Inner Quest The Monthly Tao Journal

Special Report

Tao Meditation
+ Energy Arts
Three-part Article Series:

By Ladder or Lattice?
How to Build
Your Foundation

The Art of Microcosmic

Training

The 5 Keys to Unlocking

the Nei Gong System

Paul Cavel, Editor

IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Dear Student of the Tao,

Since 1995, I've taught Tao meditation and

energy arts to share ancient wisdom with
the modern age that can help people relax,
increase their state of health, achieve their
personal goals, and enjoy a better quality of
life.
My courses are based in Islington, London, although you can find me
teaching seminars in Cologne and Stuttgart, Germany and retreats in
Andaluca, Spain. For those who want to train in-depth to create posi-
tive change, I have 18 years experience in helping high performing indi-
viduals realise their potential with one-to-one coaching.
I created the Tao Arts School and online resource centre (see
www.CircleWalking.com for anyone interested in growing their under-
standing of or personal development through Tao meditation and en-
ergy artsregardless of your current state of health, previous training
experience, or reasons for studying. I found out for myself how power-
ful these exercises can be after sustaining serious injuries from a mo-
torcycle accident in the 1980s that left me limping and unable to carry
out daily activities without pain and discomfort. My own healing jour-
ney led me to a passion for helping people gain insight into how to cul-
tivate their mind, body and qi energy in ways that are effective and ef-
ficient, yet safe and sustainable. My aim is to provide you with the most
in-depth, quality live training available, as well as educational tools to
support your ongoing practice on your own to achieve anything in life
you deem worth pursuing.
The following three articles will give you a base knowledge of the
potential results you can achieve from Tao meditation and internal en-
ergy arts practices, as well as the training protocols I recommend to
achieve best resultswhether you train for martial power, health, heal-
ing or meditation.
If you have any questions or wish to provide feedback, please email my
team at chi@circlewalking.com.

Keep your practice alive and well, and itll do the same for you.

Paul Cavel, Editor

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 2
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

By Ladder or Lattice?
How to Build Your Foundation in Tao Meditation & Energy Arts
(Part I)

istockphoto/kirstypargeter

The sheer depth and complexity of the nei gong system, with each of its 16 components repre-
senting cosmic potential for developing the mind, body and qi, attracts many people to train Tao
meditation and energy arts. The mysterious 4,000-year-old tradition that roots these enigmatic
results in concrete, tangible and systematic training techniques
makes it all the more alluring.
However, many students apply a leapfrog tactic to internal Tao What Is Nei Gong?
arts training as they jump from one practice to another with- All Tao meditation and energy
arts are based on nei gong
out deepening skill in any aspect before moving on to the next. science, which dictates that
Others employ a linear, step-by-step methodology that precludes there are 16 essential energy
them from catalysing their understanding of interconnected exercises responsible for
levels of nei gong science and, therefore, simply do not move generating internal power for
health, healing, martial arts and
forward. Such strategies are precisely why true embodiment and meditation. Click here to see
realisation of more advanced internal development has alluded the list of 16 nei gong.
all but a few.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 3
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
On the other hand, approaching Tao arts with
the same spherical training progression that
is inherent to its composition allows students
to exploit real and multilayered benefitsall
that makes dedicated practice worthwhile.
Entering a Circle without
a Beginning or an End
Beginning a Tao arts practice imbued with
nei gong content conjures up a well-known
conundrum of a chicken and an egg. Most
students initially become interested in the
internal energy arts through tai chi since
its 300-year-old reputation of remarkable
health and healing properties in the East has
slowly begun to saturate the West. How-
ever, few understand the nei gong-form
relationship, where nei gong is the tech-
nology responsible for tai chis power gener-
ating and associated health benefits (which
is also true for all other internal energy arts
forms). So although tai chi is most certainly
capable of producing desired resultsmartial
prowess, vitality, healing and/or meditation
it can cost students lost time and effort if not
firmly embedded in rudimentary, albeit less
popular, nei gong training.
Upon attending your first college course, you
may indeed have in mind that you wish to
attain a PhD. Regardless, you must first satisfy
prerequisite requirements to embark on any
field of study and earn the associated bach-
elors degree. And, even before being accept-
ed into a university, some level of basic edu-
cation is required. Literacy and mathematics,
for example, will figure to some degree in
every class, and may also become highly
specialised studies unto themselves.
Likewise, a training hierarchy exists within
Tao arts practices where tai chi and bagua
constitute PhD programmes and the bulk
of qi gong satisfies an undergraduate de-
gree. Fundamental nei gong techniques
serve as a basic education and introduction
into your studies, dictated by principles of
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
simple, gentle and repetitive movement that
evolve into multilayered components, event-
ually mixing together in endless patterns to
create all formwork (i.e. qi gong sets, tai chi
styles and bagua palm changes). Most com-
ponent pieces become common to all prac-
tices while others are unique to only one or
a few.
What Is Qi Gong?
Qi gong is the Chinese name
for internal energy exercise,
which engage the body and
istockphoto/Eraxion
boost the bodys energy levels
through low-impact, targeted
movements based on the
science of nei gong.
Overview of Medical +
Five Element Qi Gong
You could think of qi gong as having three
broadly defined levels (see Figure 1 on p. 5),
which are:
Beginning or foundation practices
Intermediate or power-production
practices
Advanced or integration practices
In the Energy Arts System, the three levels
would generally correspond to the following
qigong programmes:
Foundationmedical qi gong,
Water Element Qi Gong and
Wood Qi Gong
Power-productionFire Element
and Metal Element Qi Gong
IntegrationEarth Element Qi Gong
In ancient times, the learning progression
dictated aptitude at each previous level
before embarking on study of the next, more
complex, difficult and complete level of train-
ing. That is beginning qi gong sets would
be developed over several years before
Page 4
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Integration
Earth Element
Qi Gong

Power-production Fire Element Qi Gong Metal Element Qi Gong

Water Element Medical Wood Element

Foundation Qi Gong Qi Gong Qi Gong

Figure 1
Three Levels of Nei Gong Training
The three levels of nei gongfoundation, power production and integration
correspond to Five Elementy Qi Gong sets with the introductory sets overlapping
beginning and intermediate levels, and power-production sets overlapping
intermediate and advanced levels. Earth Element Qi Gong encompasses
training on all three levels, from beginning to advanced.

progressing to intermediate sets, where once again you would spend many years before moving
on to advanced sets. Traditionally, students devoted decades to learning tenets of Tao meditation
and energy arts. The only exceptions to the training hierarchy occurred in the case of special con-
siderations, such as serious injury, illness, emotional disposition or deranged mental function.1

Three Introductory Qi Gong Systems: Building a Solid Foundation

Each qi gong system consists of finite layers, which must be learned in stages to eventually master
in their entirety. Together, three foundational sets form the physical and energetic material up to
the intermediate level in the Energy Arts System2 that I teach, where:
Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body Qi Gong (Water Element)teaches all move-
ment on the horizontal plane, including turning and weight shifting techniques, as well
as initiating the downward flow of energy and dissolving.
Marriage of Heaven + Earth Qi Gong (Wood Element)teaches all movement on the
vertical plane, including bending-and-stretching and opening-and-closing techniques,
as well as activating the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits of energy.
Dragon + Tiger Medical Qi Gonghelps students to begin to feel their life-force, qi
energy by teaching methods for stirring and releasing stagnant qi utilising the basic
physical mechanics of Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth.

