~ 1st Bonus Video: A Cross-cultural, bodymind healing perspective on removing blocks to your creative energy ~
How to Cultivate the Creative Energy of Life
In this first bonus video on “the creative energy of life,” in response to a student’s question, a cross cultural perspective on the creation of energy is explored. We’ll look through psychological, psycho-mythological, and energetic lenses to learn about various methods to clear blocked energy.
What you’ll learn from this class?
• See how negative beliefs create blocked energy, and discover various methods to clear blocked energy through integral Bodymind Healing Psychotherapy methods. For example, you’ll be introduced to the River of Life which combines cognitive restructuring and Taoist breathing methods.
• Explore how to activate your Tan Tien through Taoist breathing methods. You may discover The Sea of Elixir which the Taoists believe is one place from which energy is born in the bodymind.
• Learn an integral psycho-mythological and psycho-energetic approach which opens a pathway to reverse sympathetic nervous system. flight /freeze response, which can block creative energy from manifesting.
• Using the Greek mystery tradition as a transformative imaginal tool you’ll learn how the myth of Perseus and Medusa is a teaching story containing the symbolic pathway to clear energy blocks. You’ll learn how the symbolic tools given to the hero Perseus by Athena, Pluto, and Hermes relates to freeing your blocked energy. Learn how the winged horse Pegasus relates to birthing creative energy into your life, and how integrating Qigong with Greek mythology provides an experiential pathway to creative energy.
• Practice the esoteric Taoist “sinking the plumb line and dropping your eyes method” to sink your chi and find the place from which your creative energy manifests to counter your sympathetic nervous system freeze response.
• How can Tai Chi rollback movement help to counter your defensiveness when you’re criticized?
• The Eastern and Western Mystery Traditions are discussed and contrasted regarding how to birth block energy.
© With permission, drawing by George Armstrong (based in part upon a drawing by Abbe Henri Breuil from the original), created for the Joseph Campbell’s Historical Atlas of World Mythology, N.Y.: Van der Mark Editions, copyright Joseph Campbell Foundation, www.jcf.org, 1983.
Postural stances were used by members of early hunter-gatherer societies, and particularly by shamans, the earliest of religious leaders, as a method to enter into a trance state for the purposes of healing, divination, and metamorphosis. These spirit journeys are an inherent part of the religious practices of hunger-gatherers.
~2nd Bonus Video: The Integral Chuan Health Dance
Life could go on without music, but would it be worth living?
My adaptation of the quote from Friedrich Nietzsche
From my perspective after 40 years of practicing the Integral Chuan the culmination of the tradition is at times practicing to music. It’s been said that the Torah, the old testament was meant to be sung not just said. And in many cross cultural traditions of integrating healing with activating altered states, sound and music were key to healing and psychophysiological transformation. Hans Jenny, a scientist of sound, created a tonoscope. When vibrated, the sand on it would form words, even the Sanskrit symbol of AUM. So it’s said that sounds can create form and healing. Sacred music enhances discovering how the Integral Chuan is a tradition of “postural initiation.”
Wherever you go, whatever bodymind meditation method you use, “traditions of postural initiation” are hidden and waiting to be experienced— to actualize archetypal energies and open pathways to be divinely & shamanically human.
In this class what you’’ll learn and experience:
• Some history of how I developed the Integral Chuan Health Dance from combining my sacred music library collection with the Yi Chuan Health Dance and the Integral Chuan tradition of Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Bagua, and Yi Chuan. You’ll hear an anecdote about The Yi Chuan Health Dance.
• The importance of stillness before and during dance with Standing Meditation Qigong. Activating wuji, the mother of chi. Reeling silk practice: Weaving stillness like a thread through the movements to music.
• Using music to enhance healing through shamanic shape-shifting.
• The Jazz of Integral Chuan Healing Dance. Spontaneously allowing movements from Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Bagua, and Yi Chuan to arise from your bodymind.
