The Taoist Arts Center’s approach to the internal arts is rooted in the Water Method of Lao Tsu (Laozi) and the early Taoists which Ms. Rabinowitz learned from B.K. Frantzis, a lineage disciple of the Taoist Sage Liu Hung Chieh.

The Water Method underlies all teaching at the Taoist Arts Center, and is based on the idea of going with the flow of nature and letting things happen rather than making them happen. As water wears away rock, so practitioners of this method dissolve energy blockages and allow their energy to circulate freely. The practices are designed to harmonize individuals with themselves, their environment and the universe and to help them maintain their health and balance amid the stresses of daily life.

The Taoist Arts Center caters to students at all levels who want to raise their energy and achieve a relaxed vitality through authentic Chinese health, martial arts and meditation systems and aims to make these systems accessible to students through clear and thorough instruction in Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation.

An increasingly popular aspect of Chinese medicine, Chi Kung balances and increases the body's energies and helps develop feelings of health, strength and well being by using the natural functions of your body to release stress, develop flexibility, coordination and stamina and to heal chronic joint and back problems.

Centuries ago in China, Taoist Meditation was created to help people turn Chi (qi) into spirit and emptiness. It's main technique the Taoist "inner dissolving" practice is especially effective for helping people to become aware of their hidden motivations and enabling them to change or eliminate those that they no longer find useful. Taoist Meditation contains sitting, standing, lying down and moving techniques, and joins well with Wu style Tai Chi.

Wu Style Tai Chi is widely practiced throughout the world and is perfect for Americans because it is so kind to the knees. Its small movements and emphasis on health make it especially good for healing joint and back pain and releasing stress and trauma.

Western doctors are now studying the effects of Chinese health practices like Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation, and research has verified many of their claims. An extensive directory of information on the scientifically verified effects of these arts can be found Taoist Arts Center's website, including studies on the favorable effects of Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Meditation on conditions such as Arthritis, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD, as well as studies demonstrating improved breathing and balance, lowered blood pressure, stimulation of the immune system, and enhanced recovery from illness and surgery

Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Taoist Meditation classes are taught at the Taoist Arts Center year round. Interested? Visit the Taoist Arts Center 342 East 9th Street, New York City. 10003 Info: 212/477-7055 www.taoist-arts.com

This article was published in the Autumn 2006 Qi Journal. You may read it online (subscription only) at http://www.qi-journal.com/