1.
These exceptions would only be taken onboard by a true master or group of initiates within a monastery overseen
by a master.
2.
The Energy Arts System was designed by my teacher, Taoist Master Bruce Frantzis, whose lineage was passed down
to him by Taoist Grandmaster Liu Hung Chieh of Beijing, China. See http://www.circlewalking.com/chinese-taoism/
for complete details.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 5
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body
Qi Gong
Classically, the neigong learning progression
commences with Energy Gates to:3
Contact and feel the body with the
mind;
Correctly align the body;
Open up and develop the internal
senses;
Release bound qi energy;
Properly shift weight and turn the
waist;
Open the spine; and
Make all the basic physical and
energetic connections in the body.
In the beginning, your mind may have a few
problems achieving all of these directives.
For example, unambiguously putting your
mind inside specific tense places in your body
and releasing them without physical move-
ment could be quite tricky. If you were to
stunt all other aspects of practice, it could
take several decades to release bound qi in
the body, if at all. So after a period of regular
practice and once you feel you have gone as
far as possible for you in a given timeframe
(from several weeks to many months), you
would move onto the next qi gong set in the
progression.
3.
You might notice that all of these principles are equally germane to early tai chi and bagua practice.
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
Paul Adjusts a Student's Heaven + Earth
Qi Gong Form to Optimise Qi Energy Flow
Marriage of Heaven & Earth Qi Gong
Heaven + Earth is arguably the most complex
and advanced foundational set, having the
capacity to contain all that is within Dragon +
Tiger and Energy Gates, and specifically hon-
ing techniques to:
Bend and stretch the body from the
outside in and the inside out;
Activate the fluid pumps and thereby
initiate the pulse;
By way of the pulse, gain deeper
access to your nerves; and
Create and engage whole-body
movement through the tenet of
one part moves, all parts move.
Training at this level for some time pays
dividends in the future as enlivening associ-
ated nei gong strands softens and smoothes
out the flesh, releases layers of tension and
clears the qi channels to some degree.
Then, after some months, upon returning
to Energy Gates you may find that you can
stand more comfortably, possibly for longer
periods, and your mind can better penetrate
your flesh. In turn, you gain access to deeper,
long-term and bound tension, and conceiv-
ably start to release some of it.
Page 6
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Dragon & Tiger Medical Qi Gong

Initially, many students find it
difficult to clearly feel qi en-
ergy. In this case, Dragon + Ti-
ger teaches methods for tuning
into and manipulating the eth-
eric energy with the hands dur-
ing movement. In time and with
practice, the heightened aware-
ness of qi energy can easily be
transferred to Heaven + Earth
and Energy Gates, generating a
different quality of motion in
both sets. You might find a
smoother, lighter yet thick-
er characteristic to your forms, which is the result of engaging more of your body, mind and qi
energy. Further training of Heaven + Earth opens up your spine and internal organs, so when you
practice Dragon + Tiger, your etheric field is stronger, fuller and more tangible due to increased
spine and organ activity. All of it serves to help you pull and push more qi energy through your
system, and achieve deeper relaxation and releases of bound or stagnant qi.

The Single Fabric Principle

The learning progression of the three foundational qi gong sets could just as easily commence
with Dragon + Tiger or Heaven + Earth. Each set has its advantages, methods that might make nei
gong content more accessible to you. Whatever the case, each set exists within a larger context
and therefore serves to develop all others while folding into the internal aspects that are embod-
ied from all previous studies.
The foundational sets, rather than forming three individual practices, actually coalesce into
a single woven fabric. The threads themselves are created from various techniques within nei
gong components, which, through consistent practice, slowly knit together over time. Some nei
gong are uniquely developed within a specific practice, whereas most are pragmatically dev-
eloped through several, and sometimes all, qi gong sets. Once individual nei gong techniques
have been embodied through practice of their associated qi gong set(s), they can be upgraded
in more advanced sets and embedded within all more basic setsthereby raising the overall
quality of any form you train.
To make lasagne, you precook the main filling, the sauce for the top and prepare the pasta. Then,
you put all ingredients into one dish and bake them together in the oven, creating a taste sensa-
tion that if the three parts were eaten individually wouldnt be possible. Just as it wouldnt much
matter which of the three parts of the dish you prepared first, second or last (although cooks
around the world likely have their preferences!), likewise you can practise the three foundational
qi gong programmes as it feels right or as they are available to you.4

4.
This approach may be altered if you have a special requirement (e.g. personal goal) or predisposition (e.g. injury or
health issue) that dictates otherwise.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 7
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Each nei gong strand requires stages of development, which can usually be best achieved through a
training hierarchy. The process doesnt always start with the most basic external form and work its
way up as if to climb a ladder. Instead, nei gong science makes use of networks of forms, each with
their own specific learning protocols. Practice of the three foundational qi gong programmes gives
you a taste for the first eight nei gong components (see box on p. 9), as well as the distinct flavour
each set has to offer since certain internal aspects will dominate within each one. This domination is
precisely what generates the overall energy and feelthe quality a practitioner can achieve and
eventually apply at will with the minds intentthrough training of individual sets.

Gods Qi Gong: A Beginners Puzzle Piece?

Given all the good the three foundational sets can offer, curiously another logical practice with
which to begin your nei gong journey could be Gods Playing in the Clouds. Conventionally, Gods
is regarded as the most advanced set in the Water tradition of Taoism and does in fact boast the
capacity to contain all 16 nei gong, thereby serving as a bridge to Tao meditationtechnology no
other qi gong system has to offer.
You may recall that Gods is categorised as the highest integration level of the system, and ob-
viously a beginner would have little to integrate (see Figure 1 on p. 5). Im certainly not suggest-
ing that a beginner try to take onboard the entirety of the 16 nei gong from the outset. However,
some of the form movements that comprise Gods are rather straightforward and easy to learn
when compared to say the Swings in Energy Gates or Exercises 2 and 7 in Dragon + Tiger.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 8
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Specific Gods movements can therefore serve