• Sacralizing Tai Chi’s Roll back, press, and push: Making a prayer to the four directions.
• Practicing the Tai Chi Movement of Lifting Hands/Playing the Guitar to Vangelis. Yi Chuan Walking Meditation is enhanced with music.
• Sacralizing movement through music. The Dance of the Elements (of healing): Dancing to cultivate and rebalance, fire, earth, metal ,water, and wood.
• Activating your primordial self and shape shifting with animal movements i.e. Yi Chuan Wrapping snakes, Tiger, Lion, snake, monkey, crane, dragon.
• Using music to enhance movements to the four directions. The importance of practicing at various speeds, slow and fast.
• Using music and the Integral Chuan dance stemming from a bodily symptom in need of healing, The dance of the internal organs, ie kidneys, heart, etc.
• Bagua Circle Dance: Embodying the archetypes of the circle of the Zodiac, i.e. healing your imbalances with the lion, bear, and dragon.
• Cross Cultural Bagua: Jewish mysticism’s circle dance for healing. Parallels to Bagua Lion circle walking.
• Cloud Hands to music to clear the heart.
• Music and movement to activate your eternal self in life and in preparation for death.
Animal stances and movements were used by early Chinese doctors as part of disease treatment. in the King Ma tomb (Ma Wang Dui, 168 B.C) in one of the coffins a piece of silk Dao-yin Tu, was found which showed 44 figures representing all the nature categories of Qigong including breathing stance and movement. among the captions under some of the figures are the names of animals including hawk, wolf, crane, dragon, cat, and bear. The captions name specific medical disorders kidney disease, flatulence, painful knees, and anxiety, suggesting that by 168 bc specific exercises were used to treat specific illnesses.
Gratitude for the following artists and musicians:
Vangelis: MainTheme from Missing
Joanne Shenandoah: Deer Dance
Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn: Soar Free from Nowhere
Lost at Last: Hinowayo
Nomad: Trading Ground
Otaku Attack: The Inner Light Captain Picard’s Theme
Gary Malkin’s Graceful Passages: Walk on -Joti
BUYING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Click Here for Titles and Descriptions of All 10 Classes
For Dr. Michael’s background and contributions to the field of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong click here.
Click on the Episodes below to purchase individual classes:
~ Priced to entice for a limited time 🙂 ~
Each LIVE class originally cost $20.00. We are glad to offer each class individually (see listings below) for only $9.97 (approximately 1 hour each), or you can purchase in bulk at a discount, using the links in the Bundles Section below.
What Others Are Saying
Master Fong Ha, with whom I trained for over 40 years has said about my book, Energy
Psychology: Self Healing Practices for Bodymind Health (North Atlantic Press, 2009)
“In the nineteen seventies Dr. Michael Mayer began his study of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
with me in Berkeley, California. With continuous diligence, devotion, and skill he grows and
ages with me as faithful student and friend. It delights my eyes and warms my heart to
witness the masterful way Dr. Mayer integrates the ancient wisdom of the East with the
psychotherapy of the West.”
— Fong Ha, internationally recognized grandmaster of Tai Chi Chuan and Yi Chuan Qigong
{Note: Master Ha didn’t describe himself this way— he humbly described himself on the
endorsement to one of my books simply as “One who practices Tai Chi and Qigong.}”
Hana Matt, A teacher of World Religions who has practiced Bodymind Healing Qigong says,
“I did not go out of our home during the daily terrorist attacks in Israel. I practiced Michael
Mayer’s Bodymind Healing Qigong exercises regularly to regain my calm. They relaxed my
tight body and took my mind off the stress and worries to be more present for others, to help
them deal with their fears and find an oasis of tranquility in the midst of the war zone. I continue to use Bodymind healing Qigong to ease everyday stresses and bring me back to my inner sanctuary of equanimity.”
