Class Descriptions & Details
TaoZen - Current Courses Healing Love- Sexual Energy Cultivatation-- Abundant sexual energy is crucial for health and happiness. Breathing is a key element in nearly all healing, meditative and martial disciplines. This is especially true in the Taoist tradition, in practices such as qigong and t’ai chi, but there is a great deal of confusion surrounding breathing techniques among practitioners of these arts. In this class, Masahiro Ouchi, Director of the Healing Tao Center of New York, will explain and clarify the crucial role of breathing in these practices and then teach us a wide range of breathing techniques used for different purposes. These will include methods for centering (“ocean,” “turtle” and “palm and sole” breathing), for energizing (“dantien,” “spinal cord” and “tiger and dragon” breathing), to enhance healing (“skin and bone” and “tao sexual” breathing) or awareness (“go-qi”), or to balance emotions (“Buddha laughing” and “Kuan Yin crying”). Come discover how you can enhance all your pursuits with a deeply informed approach to the science of breath. Do-In is a self-rejuvenation, healing technique which has been practiced in Asia for thousands of years. In this workshop we will learn the basics of this massage system that uses touch, tapping and subtle energy to move Chi (vital force) to clear blockages and harmonize the body. We will learn how to rejuvenate our sense organs, glands, tendons and joints, and how to accumulate Chi in our body's center. Come discover this easy to learn yet highly effective, time-tested self-healing method. Note: No experience required Microcosmic Orbit Meditation Much of modern living consists of unnatural diet, stressful work patterns and sedentary entertainment resulting in the gradual accumulation of blockages to the natural circulation of our Qi (life force energy). In this traditional Taoist meditation, we use our internal focus to move energy in a simple orbit through our body. The "Opening of the Orbit" is an important and tangible form of self-healing that can reverse much of the wear and tear from living and prevent many problems thought of as inevitable. It is also a strong foundation for other Tao internal practices and Qigong. Kuan Yin Qigong Qigong, which literally means “working with the energy of life,” is a healing practice that has been used with remarkable results in Asia for thousands of years. Kuan yin qigong (named after the goddess of compassion) is a particularly beautiful practice that not only fortifies overall health, mental clarity and emotional equilibrium but also opens the heart to the deep expression of unconditional love. Join Masahiro Ouchi, who is the first certified instructor of this system in New York City, to learn these 11 graceful movements that will rejuvenate and revitalize you. No previous experience required. Fusion of the Five Elements
In many Taoist and Yogic traditions the cultivation of sexual energy is a core practice used to boost the "life force" ("qi," "chi" or "prana") to improve physical health and aid in spiritual development. Until fairly recently, these practices were taught .to very few, but Masahiro has been teaching these methods for over 20 years--He believes they are so beneficial that as many people as possible should practice them in their daily lives. We will learn a variety of special breathing techniques, such as "ovarian and testicle breathing," the "big draw," "bone breathing" and qigong and meditation techniques such as the "union of the Sun and Moon" that all work together to nurture and increase inner energy, balance hormones and emotions, slow aging and radically enhance overall health, as well as help people address conditions such as PMS, menopause, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction and chronic lack of energy.
Tao of Breathing--
Do-In Self Massage--
T'ai Chi/Cultivate your Inner Peace and Power
T’ai Chi Chuan (aka Taijiquan) is a many-faceted discipline, at once a slow and graceful moving meditation that fosters inner peace and emotional balance; a “soft,” internal martial art; a healing practice that promotes chi circulation, hormone balance, and strong joints, bones and tendons; an “inner feng shui” which creates a powerful interior space and cultivates rooting and grounding; a form of joyful spiritual dance; and a way to bring about the union of yin and yang and the “five elements” to facilitate spiritual awakening. In this class we will, in a non-competitive, peaceful and fun environment, learn a short form that is simple to learn but is a gateway to deep understanding and awareness. Our focus will be on correct bodily alignment, relaxed breathing and a clear and solid understanding of the movements.
TaoZen Qigong
TaoZen Gyo is a standing daily practice that can be done easily in regular clothing. Come and kick off our shoes; spend time with this beautiful contemporary sequence of traditional qigong and movement and start the day with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
TaoZen Gyo draws from several Qigong and T'ai Chi forms, as well as Taoist and Zen meditative and breathing techniques. It is great for those already involved in a tradition who wish to broaden or deepen their practice. It is also ideal for busy people who want to learn an effective way to nourish their spirit and cultivate body-mind health--it takes only about 15 minutes once you know the sequence.