as a practical container for learning align-
ments, as well as bending-and-stretching and
opening-and-closing techniques, important
first steps to open and release restricted or
tight places in the soft tissues of the body.
Arguably, some movements in Gods are
extremely physically demanding with the
purpose of opening up the core struc-
ture of the body quickly and efficiently.
So if you are a beginner and decide to
learn Gods, you must be sure you are in
good physical condition without knee, hip
or spinal injuries. If you have any physical lim-
itations, you will be much better off sticking
with the three foundational sets until youre
ready to take on more rigorous choreography.
You may be lucky enough not to experience
further harm, but nonetheless cost-benefit
considerations figure prominently.
If you are generally healthy, learning Gods
early in your training can support your over-
all development, most specifically if you also
wish to train bagua. Gods is like the hand in
baguas glove: the movements and content
found in Gods fit rather exactly and precisely
into bagua palm changes. So if you have your
sights set on bagua, practice of Gods will be-
come necessary at some phase of your devel-
opment.
The critical point is that if you decide to learn
Gods before you have stabilised the internal
content found in the three foundational qi
gongs, you will essentially skip the prerequi-
site stages of nei gong training. Teasing out
the many layers of complexity and getting a
taste for separate and distinct weaves of nei
gong would therefore require diligent and
persistent effort beyond the scope of most
practitioners. So although beginners could
benefit tremendously from early Gods train-
ing, it is best incorporated alongside practice
of the foundational sets and definitely not as a
replacement for them.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 9
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
The Spiralling Nature of
Nei Gong Training
Through alternating and ongoing practice of
Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven +
Earthpossibly in conjunction with Gods,
tai chi and/or bagua trainingyou begin an
authentic journey into the realm of inter-
nal energy exercise. You will be introduced
and start to work deeply (but not complete-
ly) with aspects of the first eight nei gong
components. As you release layers of ten-
sion and refine your practice, the depth and
breadth of your experiential knowledge, em-
bodiment of nei gong, naturally develops. That
is form movements activate corresponding
internals and begin to grow as each nei gong
thread is inextricably linked to all others,
creating a web that allows your practice to
evolve with continued training. This is why,
for instance, you could attend Dragon + Ti-
ger, Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth courses
half a dozen to a dozen or more times each
and not only consistently learn new mat-
erial, but also deepen your ability and
understanding of the entire system with only
succinct instruction. Each course shifts the
spotlight to more fully focus on unique nei
gong threads or weaves and, over time,
attempts to cover the depth and breadth of
each practice set.
As an example, Ive completed more than 2,000
hours of formal instruction with my teacher,
including hundreds of hours studying the
foundational qi gong sets followed up by
thousands of hours of personal practice on
these three sets alone. Also, as I've taught
internal energy arts full time since 1995, Im
absolutely immersed in practice at the fun-
damental level. Yet I wouldnt hesitate to
attend any Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates or
Heaven + Earth course taught by my teacher
because just one or two key nei gong exercis-
es, explanations or perspectives offered could
and often does radically transform and up-
grade my overall practice. As your knowledge
base and embodiment of nei gong grows, so
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
too does your ability to integrate new input
on all levels of trainingfrom the most mun-
dane to the more advanced. Anyone who
has a been there, done that attitude in re-
sponse to course titles, especially where the
base material is concerned, is missing the
point and will have to be a genius in mind,
body and qi to excel in the system.
The circular and spiralling nature of learning
nei gong science dictates that to whatever
degree you reach a so-called advanced level,
you once again link what you have learned
back into the basics, propel through the in-
termediate material and once again return
to the advanced. With each revolution, you
clear and fill in any gaps at each layer. Those
who unwittingly maintain their practice of
only the more advanced material create a
glass ceiling and can progress no further. Any
holes in your foundation will prevent your
overall evolution, and quite often do not
reveal themselves until many stages down the
line. So when any weaknesses present them-
selves, delve back into the fundamentals, con-
scientiously seek out and fill in any gaps,
and you will thereby strengthen your overall
core.
To say more, every time you complete a
rotation from beginning to intermediate to
advanced and back to the foundational ma-
terial again, you plunge ever-deeper into
the essence of each form, the internal con-
tent it accommodates and your bodyun-
veiling aspects that could not have revealed
Page 10
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

themselves to you in your previous mode of Form, No Form

understanding. As you gain greater control
All of the above in mind, whether or not a
over your body, its energy and your mind,
practice is deemed advanced depends less
leaving no stone unturned, you systemati-
upon the name given to identify its form-
cally make every part of your body alive and
work (e.g. Heaven + Earth) and more on the
conscious. You not only achieve incredible
internal content active within that form.
health and vitalitya body and mind capable
Energy Gates could therefore be prac-
of superior functioning and abilitybut also
tised to a higher level than Gods in the
peace, tranquillity and a deep contentment
same vein that a Yugo body with a Porsche
with life.
engine and rolling chasse could conceivably
perform better than a Porsche fitted with a
Yugo engine. The more content present in
any particular nei gong weave (which com-
prises any qi gong set), the more likely it will
operate as a smooth, integrated and well-
balanced system. Therefore, the labelling of
intermediate or advanced only points to a
forms potential.
Many students pay special credence to brand-
ing, the perceived value of one form over
another, and ideas that some forms are
more advanced than others. In fact, it is the
ability of each individual student (at a given
moment in time) that imbues a form with in-
ternal power (to some degree or another),
and therefore makes any form worthy of such
preconceived notions. How well you execute
critical nei gong components and the cohe-
sion of those threads with all others is what
supercharges your form, and makes it begin-
ning, intermediate or advanced. This point
seems to be sorely lost in the West, particu-
larly in the last decade as Tao meditation and
energy arts teachings have become more
widely available.
Getting caught up in what is best or better than
something else is one of the illusions of the ego
that neigong training seeks to resolve. So my
earnest advice is to forget about what is be-
ginning, intermediate or even advancedif
any of us are lucky enough to achieve it. The
time you devote to building a strong founda-
tion will enable you to take giant leaps in the
future while many others are heading back to
the starting line to fill in gaps. Practice of the
basics will naturally evolve into intermediate

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 11
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

training, where qi energydirected by the minds intentliterally drives form movements rather
than the form driving qi energy development, making forms ever-more malleable and, ultimately,
less significant.