– Hana Matt, Teacher of World Religions, Graduate Theological Union
Dr. Wayne Jonas has said about my book, Secrets to Living Younger Longer, The Self-Healing
Path of Qigong, Standing Meditation, and Tai Chi.
“A wonderful guide for learning the ancient healing practice of Qigong. Full of clear and
practical exercises.”
– Dr. Wayne Jonas, Former Director
National Institute of Health,
Office of Alternative Medicine
Dr Bessel van der Kolk says about my Bodymind Healing Qigong DVD,
“I liked your Bodymind Healing Qigong DVD so much that in the course I taught we started
with two or three sections of it every day.”
– Dr. Van der Kolk, Medical Director, Trauma Center,
Boston University Medical School
Refunds
We strive for your satisfaction. If you are dissatisfied with any of our products for any reason we are glad to give you a refund within 30 days of purchase. Please just list the product, date of purchase, reason for your dissatisfaction, and amount you paid. Then email that information to drmichael@bodymindhealing.com. We will appreciate hearing why you want the refund and were dissatisfied with the product so we can grow from your comments.
In this Bodymind Healing Qigong video set you’ll learn how Tai Chi and Qigong can be practiced as part of a wider cross-cultural/cross-temporal tradition of “postural initiation.” You’ll become initiated into how Tai Chi postures can be seen as a state- specific hieroglyphic alphabet of stances that can be used to embody the Western and Eastern mystery traditions. Emphasis is placed on the healing elements of the tradition, and how Standing Mediation Qigong (embedded in Tai Chi) connects one with wuji (the mother of chi) and weaves that connection like a Golden Silken thread throughout the set.
Each Tai Chi/Qigong posture can be seen as having four dimensions of purpose: self-healing, spiritual unfoldment, self-defense, and transforming one’s life stance psychologically. Each class begins with a Qigong warm up from Bodymind Healing Tai Chi/Qigong and then in each of nineteen classes of the Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan-Long Form about three Tai Chi Chuan movements are successively added in each class explaining how the four dimensions of purpose apply to each posture/movement.
Dr Michael takes his 40 years of research, training and teaching in ancient sacred wisdom traditions and uses the practices of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong to transmit these teachings as a tradition of postural initiation. Michael did his doctoral work on the integration of ancient wisdom traditions with modern body-mind healing methods. His Mythic Journey Process, River of Life self-hypnosis method are examples of the clinical applications of this integration of Qigong and imaginal healing methods.
Dr. Michael trained graduate master of psychology students in the integration of ancient wisdom traditions at John F Kennedy University for 12 years (1978-1990). He pioneered the integration of Tai Chi/Qigong and psychotherapy, teaching the first accredited university course to doctoral students in that integration at the California Institute of Integral Studies (2007, 2009).
About Dr. Michael’s broader work in cross-cultural spiritual traditions: He won the world astrology prize for being the first person to integrate astrological symbols with depth psychotherapy in his Mystery of Personal Identity book and create a theoretical framework for astrology that is palatable even to skeptics (Mayer 1977, 2012). His most recent book, The Path of a Reluctant Metaphysician: Stories and Practices for Troubled Times, won a Ben Franklin award in the Mind-Body Spirit Category.
The practices in these videos are not a substitute for medical advice from your medical professionals. Though the practices in these videos can contribute to healing bodymind issues, one should always listen to their own body and the limits that it and your medical team suggests to adapt these practices to your unique circumstances. By doing the practices herein you are agreeing to be responsible to adhere to these caveats.
Any of the self-defense practices suggested in these videos should be viewed in light of being part of a system of holistic healing rather than getting inflated into thinking that you can apply these practices in life endangering situations. The best offense and defense is to avoid fights; and this is the ground of Taoist self-defense practice.
