” I told him. “But you know me. I need to test everything. And when I tested my theory, it quickly became obvious that I was wrong.”If you still think that qigong can’t be learned online, then you’re wrong. It can.The truth is that online learning works amazingly well for the art of qigong.Here are 9 reasons why: 1.
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Harry Potter PicturesI love books. I’ve got hundreds on my shelf, and many of them are about qigong.Some of you probably started learning qigong from a book.
I did too.But the truth is that books don’t cut it for an art like qigong.With books, you can’t teach the smoothness of a qigong pattern, or the correct sound for an exhalation, or the proper speed of a technique.I have one book that used an innovative technique. There were little pictures of a technique in the bottom corner. By flipping the pages quickly with your thumb, you could see the technique in motion.Very coolfor 1995.But it’s not 1995, and there are better options today.Online learning is like one of those pictures in the Harry Potter series where the characters move and talk.Actually, it’s better than that. Keep reading, and I’ll explain why. DVDs SuckWhat about DVDs, you ask? Aren’t those better than a book?Yes. In some ways, DVDs are better than a book.But they still suck.
I could write an entire blog post on why DVDs suck, but here are the top 5 reasons:. DVDs are uni-directional. You watch, and that’s it. You can’t ask questions or get feedback. You can’t use other types of media, like guided audios, charts, or documents. There’s no sense of community, of connecting with other likeminded students.
You can’t stream a DVD to different devices. Navigating a DVD is a pain in the neck.
You don’t get instant access to a DVD. I don’t know about you, but in the age of Netflix, I don’t want to wait 2-3 days for my DVD to arrive. I want it NOW!Every week, I get emails asking if I have any DVDs.Then answer is no. I have no DVDs, and no plans to make any.Why would I make DVDs when online learning is a much better teaching tool?You can do so many cool things with online learning! ( all the cool things that are included in my new online qigong program.) 3.
Stop, Rewind, ReviewIf you come to my, you’ll learn a ton of material in a week.Let’s be honest. It’s hard to remember everything. Especially when you’re constantly being distracted by beautiful scenery and delicious food.Online learning is a wonderful compliment to in-person learning because it allows us to review techniques at our own pace.I know what you’re thinking. “You can do that with DVDs too!”But DVDs are inferior.With online learning, you always have the lessons handy — whether it’s your phone, your tablet, or your laptop. You can even log in using someone else’s device.My students often take their online lessons outside with them on the porch, or with them while traveling.Plus, online learning allows me to record the actual retreat itself, and then send the materials to the participants.Can’t do that with a DVD!
Shopping for Teachers With my 2 grandmothers in 1994 when I graduated from ColumbiaWhen I was in college, we had something we called Shopping Week.During the first week of the semester, you could sit in on any class, whether you were registered or not.Needless to say, the good teachers had packed classes, and the bad teachers had empty ones.Personally, I love this kind of meritocracy.The internet gives you the ability to shop for good teachers, no matter where you live.And you know what? People want good teaching.They’re tired of having to settle for a mediocre local teacher, or having to fly thousands of miles to learn from a good one.Here’s an email I received from a gentleman who recently signed up for my online course:Hi Sifu,I looked at the videos on the first part of the course this morning and all I can say is that it is all even more than I expected but also it is exactly all that you said it would be.I have probably seen at least 50 different qigong teachers, mostly on dvd, some on Skype and a few in person.
From those that I have seen teach, I would say you would be the best for anyone who is a beginner.You know how to break it all down into steps, whereas most teachers just demonstrate their form with not enough or in most cases, no break down at all. The student is just supposed to get it all by watching.I found that to be most frustrating and stressful to the point where I usually would just give up on that form since it was too hard to learn. It was not the form, it was the lack of correct teaching.– Steve M.Of course, I’m not the only good teacher out there.
But I think many of the best teachers aren’t particularly well known — yet.I believe that online learning will gradually allow the cream to rise to the top, letting good teachers shine. Qigong is Forgiving Perfect form?
Great results? Yep!Qigong is a forgiving art to learn. Your physical form doesn’t need to be perfect.In fact, I encourage my students to butcher the form because it’s the least important thing we do.Olympic weightlifting, on the other hand, isn’t forgiving. If your form is wrong, you can really hurt yourself.As long as you have good instruction, it’s hard to hurt yourself with qigong. This makes it ideal for online learning.