Building the Nei Gong Lattice Creates Health + Vitality

There are many ways to navigate your way through the nei gong system as an interwoven
lattice of integrated components, where each piece is supported by, connected to and reinforces
all others. Therefore, you cannot gain access to the entirety of any single thread without training
its interconnected strands. Learning Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth will give
you a taste for the first eight nei gong components and their distinctive flavours, while offering a
specialised assortment of health and healing benefits.
Essentially, you will knit together a single woven fabric that serves as an integrated network of
nei gong, propelling you towards the intermediate material, where even just a few minutes of
practice can yield profound results; the depth gained in a very short timeframe trumps hours of
training at earlier stages because the synergy of the whole produces far greater effects than its in-
dividual parts. The quality of your practice can awaken a whole new life within you, enabling and
initiating positive transformations in body, mind and qi.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 12
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

The Art of
Microcosmic Training
(Part II)

In Part I, I presented a case for focusing on Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth
Qi Gong sets since together they provide the essential framework for all nei gong training. That
is the bulk of the choreography and internal content learned in these programmes provides
the basis for and can be readily transferred to more sophisticated qi gong systems, tai chi and
bagua. Also, this so-called foundational material is normally more than enough training for the
average student and will provide most of the physical structure, internals and qi energy develop-
ment needed for tai chi and baguawhether practised for health and vitality, martial arts and/or
as preparation for meditation.
Intermediate nei gong training is all about supercharging physical and, equally, energetic power,
which is based upon the assumption that you have achieved the goals of the three foundational
setsin body, mind and qi. If so, you will naturally transition into the intermediate realm, where
the game shifts to peeling back ever-more minute if not tedious layers and integrating the experi-
ential knowledge gained from this work on all levels of your conscious awareness.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 13
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
The Two Paths of
Intermediate Practice
If after reaching an intermediate level of prac-
tice you wish to further your studies, there
are two possibilities from which to choose:
Option 1Move onto either Fire Element
Qi Gong, Metal Element Qi Gong or both,
where the following safety precautions must
be considered
Spiralling techniques germane to Fire
Element training require very clear
energy lines since everything in these exercises) out of curiosity or any other
your system will be amplifiedthe
good, bad and ugly. If you have
sufficiently and unambiguously
cleared your energy, spiralling can
yield incredible qi development; but
any tension, blockages or stagnant
qi will also be amplified, likely to
your detriment.
The heavy compression and release
work of the Metal Element puts
enormous pressure on the body,
especially the spine and internal
organs. Again, there are no issues if
your insides are liquid and your joints
are flexible. If not, you can damage
joints, spinal discs, ligaments or,
worse still, organs.
Option 2Continue directly onto Gods
Earth Element Qi Gong, integrating and
solidifying all you have learned from the
three foundational sets while studying new
material specific to Gods. This is the safer and
typically more productive route on the first
cycle through the nei gong system. You can
upgrade your qi gong skills as well as tai chi
and/or bagua practice with little potential of
harm.
With great power comes great responsibility
Stan Lee, Spider-Man
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
Option 1:
The Caveats of Power Production
If you choose the first option, you must do
your homework exceptionally well and, at
least initially, train with a master who not
only understands the implications of what
to do and when, but also how to avert or
fix problems if any should arise. Learning
Fire Element or Metal Element arts from
anyone other than a master (or a teach-
er who a master fully endorses and has
given their express public permission to teach
more imprudent reason is ill-advised.
If you are among the few who have truly
dedicated themselves to exploring and dili-
gently practising the fundamentals of the
neigong system to the farthest reaches of
your ability, then learning Fire and Metal El-
ement power production practices taught
by a master can help you develop incred-
ible power well beyond the normal realms
of the foundational materialboth physi-
cally and energetically. However, in my
personal experience, I have found that it is a
tightrope along which to walk as the intensi-
ty of the releases and demands on the body,
mind and qi increase dramatically.
I would highly recommend to anyone interest-
ed in pursuing practice of Fire and Metal Ele-
ment arts to be painstakingly conscientious
in developing skill in the foundation practices
as training of the power production package
will then be a much easier ride. Many stu-
dents inadequately solidify basics or do not
open their body sufficiently in preparation
for these more rigorous exercises and there-
fore waste their time, if not experience much
personal anguish. Some simply give up, while
those who have the resolve to continue must
revisit introductory components that allow
the practices to take effect.
Page 14
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Integration

Gods Playing
in the Clouds

Power-production
FireOpening the

Energy Gates
Metal
Marriage of
Heaven + Earth
Foundation Dragon
+ Tiger

Figure 1
The Microcosm
The three levels of nei gongfoundation, power production and integration
can be trained by practising Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth
in conjunction with Gods Playing in the Clouds for the safest energetic development.

Devoting the time necessary and effort required to train foundational forms with precision from
the outset will naturally catapult you into higher aspects of nei gong practice; whereas, applying
force of will eventually exhausts your energy and, along with it, sustainable growth and develop-
ment.
Regardless of whether you reach an intermediate level through practice of the foundation sets alone
or in association with the power-production package, progressing to Gods eventually becomes crit-
ical because it is the only qi gong vessel capable of containing the entirety of the 16 neigong (or, more
likely, all nei gong you have embodied at any particular moment in time). Accordingly, Gods serves
as a means for upgrading and unifying your body and energy into one coherent wholea prime
directive of energy arts training.

Option 2: The Microcosm

Relegating the power band (Fire and Metal Element Qi Gongs) either to a later stage of training
or altogether allows you to advance to Gods Playing in the Clouds as an intermediate practitioner,
while ensuring safe qi energy development. With the power band removed, the integration level
descends to meet with the foundation layer, forming a smaller yet incredibly well-organised and
integrated system (see Figure 1).
Gods works with circularity at the advanced level, where it morphs and evolves into spheri-
cal motion. All previous sets, including Fire and Metal Element Qi Gongs, work with cir-
cularity at the beginning and intermediate levels. Once you make the jump from circu-
larity to spherical motion through practice of Gods, certain elements can transfer and
upgrade any of the lower sets, thereby strengthening the development and deepening the
connectivity of mind, body and qi. Again, this is only possible if you spend the time and
energy necessary to accurately implement what was taught through Gods in subordinate prac-
tices. Spherical motion transforms and supercharges the foundational material, bringing about
radical change to any internal energy arts practice.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 15
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
Likewise, the circular-spiralling nature of
nei gong training entails learning a skill,
developing it to some degree, advanc-
ing to a new component or set, then fold-
ing the individual thread(s) back into
what you learned before (e.g., nei gong
components or a qi gong set). In this mod-
el, you oscillate between Dragon + Tiger,
Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth sev-
eral times, learning, deepening and ad-
vancing your understanding and em-
bodiment of the internals until you hit a
plateau, at which time you would learn Gods.
As you will recall, some of the Gods move-
ments are extremely physically demanding in
order to access and open the core structure
of the body, especially the kwa, spine and or-
gan base. It is this precise material that can
release the deeper knots and blockages in
these areas, further soften the tissues and
liquidise the organs. Then, you can return to
the three base qi gong sets with more inter-
nal content and a freer body with which to in-
tegrate and thereby upgrade your forms.
During this time, you would also devote cop-
ious practice to dissolving as the fundamental
mechanism for releasing bound energy within
the Water tradition. Dissolving also becomes
the safety net to keep you from harm when
entering higher-level energetic practices and
is therefore imperative to learn well for seri-
ous internal arts students (see box on p. 17).
You would spend some years circumnavigat-
ing the Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates, Heav-
en + Earth and Gods loop, broadening and
fortifying your base, and deepening em-
bodiment of internal nei gong contentto
develop your body, mind and qi. If you do
this work properly and diligently, you will
truly discover and release many, many lay-
ers of tension, open up your body, nerves,
energy and mind, which will not only bring
about health benefits, but sufficiently pre-
pare your body for the heavy compressions
found in Bend the Bow Metal Element Qi
Gong and the energetic jump required for
Spiralling Fire Element Qi Gong.
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
Training Power Producing
Energy Arts
Spiralling Energy Body and Bend the Bow
essentially build upon Energy Gates
and Heaven + Earth, respectively. In
the old days, Spiralling was literally re-
ferred to as Energy Gates Part II and
Bend the Bow as Heaven + Earth Part II.
Spiralling uses the exact same components as
Energy Gates: Standing with alignments and
Outer Dissolving, Cloud Hands, the Three
Swings and Spinal Stretch. The only differ-
ence is what you do with your mind and
qi. Bend the Bow is a condensed form of
the Heaven + Earth movement with ex-
actly the same stance, kwa work and
spinal curve as its foundation. The arm move-
ments and spinal techniques (in depth and
breadth) are different, but again there is
very little change from an external formwork
point of view. Both sets open up several new
neigong threads that are certainly not cov-
ered by the three base sets and further devel-
op the first eight nei gong, but these studies
can also be pursued through Gods.
The specific nei gong threads developed
within Spiralling and Bend the Bow are defi-
nitely intermediate to advanced, and there-
fore only become available to the dedicated
student with the proper foundation in place.
That is all previous energy work has refined
their awareness of and ability to manipu-
late energy sufficiently to have expelled a
significant portion of the residue, energetic
tension and stagnancy that plagues the body.
Practising Bend the Bow
Metal Element Qi Gong at Arques
Page 16
IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