The practices in these videos, though rooted in classical training from Master Fong Ha and other Tai Chi Chuan masters, should not be taken as a direct representation of their teachings. Bodymind Healing Tai Chi Chuan branches out from those teachings to add: 1.) Creative and imaginal interpretations of movements 2.) Associations from wider cross-cultural wisdom traditions, which may not be part of classical Tai Chi teaching 3.) A focus on Four Purposes of each movement in the Tai Chi set that may not be part of traditional teaching.
Quotes from leaders in the field about Dr Michael’s teachings, books and products:
1970s Dr. Michael Mayer began his study of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong with me. With continuous diligence, devotion, and skill he grows and ages with me as faithful student and friend. It delights my eyes and warms my heart to witness the masterful way Dr. Mayer creates a joining of hands between Eastern and Western spiritual traditions in this book.
Fong Ha, Internationally recognized grandmaster of Tai Chi Chuan and Yi Chuan Qigong.
{Note: This is not how Master Ha describes himself,
rather he describes himself on one of my book’s endorsements humbly as,
Fong Ha, One who practices Tai Chi & Qigong.}
“Michael Mayer’s practical synthesis and deep knowledge of Qigong and Tai Chi movement forms has greatly impressed me during my years administering the Esalen Institute Movement Arts Program. He stands out among the many teachers I’ve met and practiced with and has provided me with insights available from no other teacher
Rick Cannon, Esalen Institute, Coordinator, Movement Arts Program
About Michael’s Bodymind Healing Qigong DVD:
“I liked your Bodymind Healing Qigong DVD so much that in the course I taught we started with two or three sections of it every day. It simply is a wonderful DVD.”
– Bessel van der Kolk, MD Medical Director, the Trauma Center, Boston University School of Medicine
“I did not go out of our home during the daily terrorist attacks in Israel. I practiced Michael Mayer’s Bodymind Healing exercises regularly to regain my calm. They relieved my tight body and took my mind off of the stress and worries to be more present to others, to help them deal with their fears and find an oasis of tranquility in the middle of the war zone. I continue to use Bodymind Healing Qigong to ease everyday stresses and bring me back to my inner sanctuary of equanimity.”
Hana Matt,Teacher of World Religions, Graduate Theological Union
About Michael’s book, Secrets to Living Younger Longer: The Self-healing Path of Qigong, Standing Meditation and Tai Chi:
A wonderful guide for learning the ancient healing practice of Qigong. Full of clear and practical exercises.
Dr. Wayne Jonas, Former Director National Institute of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine
A splendid break-through which will certainly contribute a new slant to meditative practice.
Dr. Larry Dossey Author of Reinventing Medicine
About Dr Michael’s book Energy Psychology:
“Drawing upon over thirty years of his psychotherapy practice and personal training, Dr. Mayer has provided a seminal contribution to the field of mind-body interventions for a wide range of common disorders, as he offers us a treasure house of energy-based practices to cultivate our self-healing powers. His book is profound in its scope, evidence based, bridges Eastern and Western traditions, and provides practical insights and skills that can be of enormous value to both individuals and organizations seeking to attain optimal health.”
Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, clinical professor of medicine, University of California, San Francisco,
and author of The Best Alternative Medicine: What Works? What Does Not?
“This scholarly and eminently readable book integrates Eastern and Western forms of self-healing techniques and examines the capacity of various approaches that put human beings at the center of their own self-care. I applaud Dr. Michael Mayer for his monumental work, which hopefully foreshadows the shape of body-mind approaches for years to come.”
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, Medical Director, the Trauma Center, Boston University School of Medicine,
and former professor of psychiatry, Harvard University
For more about Dr. Michael’s background in Tai Chi/Qigong please click here.
Note: Dr Michael will be presenting his workshop on Bodymind Healing Qigong: Embodying Cross-Cultural Wisdom Traditions
at the annual Eurotas Transpersonal Psychology Conference in Oaxaca, Mexico on October 22, 2025. Can’t make it to the
conference? Save yourself some travel time and costs and get here the video program of the material behind this presentation 🙂