Previous TaoZen Classes and Courses
that will come around again:
All the foundation aspects of TaoZen are covered, including the Inner Smile, Microcosmic Orbit and the 6 Healing Sounds. We will also learn supportive Qigong, breathing and meditation methods. These traditional practices are easy to learn, yet offer a deep and transformative practice for our contemporary lives.
TaoZen Meditation
Meditation is the key practice for all Eastern mind, body and sprit traditions. It is not just used to relax, it is employed to deeply listen and get in touch with our real selves. It cultivates true balance within us, with others, and with the universe. This class is perfect for beginning and intermediate students. All the basic elements of meditation will be covered, including posture, breathing, and internal methods. Breathing Methods will be taught along with the TaoZen meditations to support and enhance the practice. Each week, Masahiro will focus on a few subjects and give personal attention to each participant.
"If you were given three wishes,what would you wish for?"
When you really believe your heart-felt wishes, they will manifest effortlessly. We often wish for things, but do we really believe in our wishes deeply, with all our consciousness or with every part of our bodies? Are they really our true wishes, or are they just passing fancies?
Most people would wish for health, wealth and happiness, though not necessarily in this order. Yet joy and happiness do not exist outside of ourselves: They are both a way of Being, a way of Life. We cannot receive them as a gift-wrapped present, but we can open our mind and look beyond our limitations to what we can create for ourselves, if we really want to.
In this Spring Retreat, we will spend time reflecting on our wishes and focus on three of them. We will use the Life Circle Technique and other methods to make sure they are our truest wishes for us now. Then we will contemplate them deeply-- mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually in a multi-directional way. We will explore a few powerful methods to enhance this process: Inner Tattoo, Three Bindhi, Three Mudra, Three Yantra and Holding the Golden Urn Qigong as well as some related breathing techniques.
This meditation process can be a very powerful gateway to personal transformation. We hope you can join us.
Open & Flow Meditation
Meditation is the key practice for all Eastern mind, body and spirit traditions. It is not just used to relax, it is employed to deeply listen and get in touch with our real selves. In this class we will try sitting on the floor, sitting in a chair, standing and moving in combination with different breathing and meditation techniques and opening the core channels, dantien and third eye. We will also learn some fun techniques that can be used in daily practice, in times of stress or in spare moments in urban life (even on the subway!) to help us live fully in the present with joy and freedom. Even more, as we learn these practices of contentment, fulfillment and quiet passion together in class, we will also experience the bliss of meditation and the empowerment of meditating together in a group.
Wood, Metal, Fire, Water and Earth... The Five Elements move in cycles and interact with each other in nature and in us. Fusion of the Five Elements meditation is a foundation practice of Taoist Inner Alchemy which works with the flow of the body's emotional, mental, and physical energies to dissolve trapped negative energies. It draws on the outer senses, the major negative emotions and the major positive virtues to transform our inner landscape. When the body is cleared of trapped energy, universal chi can flow more freely, nourishing both body and soul. This series of meditations brings harmony to our emotions, transforming the negative and affirming the positive -- the heart of spiritual work. Masahiro will introduce the concepts and methods of Fusion and guide us in the meditations -- called Formulas -- during this 3 evening workshop.
TENSHIN RANMAN T'ai Chi
T'ai Chi Chuan (aka Taijiquan) is a many-faceted discipline, at once a slow and graceful moving meditation that fosters inner peace and emotional balance; a soft, internal martial art; a healing practice that promotes chi circulation, hormone balance, and strong joints, bones and tendons; an -inner feng shui- which creates a powerful interior space and cultivates rooting and grounding; a form of joyful spiritual dance; and a way to bring about the union of yin and yang and the five elements to facilitate spiritual awakening. In this class, we will, in a noncompetitive, peaceful and fun environment, learn a T'ai Chi form that combines both slow and fast form movements to open a gateway to deep understanding and awareness. Our focus will be on correct bodily alignment, relaxed breathing and a clear and solid understanding of the movements.