The Dissolving Continuum

In recent years, I have begun teaching Outer Dissolving

techniques much more often because it is absolutely
fundamental to all Tao meditation and energy arts prac-
ticeswhether done sitting, standing, lying down, mov-
ing or as partner exercises. Most students hopscotch to
trainingor at least attempting to trainInner Dissolv-
ing before solidifying their understanding of and ability
to Outer Dissolve. However, dissolving techniques form a
continuum and all Inner Dissolving techniques rely upon
the Outer Dissolving prerequisite.
The hierarchy is:
Scanning the physical body from the crown of the
head to the soles of the feet while simply observing what is there without
trying to affect it;
Sinking Qi to drop your energy from the crown of the head to below your
feet;
Outer Dissolving, which requires your intent to penetrate the physical
body and qi energy body to release associated blockages; and
Inner Dissolving, which requires the Heart-Mind to become activated and
engaged (to various degrees) to release blockages in any of the Eight
Energy Bodies that comprise the totality of your being.

If you cannot scan your body from head to toe without losing your concentration or
focus, dissolving of any form will be quite difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In
the early stages of practice, in whichever of the five modes of practice you choose
and eventually in all modes, you want to become capable of scanning through
your body (always down and never up) and sinking qi energy. In time and with
sustained effort, you can introduce Outer Dissolving techniques, first while stand-
ing and later while sitting, standing or ly ing down. Once you develop some skill,
you can try it while practising a qi gong set. Classically, you would begin moving
Outer Dissolving practice in Clouds Hands (a nei gong exercise that is a part of En-
ergy Gates Qi Gong).
Once you are capable of integrating Outer Dissolving into any given practice, at
some point the Heart-Mind, supported by your minds intent, will become active
and thereby make it possible to implement the methodology unique to Inner Dis-
solving. All the force of will in the world will not make it happen. So start by devel-
oping your ability to scan and sink qi energy without gaps, and allow your path to
unfold in your own time.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 17
IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

The glitches many practitioners have experi-

enced from insufficient practice before em-
barking on study of Fire and Metal Element
Qi Gongs are:
Wasted time and effort because
simply being capable of performing a
physical movement doesnt cut it for
internal nei gong development.
They manage to supercharge their
qi, but in the process amplify all that
is blocked, stagnant or tense.

The latter is where real problems can be

created because if you charge your nega-
tive energies, emotions and thoughts, life
can quickly become very intense, even pain-
ful. If you are one of the unlucky few, you
could cause permanent damage to your
energy channels. Since the channels gov-
ern the functioning of your body and mind,
derangement here causes the same in the to-
tality of your being. Understanding how the
system works is critically important, so you
can operate sensibly within it.
If you adhere to the prerequisites, you will
build in a series of safety nets as a matter
of course and thereby reduce your chanc-
es of experiencing little more than the dis-
comfort normally associated with riding
out waves of releases of ever-deeper lay-
ers of tension, blocked and stagnant qi, and
their associated emotions. In short, you will
divert grave harm and save yourself years of
squandered effort.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 18
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
For these reasons, I encourage you to fol-
low the well-beaten path of working deeply
with the foundational material, exploring
various nei gong and observing what they
can do for you before automatically want-
ing, expecting or demanding more. Over
the years, many, many of my students have
expressed how amazed they are at the ef-
fectiveness of and results they get from
even the introductory qi gong sets when
they finally stabilise a regular practice rou-
tine. The depth and range of material found
in beginning Tao meditation and energy arts
practices is equal to and beyond most modern
exercise-healing systems in their entirety. This
is due to its rich millennia-old history, and the
perpetual dedication of lineage masters
through time.
Tai Chi + Bagua:
The Bigger Picture View
The arts of tai chi and bagua are far more
complex and demanding than qi gong, but
for the effort de-
liver results that
nei gong alone
never could. Tai
chi is a string of
evolving move-
ments that con-
nect together in
a graceful flow,
lulling the nerv-
ous system into
a sense of deep
relaxation.
Each move col-
lects and de-
velops the en-
ergy from the
last, which re-
quires time and patience to hone and
achieve a high level of skill. Bagua,
on the other hand, is taught in short
sequences of intense formwork, each con-
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
taining great depth that can be repeated
dozens or even hundreds of times in a single
practice session. All choreography is prac-
tised while continuously walking in a circle,
requiring stamina and resolve to maintain.
Both arts open the body, release bound
tension, develop qi energy and provide a
systematic method for letting go of all that
holds you back from realising your human
potentialalbeit by approaching the end goal
from opposite ends of the spectrum.
Regardless, both tai chi and bagua necessitate
training in the nei gong system to develop real
skill. Although it is possible to learn nei gong
science through the sole practice of tai chi or
bagua, they constitute the most difficult and
longest routes since movements are complex
and multilayered. It is far easier and a faster
method to imbue forms with internal content
through training of slow, gentle and repetitive
movement, such as qi gong forms, than only
via practice of the arts of tai chi and bagua.
Over the millennia, most students have
followed a progression of learning critical nei
gong content slowly and methodically, while
simultaneously
learning tai chi
and/or bagua
forms. For this
reason, I offer
my teachings
in this format,
which allows
for the depth
of content to
be absorbed
though classic
neigong train-
ing. The work
then naturally
transfers to tai
chi/bagua form-
work at each students individual pace.
Whether you train tai chi, bagua or both, the
degree to which you embody nei gong
content ultimately determines where
Page 19
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

