Body, Mind & Spiritual Well-being

Chi Kung

Chi kung (also spelled qigong) is an ancient Chinese art for health and self development. The term chi refers to the energy within all things; chi is defined by where it is and what it is doing. Kung refers to skill or strength that is acquired through hard work and diligent practice. So chi kung can be thought of as working with one’s energy.

Chi kung is a form of physical and mental exercise. It is an excellent practice for adults of all ages and ability levels. For people who do a lot of hard physical work the gentle stretching and relaxed movements of chi kung can help to ease aching joints and muscles. For those who work more with their brain than with their body, chi kung is an excellent tool for dealing with stress and centering the emotions. Scientific experiments have shown that if practiced regularly chi kung regulates blood pressure and promotes a healthy immune system. It also improves muscle tone and flexibility as well as posture.

Martial arts and healing masters have used chi kung in order to raise their students physically and mentally to a level where they were able to practice the other arts they were being taught. Chi kung is said to make the weak strong and the strong exuberant. Once one has developed a basic level of ability in chi kung the training can be intensified (if one desires) to allow for further personal development.

Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art. Tai Chi Chuan translates into English roughly as “great extreme boxing”. The “great extreme” here refers to the two opposite and complimentary forces of yin and yang and implies that this martial art builds and depends upon the knowledge of the ebb and flow of energy. The Chinese character “chuan” refers to any fighting done with one’s fists or hands. There are many different styles of Tai Chi Chuan such as Chen, Wu, Hao, and Sun styles. Here at Ducky Acres we focus on the Yang Short Form developed by Master Cheng Man Ch’ing.

While in the hands of a master Tai Chi is a profoundly powerful martial art, the Ducky Acres Tai Chi program focuses on its health and healing aspects. Tai Chi Chuan is a powerful form of chi kung (energy work). Thus it regulates blood pressure, hormone levels, and brain wave patterns. In addition, it tones the muscles of the spine and legs, develops good balance, and improves posture. Tai Chi can help one to relax, and at the same time to focus and concentrate!  Of course like any exercise program Tai Chi Chuan will only yield these benefits if practiced regularly.

While at Tai Chi Chuan class, a student can expect to learn and practice exercises for warming up and preparing the body, standing meditation, gentle movement (Tai Chi Chuan form), and adjunct exercises such as “pushing hands”. We may also discuss martial application from time to time. Having taken chi kung is a prerequisite for studying Tai Chi at Ducky Acres Farm.

Martial Arts

Martial Arts is the study of movements and exercises that enable one to better defend themselves when attacked. In the study and practice of such arts students often develop much greater physical strength and endurance, balance and agility. They often find themselves able to focus and concentrate better than before, and very commonly individuals build a greater sense of confidence and self-worth.

Most of the famous martial arts come from Asia such as kung fu and judo,however virtually every society has had warriors, and these people often trained one way or another (most often armed). What has made the Asian Martial Arts so popular is their emphasis on the skills of unarmed combat. Whether a person is armed or unarmed when attacked they may fair better having trained and practiced to defend themselves, and avoiding a broken jaw or a knife wound can do a lot for one’s health and longevity.

The Ducky Acres Farm Martial Arts Program centers its training on the GoJuRyu system of Karate. A variety of other techniques and exercises may be practiced from many other disciplines including (but not limited to) wrestling, kung fu, jujitsu, boxing, and tae kwon do. Limiting the types of training a martial artist receives will only serve to limit that person’s ability to help themselves in a tough situation, on the other hand our instructors recognize that without a proper foundation in some art the students training is scattered and often comes to naught.

Breathing is key to the control of emotions and the operation of your involuntary nervous system. During the Diaphragmatic Breathing Class you will learn helpful breathing techniques through shifting the intake of air from your chest down to your belly. By learning how to breathe more effectively, you reduce fatigue, tension, and anxiety and create clarity and calm in your mind.

We follow the Diaphragmatic Breathing Instructions with a Total Body Relaxation Sequence, during which you will learn how to relax at the end of the day by experiencing various relaxation practices. These exercises are effective tools for releasing stress-related physical and psychological symptoms and promoting health and well-being. You can also use these exercises if you have a hard time falling asleep and will most likely find that you fall asleep before you are able to complete all the steps. These steps are also practical skills that can enhance the quality of your sleep. Total body relaxation will reduce stress-related symptoms and cultivate health-related attitudes which have been found to provide a buffer to disease.