“Can you recommend a qigong teacher in my area?”
For years, I’ve received emails and phone calls from people all over the country asking this question. And not just a few. Hundreds and hundreds of people, all of them asking the same question. If you’re reading this, then you probably asked me the question too!
I’m known for being a straight shooter with a no nonsense approach to teaching. I’m always honest with my students, and my readers. And I’m going to be honest with you right now.
You’re probably not going to like my answer.
And I’m sorry for that. But I won’t dance around the truth just because it’s not what you want to hear.
What you probably want to hear is that there is a fantastic Qigong master ten minutes from your house. And she’s not just a master, she’s also a fantastic teacher. Oh, and she speaks perfect English! And of course, she teaches for free.
We all want to hear good news like that. Back in 1996 when I first started looking for a Qigong teacher, I wanted to hear the same thing. You know where I ended up finding a good teacher?
On the other side of the planet.
Why Are You Reading This Article?
Here’s the thing — if qualified Qigong teachers were so easy to find, then you wouldn’t be contacting me in the first place! Right?
Probably, you found me through my website, or social media, or through my teacher’s books. Something about me, something about my approach to Qigong resonated with you. In other words, you felt that you could trust me, so you reached out to me.
And I’m glad you did. Because if you can stomach the truth in this article, if you can take my message to heart, then you may just save yourself years, even decades of misguided Qigong practice.
Ready for some more truth?
Qigong masters are rare. Qigong masters who are also good teachers are even rarer. Qigong masters who are good teachers and also teach openly (as opposed to a few, private disciples) are even rarer.
This is just how it is with Qigong. This is how it has always been throughout history, and it’s no different today.
Coming back to the original question – I wish that I could recommend a teacher near you. But I can’t. Because they’re not out there.
Don’t get me wrong. You may be able to find a Qigong teacher near you. But is he or she any good? Well, that’s the million dollar question, isn’t it!
Do You Want Mediocre Results?
Think about what I asked you earlier. Why are you contacting me? Why are you reading this blog post? Why?
Because you trust me. And probably because you’re impressed with the results that my students get. And you want similar results for yourself, right?
But what if I recommend a teacher who doesn’t deliver similar results? What if I send you to one of the countless teachers who gets mediocre results with his or her students? Or worse, what if I send you to a bad teacher that makes his students sick!
I’m passionate about helping people, and I’ve dedicated my life to that mission. I truly wish that there were a qualified teacher in every town. But your chances of finding a good one in your own town are about as high as your chances of winning the lottery.
Qigong is not just a bunch of movements. To get results, you need to know the secrets behind the movements. We’re talking about skills that powerfully change lives, even when other methods have failed. If you have read the testimonials page, then you know that we’re not talking about mediocre results.
My Story
Correcting a student.
Maybe my story will help to put things in perspective. I originally started looking for a Qigong teacher in 1996. I was living in New York City at the time. New York is home to countless Qigong teachers, many of them famous.
Nevertheless, after searching diligently, I couldn’t find a teacher offering results like those described in Grandmaster Wong’s books.
So I flew all the way from NYC to Malaysia to learn from Grandmaster Wong. Does that sound crazy? Maybe it was. But it was also one of the best decisions of my life.
I still remember what a friend said to me at the time. “Why would you spend thousands of dollars to travel to Malaysia when there are so many famous teachers here in New York?” he asked.
“Because I’m sick, and I don’t have time to waste on mediocre teachers,” I responded.
Never underestimate the value of a great teacher. Here’s a little secret: 3 hours with a great Qigong teacher is worth 3 years with a mediocre teacher. This fact is difficult for beginners to grasp, but it’s true. Here’s why.
The Heart-to-Heart Transmission
Qigong involves a transmission of energy, not just a transmission of information. In Chinese culture, this is known as a Heart-to-Heart Transmission. The teacher literally transmits skills to the student.
I’ve taught dozens of students who had previously studied with other teachers for 10, 20, even 30 years. One of them privately told me that he accomplished more in 3 weeks with me than in 20 years of practicing Tai Chi. It was a powerful confession for me because, in that moment, I saw what my path might have been.
How is it possible that he could get more in 3 weeks with me than 20 years with other teachers? Because I don’t just teach; I transmit from heart to heart. For example, one reason my students are able to learn the secret of energy flow in just 3 hours is because I transmit Qi to them.
Please don’t think that I’m just tooting my own horn. I’m not. In fact, for years, I helped people to find teachers in their own area.
And it was a mistake. A huge mistake.
My Ethical Dilemma
A few years ago, a student traveled to Gainesville to learn from me. After the workshop, he introduced himself. It turns out he had emailed me three years earlier. He asked the usual question, and I had recommended a teacher in his area.
“It’s a totally different experience!” the man said to me. “I feel like I wasted the last 3 years!”
It so happens that this student also had a serious heart attack 6 months before taking my workshop. He was lucky to survive. After that experience, he decided to stop learning from his local Qigong teacher and come learn from me.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. All night, I wondered if this man might have avoided his heart attack had he come to learn from me in the first place rather than the local teacher. Had I steered him wrong?
It was at that moment that I ran into an ethical dilemma. I suddenly realized that, by NOT encouraging students to come learn from me, I was actually doing them a disservice. These people had trusted me, but I let them down.
So now, I’m determined to not let you down. So here are my recommendations for those who are contacting me.
1. Get my free downloads. They will help you to get a better understanding of what Qigong is and isn’t. There’s also a free lesson, so you can get started immediately.
2. Buy my book. Wait! Before you start looking for it, let me explain. It’s not available yet. I expect it to be available by September 2013. It will come with a 100-page Ebook plus 3 videos, 3 audios, and some charts. And it will be very affordable. If you want to stay updated, then make sure to get on my email list by signing up for my free downloads.
3. Go to a workshop. I’m not traveling as much right now because I’m working on my book, but I’ll resume once it’s finished. I teach all over the country. These weekend workshops are designed specifically so that you can continue to practice on your own afterward. If you’re on my email list, you’ll get updates about my workshops. Or you can just visit the events page.
4. Come to Gainesville. Believe it or not, students fly in to Gainesville all the time. Sometimes they stay for a week, or sometimes they just take the 101 workshop, and then fly home. There are details about hotels at the bottom of the 101 page.
5. Go to Costa Rica. Our retreats in Costa Rica are absolutely the best way to learn a lot of Qigong in a short period of time. It’s basically 3 years of skills (not just techniques) in 1 week. And you get to do it in absolute paradise while eating amazing food.
Whether you learn from me or another teacher, I strongly recommend that you read my blog. The more you educate yourself, the easier it will be to navigate the world of energy arts. If you’re enthusiastic, you can start right now by learning Lifting the Sky.
And finally, if you do look for a teacher in your own area, make sure that you know how to spot the bad ones.
Zenfully yours,
Sifu Anthony
Sifu Anthony Korahais used Qigong to overcome clinical depression, aching low-back pain, chronic bronchitis, and a heart murmur. He is the founder and director of the Flowing Zen Center in Gainesville, Florida, and an internationally recognized teacher in the world of energy arts. To contact Sifu Anthony directly, click here.
Find a good teacher. Check.
This article is so very true. Its authenticity is especially evident after Sigung’s seminars this past weekend. I’m shocked that I could experience so much qi flow and internal force after just those few hours of training with him!