these arts can take you. Qigong teaches you how to practise nei gong while tai chi and
bagua provide the containment field to apply neigong. Throughout the ages, bagua has been
regarded as the classic vehicle for taking the human body to the absolute pinnacle of health,
strength and vitality, but practice requires a reasonably healthy body to start. Tai chi can be
learned by just about anybody who can stand up and has become the most performed health
exercises on the planet over the last 300 years, illustrating its effectiveness and popularity as a
health and healing system.
When you truly embody any level of nei gong, it transfers to forms with little effort, providing the
most efficient methodology for advancing your qi gong, tai chi and/or bagua practice. Each form
(i.e. the six qigong sets, tai chi and bagua) has its own distinct flavour and specific attributes that
provides the basis for the associated benefits of practice, which is derived from movement pat-
terns coupled with weaves of predominant neigong strands.

Nei Gong Science for Life

Today and throughout the ages, few people have
had the time, willingness and resolve necessary
to learn the complete Water tradition of Taoism,
including all qi gong sets, tai chi, bagua and medi-
tation practices. Although it is not necessary to
do so. Most people are only searching for a few
practices to maintain health and well-being, and
prevent suffering. Even still, it takes discipline and
effort to achieve as a half-hearted attempt at prac-
tising anything once in a blue moon will yield lit-
tle returns. For those who are searching for more
from their practice, it will take considerably more
dedication and determination.
Whatever your level of commitment, creating your
own practice microcosm is a good strategy for
achieving your training goals. As you travel along
your path, opening on ever-deeper layers of your
being, you can adapt and accommodate what
might not have been conceivable before. So theres
no need to force or rush your progress in any
specific way, no need for mental projections about what life will be like in the future. Instead, be
content at the place where you find yourself, focus on creating more stability in that place and
allow your next phase of development to unfold naturally through practice. By honing in on the
most beneficial practices for you personally, you can more easily tune into your inner wisdom and
create a sustainable practice routine malleable enough to flow with the changes inherent to living
yet steadfast enough to remain as a guiding light.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 20
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

The Five Keys to

Unlocking the Nei Gong System
(Part III)

Photo by Ricarda Sallman

In Part I and II, I presented an overview of Tao meditation and energy arts practices, and made a
case for microcosmic training as a strategy for overcoming the prospective trials and tribulations
that make advanced training extremely rare. When multifaceted parts that comprise a larger
framework are linked together and superimposedas is the case with the nei gong system, the
essential building blocks can become illusive, even invisible.
However, like all sophisticated, reliable and longstanding systems, critical components
of nei gong lay the foundation stones that work like keys to unlock doors to body-mind-qi
development. At whatever point you enter the labyrinth, eventually you must dedicate time and
effort to learning and training these key components to make sense of all other inputs. Then,
as the principles that underlie each key come into play on ever-more refined and complex
levels, each aids positive transformations in your practice (and life in general) rather than down-
grading or totally derailing your success.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 21
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
Stabilising Fundamental
Nei Gong Techniques
Over the last 25 years, Ive observed thousands
of students join Tao meditation and energy
arts courses and struggled to find a foothold.
The allure of advanced nei gong techniques
coupled with the infinite ways in which they
can be weaved often complicates a students
ability to understand which pieces are critical to
develop for them personally and when. Many
students are enticed to skip fundamental cur-
riculum and attempt to progress too quickly.
But, as I've discussed, the system operates as
a highly integrated lattice rather than a step-
ladder, so you cannot simply jump rungs yet
gain the experiential knowledge and embodi-
ment of nei gong cultivated by subtle, intri-
cate techniques associated with earlier stages
of practice.
Although most students manage to learn some
fancy moves with exotic names, many dont
actually attain definitive benefits since nei
gong must stabilise sufficiently in body-mind-
qi to elicit lasting positive change. As a teach-
er and student totally committed to study-
ing every possible facet of nei gong science
available to me and helping others to do the
same, I find this scenario unfortunate.
What I want every student to know is that five
essential exercises segue critical areas of all
nei gong practice, both in form and content.
They are initially so easy to learn that almost
anyone who has the ability to stand up can do
them. In time, with patience and dedicated
and accurate practice, you can totally trans-
form your body-mind-qi with these five exer-
cises alone.
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
The 5 Keys of
Qi Energy Development
Derived from the three foundational qigong
sets (Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heav-
en + Earth), together the five practices form
footings upon which all more advanced mate-
rial rests. They are:
Whole-body, Diaphragm Breathing
Standing Qi Gong (from Energy
Gates)
Dragon + Tiger Exercise 1
Cloud Hands (from Energy Gates)
Circling Hands Qi Gong (adjunct
practice of Heaven + Earth)
Each of these exercises in themselves contains
many, many threads of nei gong content that
can be weaved together to cultivate body, mind
and qi. Therefore, the pace at which a prac-
titioner learns and the approach each takes is
truly unique to the individual. In this way, the
methodology applied to training nei gong is
not set in stone, but rather liquid and organic in
every construction. All practitioners use the
same standard threads yet create unique fab-
rics that suit their personal journey.
Unlocking Human Potential:
Where Do You Want to Go?
Since the energy arts training doesnt employ
a one-size-fits-all approach, every student
must discover for themselves how to utilise
the five keys and when. Although, eventually,
you will want to train all five exercises excep-
tionally well, both in tandem with the qi gong
sets to which they belong and as individual
practices unto themselves.
For example, someone with a tight nerv-
ous system would want to incorporate sim-
ple breathing techniques into their train-
ing right from the start, and continue
developing the ability to breathe well as a
core objective for some time. Breathing can
Page 22
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
directly release the nervous system
and thereby creates a positive feed-
back loop of relaxation in body, mind
and qi. Although there are many nei
gong methods that yield the same result,
relaxation may be a secondary effect
or require more skill to achieve. A stu-
dent with a back, spine or joint injury
would want to start by focusing on Cir-
cling Hands with its slow, gentle and rep-
etitive movement capable of unwinding and
releasing tension in relevant body parts. Yet
another student with weak or stagnant wei
qi,1 or who works with a lot of people and
picks up negative energy from others, would
find Dragon + Tiger Exercise 1 an effective
means for stirring up and loosening stagnant
qi, beginning to clear their energy channels,
and increasing the strength of the wei qi and
etheric field.
Each key individually has its benefits and
every combination of keys amplifies the ben-
efits of all others. For example, Cloud Hands
connects the limbs to the spine, stretches
open the body and begins the process of
releasing deep layers of tension from the
body. If, however, you stand for a period
1.
Wei qi is the second, protective layer of qi in the human body, which is located just below the skin.
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
of time beforehand, you can release the
outer layer of stress and tension, relax the
muscles and nerves, and increase the effec-
tiveness of Cloud Hands by several hundred
percent. This is because standing techniques
allow deeper access to the bodymen-
tally and physically. You can move bet-
ter because of both the releasing of the
outer tension and the way the mind pen-
etrates the body in Standing; this improved
contact with the body enables you to make
micro-adjustments to form movements, so
they are far more efficient and effective. This
principle is applicable for any combination of
the five keys.
Obviously, there are certain combinations
that create specific results, but these are
not absolutes. Instead, one combination
might deliver a particular result for one
person, whereas someone else might gain
that same result from a different combina-
tion. The only way to know what works for
you is to experiment. Like baking, you add a
little of this and a lot of that and see what
flavours you get. The same four basic ingre-
dientsflour, butter, sugar and eggsin dif-
ferent combinations produce very different
cakes.
Page 23
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Multiplying Practice Benefits