Timely article. While I was waiting for you to announce your online class after I discovered your Facebook group and website last August, I signed up for a weekend Qi Gong workshop locally, which was last weekend. When the teacher asked about everyone’s experience w/Qi Gong, I explained that I’d been doing some online learning through you and had been having good results, but was eager to learn more and expand my practice.
It was like she didn’t even hear the part about good results, she rolled her eyes, emphatically stated to the group that you can’t learn online, and everyone should be cautious in case they got sucked in like I was! Seriously?I enjoyed the class (which was Emei), but couldn’t help reflecting that I could get the very same sense of tranquility and well-being in five minutes of Lifting the Sky that I achieved with the 45 minute Wuji form I learned there (which she said could not be broken into smaller segments.) I did like the form, but I know I’d never stick w/45 minutes a day. On the contrary, as I said earlier, I have not missed a day of practice since I started more than 100 days ago with you.
So excited for your Jan 10 class! I’m so happy to comment on this!
It’s simply outside the imagination of some people (we’ve all been there with one thing and another so I’m not judging) but I’ve learned way way way way way way way way way way WAY more from you online, thousands of miles away, than I have ever learned from a handful of different local classes I’ve attended. I’ve enjoyed it more too.
And it’s infinitely more convenient, especially with chronic health problems to manage. I can totally understand that it’s a teacher’s dream, I love the positive and patient energy in the videos, it’s fresh every time, no matter how many times I make you repeat something! ? Can you believe that the first class I ever went to, which was full of more or less intermediate students, the teacher actually said to the group: “I hate teaching beginners!”?! Right in front of me!!! In these videos it’s clear you’re loving teaching us, beginners or not. And finally, what’s more, it gets better and better! You know me, Vera.
I don’t subscribe to the “competition” viewpoint. I think it is shortsighted.On the other hand, I totally understand the financial struggles that qigong teachers face.
In fact, I understand it better than most because I’ve been all in for 10 years. This is my full time job! I don’t have a day job to fall back on.Nevertheless, trying to compete with other qigong teachers is a mistake.
There’s room for everyone if we all do our job of educating the public and bringing in new students.As for local classes — you’re absolutely right. The community aspect is beneficial.
That’s why I have a longterm plan to certify Practice Leaders who can facilitate local classes for people learning from me online. Hello Sifu Anthony!I am a medical doctor, neuroscientist and yoga and meditation teacher and I’ve been doing a 15 minute program of yours for almost 4 months. I do it before my yoga practice and find I get more benifit from the yoga alone. After your 15 minute practice I start off my yoga in a calm but attentive state and it has added a level of focus and flow to my yoga.
If I am short on time I just do your practice, which I find curious. It’s almost like my body knows which practice “works” better for me.
That said, I find the best results when I can mix qigong and my yoga practice together, so all you yogis out there, who perhaps feel your yoga practice is getting a bit routine or has less “life” in it please consider Anthony’s course as the qigong has really energized my yoga.Also, I’ve done quite a bit of online learning in yoga and find the teachers hit and miss. Some seem to translate well across the computer screen, while others have not. What has really stood out in your online teaching is your ability to be natural,real and engaging IE fulfilling my needs as a student who’s sharing a connection with you while at the same time being firm and coherent in your leadership.You are an excellent teacher Sifu Anthony.Thank you!Russ Kennedy, MD. Actually, “traditional” training can be much worse. In a “traditional” kung fu class I took when I was younger, the teacher would teach by showing us a segment of a form without saying a word. We would be expected to watch what he did and then imitate it while he walked around the class and watched us practice. He would correct your form, again, silently, by moving your arm or whatever into the correct position.
If you did the form to his satisfaction, he would teach you the next part. If not, you kept practicing until you got it right. If you asked more than one or two questions, he became visibly irritated.My teacher wasn’t mean, he was just teaching the way he had been taught. But it took forever to learn anything that way.
Those people who only want to learn Chinese arts the “traditional” way should be careful what they ask for, lest they get it. I wish I would have seen this post much sooner as I see that registration is closed for now. I have been studying qigong for several years now and I totally love it but the training I was involved in was based 2300 miles from my home and I had to make 2 trips onsite to obtain my 200 hour certification and once I stopped paying I lost all connection. To continue my training would require several more trips and several thousand dollars more in fees. I completely understand that there are costs involved in training and making the information available as well as compensating the teacher but when it becomes a financial burden then the student can no longer benefit. Your online teaching looks to be very affordable so I will continue to look into it further and watch for the next open registration.