Practice of the five keys alone could com-
prise a students entire curriculum for sever-
al years since between them they include ini-
tiation of the first half a dozen or so neigong
comp-onents (see the box on p. 6).2 Even
the material found in early nei gong train-
ing is far beyond the scope of most modern
exercise programmes (if not all) and many
internal arts systems. So although from an
external movement point of view they are
rather rudimentary, you can pack them with
power producing techniques that develop
the body-mind-qi in ways that simply arent
possible without nei gong fortification.
As you gain experience training the five key
exercises, you become aware of that which
works well for you and that which does
not, and in which ways. This understand-
ing can then lead to a better and more
accurate analysis of which of the three
foundational sets are best suited to the as-
pects of nei gong development you need
at any particular point in time. When you
consider that motivation is such a critical
factor to maintaining any form of exercise,
this intimate appreciation of what your body-
mind-qi needs and why is as good as gold to
propel you towards learning more in-depth
qi gong systems. The keys are absolutely
necessary to unlocking the doors to genuine
internal exercise but, once inside, the com-
plete qi gong sets, tai chi and bagua make
use of more sophisticated nei gong technol-
ogy, thereby building incredible momentum
and multiplying potential benefits.
Energy Gates Qi Gong
In Energy Gates, for example, Standing and
Cloud Hands start the process of releasing
tension and mobilising your qi, but it is the
Three Swings that energise the three tan-
tiens and shed the bulk of the tension, espe-
cially from the upper body. However, if the
body is not connected properly and the hips
are not loose enough from practising Cloud
Hands, then its impossible to perform the
swings correctly, and the desired results will
remain little more than a myth or mental pro-
jection.
Dragon + Tiger Qi Gong
Dragon + Tiger Exercise 13 is constructed to
create balance in the bodys energy grid.
This is done by contacting your qi energy
and manipulating the etheric field with
your hands. Here, you begin the proc-
ess of pulling and pushing qi through the
energy channels, which initially stirs up stag-
nant qi. However, its through Exercises 2 and
5 that you really release the stagnant qi that
is stirred up by Exercises 1, 3 and 4. Again,
we find the same phenomenon as with En-
ergy Gates: the whole set offers a lot more
than any one of its exercises ever could, but
without sufficient time, effort and energy de-
voted to the prerequisite work, the end result
of practising the whole set is demoted to a
shadow of its potential. This is due to all the
fundamental threads of internal content that
create depth and quality of motion, and their
associated outcomes.

2.
Frantzis, Bruce, The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi (Blue Snake Books, 2007) pp. 63-64, available at
www.energyarts.com.
3.
Exercise 1 of Dragon + Tiger is the only movement of the seven in the set that should be practised alone. Either practise
Exercise 1 only, 1-4-5 together, or the whole set. Practising any other combinations can and probably will unbalance the
qi of your body.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 24
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
By learning and practising Dragon + Tiger Ex-
ercise 1 for a period of time, you can more
easily transfer functional nei gong technol-
ogy to the rest of the set. You also have the
added benefit of much less to focus on,
leaving the mind free to develop content: in
this case, its cultivation of qi in the etheric
field, which directly impacts upon the wei
qi. With enough practice, Dragon + Tiger can
create an incredibly strong defense against a
whole host of illnesses and negative energies,
and develops the ability to draw upon envi-
ronmental energies at will.
Heaven + Earth follows the same path with
added sophistication.
Circling Hands
Circling Hands Qi Gong is basically a smaller
and easier version of Heaven + Earth, once
again requiring a lot less choreography on
which to focus and thereby freeing the mind
to concentrate on content. Classically, natu-
ral breathing (one of the five keys), bend-
ing and stretching, pulsing and lengthen-
ing are learned and developed through
Heaven + Earth to produce deep, internal
exercise. All of these techniques can be
initiated through the short, gentle, repeti-
tive and slow-motion circling of the hands
with kwa and spine work. They can then be
transferred directly into Heaven + Earth, a
longer, stronger and definitively more com-
Teaching Dragon + Tiger Energetics,
2012 Crete Retreat
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
plete method of opening and connecting
the body. Finally, if properly assimilated in
Circling Hands, the energy work of both the
microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits can also
be upgraded in Heaven + Earth.
Creating a Continuum
from Your Core to
the Environment
I have yet to encounter a student who has
spent less than several years training any one
of three foundational sets capable of incor-
porating all the fundamental material to cre-
ate a smooth and integrated practice. And,
even then, it does not mean that training is
complete or advanced. On the contrary, it
means the relevant nei gong have been ini-
tiated and cultivated to the point that they
can stabilise within the body, mind and qi,
so they are available to the practitioner for
experimentation (at will). Only then can they
be applied in other qi gong sets, tai chi or
bagua, and without too much effort.
As you embody progressively more funda-
mental nei gong and begin to take them deep-
er into your body, you will realise that there
really is not anything basic about Dragon +
Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven + Earth at
all. They can develop the human body, mind
and qi to a high level, especially when prac-
tised in conjunction with one another. In fact,
at more advanced stages of training, you can
experience the barrier between what is in-
side and outside of you begin to dissolve and
disappear, creating one continuum from your
core to the environment. Taoists consider
simultaneously being conscious of what
is happening both inside and outside of
yourself a very worthy practice. This al-
lows you to take what you have learned
from your practice and integrate it into
the world around you, and your daily
activities. All the time you are focused on the
physical body, there is a separation between
that which is inside versus outside of yourself.
Page 25
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training
However, from the perspective of qi, there is no
separation. You can only truly experience the
qi continuum (i.e. that which is inside and out-
side of you as one integrated stream) through
qi gong practice by making the jump from a
physical practice that moves qi to a chi prac-
tice that moves your physique. Use of the five
keys and the foundation qi gong sets is critical
in this case since forms must be completely
on autopilot for you to immerse yourself in
the perception of qi. The easier and more
familiar the forms, the deeper the immer-
sion. Once you have breached the physical
realm and entered that of qi, you can begin
to adapt to higher level nei gong and more
complex tai chi and bagua forms without
diminishing returns.
When the mind moves qi, qi nourishes the
body, so the specific movements you practice
become somewhat irrelevant (because, for
example, you could conceivably practise a
foundational qi gong set with far more con-
tent than a more advanced one). Nei gong
training is about methodically and me-
ticulously completing the prerequisites
of each level of training, forging links be-
tween the body, its qi and the mind at eve-
ry micro-step. When these links become
continuous and fully assimilated, the game
switches to the mind developing qi. Re-
member, it is qi that ultimately governs the
functioning, quality and health of the physi-
cal body, so qi gong quite literally trains the
minds intent to bring about health and well-
being.
Applying Nei Gong
Technology to Achieve
Your Goals
Nei gong science dictates that doing a little
well provides better results than doing a lot
poorly. In the modern, push-button world,
many people do not have the patience to
cultivate their practice to the point of under-
standing the nuance, subtlety and complexity
2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.
of working with qi. Many are programmed
to seek results or shoot for the moon,
keeping their proverbial eye on the prize,
yet do not develop the skills necessary to
make the journey meaningful or the end
goal possible.
The study of nei gong science over (at
least) the last 4,000 years has yielded in-
credible technology for creating real and
lasting positive changes in body, mind and
qi. Together, the five keys derived from
Dragon + Tiger, Energy Gates and Heaven
+ Earth allow the breadth and depth of
foundational material to be vast and strong
enough to sustain the pressure and power
generated by intermediate practices, so
that the advanced material can reach to
the heavens.
The highest mountains peaks are seen as
spiritual places where union with God/the
Tao/Essence of the Universe can be experi-
enced. The advanced material within the Tao
meditation and energy arts is about trans-
forming your mind, body and qi into purity
of spirit, allowing the emergence with that
essence to occur. The five keys initiate the
processwhether your interest lies in
such lofty attainments as enlightenment
or union with Essence, or you just want to
rid your body of aches and pains, and feel
more at peace inside yourself. Consistent
practice of the five keys provides a clear
and systematic approach to embodying
layers of nei gong content that will not
only help you sidestep common pitfalls, but
also make it possible to realise the posi-
tive changes that motivated you to take up
training in the first place!
Page 26
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

Tao Meditation Arts

Quality Courses + Coaching since 1995
Islington, London - Germany - Andaluca, Spain

I Invite You to Train with Me

I Offer Three Integrated Programmes to Develop Your Mind, Body + Qi Energy:
Energy Arts: 5 Element Qi Gong + Tao Breathing Techniques
I Ching Arts: Circle Walking + Bagua Palm Changes
Tao Meditation: Movement + Stillness Practices

"Teaching included levels of depth-physical, energetic, spiritual. Expansive!"

Julie Weston, Radiographer + Acupuncturist

A qi gong seminar is the most cost and time efficient way to assess whether my programme
and teaching/coaching style is right for you. You will never be under any obligation to book
multiple sessions or meet any minimum required training hours.
In every course I offer:
A thorough explanation of the theory that underlies training techniques.
Instruction on practical exercises that you can train and develop at home.
Personal feedback and hands-on corrections.
Opportunities to ask me questions.

See my programme of courses at http://www.circlewalking.com/meditation-classes/.

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved. Page 27
 IQ: Introduction to Tao Arts Training

The 5 Keys to Taoist Energy Arts

Online Course
Whats in the programme:
80+ instructional videos all available for download
Introduction to Tai Chi Circling Hands 60-page PDF
Weekly practice logs
Guided sinking qi + dissolving practices (MP3s)
Access to a closed forum

All course materials are available for keeps!

Just three monthly low payments of $39.95.

Join the 5 Keys programme now>>

http://www.circlewalking.com/5203/qigong-online-course/

Ive had the great opportunity to partner with my primary teacher, Taoist Master Bruce Frantzis,
to create a 10-week programme that will systematically build your foundation for all qi gong, tai
chi and bagua formsincredibly detailed and multifaceted arts considered to be lifelong practic-
es. Each of the keys can be practiced alone or in tandem with any other keys to boost the benefits
of Tao arts training.

The Five Keys are:

Tao Whole-body Breathing
Standing Qi Gong, including Sinking Qi + Outer Dissolving
Dragon + Tiger Medical Qi Gong Exercise 1
Cloud Hands Nei Gong
Tai Chi Circling Hands

"Paul is a gifted teacher who is fully dedicated to these arts. I have seen him help others build
extraordinary energetic foundations in their bodies. Paul is able to embody the arts and break
them down into easy steps, so that you have the best chance of success and to progress to great
depths with these powerful Taoist energy arts. You could call his Five Keys the secrets to longevity
or the secrets to great qi gong, tai chi and bagua."
Taoist Master Bruce Frantzis

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.

 IQ

Thank You to:

My teacher, Taoist Lineage "The level of material Paul teaches is really well-gauged to
Holder Bruce Frantzis, who has the people being taught"
openly taught me about the
depths of nei gong; Heather Pete McLeod, Founder, Speech Link Multimedia
Hale for editing, design +
photography; Gee Loose for
photography; and Elena Ray "I particularly like Paul's clarity of explanation and depth of
for cover artwork istockpho- knowledge/understanding"
to/elenaray; and the Tao Arts
School Members who made Mir Ali, Acupuncturist, Bedfordshire
this special report possible.

Health + Safety Notice:

Any mind-body-energy exercise
may carry risks. Do not attempt
any exercises presented in this
Tao Arts Membership
publication if you have any
physical, emotional or mental
conditions that may make you
susceptible to injury without first
seeking the advice of your health-
care professional.

2013 Paul Cavel

All rights reserved. Reprinting or
sharing any portion of this publi-
cation without expressed written
consent is strictly prohibited.
Did you know? All links in
the IQ journal are active
simply point + click!
Become a Member of Tao Arts and receive course discounts
and training perks, including:
10 hours free seminar training
10% off seminars, retreats and private training
Curriculum planning tailored to Members
Terms and conditions apply.
Learn more at www.circlewalking.com/tao-school

"Im so happy to continue my membership for another year"!

P.B., Germany

Tao Arts London

(Trading as Internal Energy Arts Limited)
"I have really enjoyed being a member (with all its discounts
+44 (0)7411 418018 and great articles), so I am happy to confirm that I will be
chi@circlewalking.com extending my annual membership".
www.CircleWalking.com E.M., Community Activist, UK

2013 Paul Cavel. All rights reserved.