Dayan (Wild Goose) Qi Gong

Classes are in hiatus - check back in Spring, 2008

Instructors: Marti Kennedy and Nina Chiappa When: No classes currently scheduled. Tuition: $80/month Contact: Marti Kennedy 510-843-5000 or Nina Chiappa 510-482-2278

Da Yen Qi Gong is an ancient system of movement that enhances your health and well being by improving the circulation of your qi (life force). It was developed in ancient China nearly 1500 years ago by a Buddhist monk. The graceful and fluid movements of the form imitate the wild goose. In fact, Da Yen means wild goose, and qi gong means "mastery of qi." Each of the sixty four movements are designed to accumulate qi in the body and bring it to specific points on the acupuncture meridians. It is a simple and non-strenuous exercise that with daily practice can be mastered by people of all ages, body types and physical conditions. Weekly classes include instruction and correction of movements along with a series of stretching exercises and systematic massage of certain key points and meridians.

For generations in China this form was handed down as a secret doctrine. The leading practitioner and Master was 109 year old Yang Mei Jung who began learning the form from her grandfather at the young age of 13. Her Grandfather learned it from a Taoist monk in secret.

Master Yang herself was testimony to the benefits of Da Yen Qi Gong. At 101 years old she was able to leap several feet in the air and had been known to cure terminally ill people with Qi from her hands.

Marti Lee Kennedy and Nina Chiappa are certified teachers who studied under Master Hui Liu who learned Da Yen Qi Gong from Master Yang Mei Jung in China. Master Liu, now retired, taught Da Yen Qi Gong at the Wen Wu School in El Cerrito, and has passed the legacy on to her students.

Marti Lee Kennedy, O.M.D., licensed acupuncturist at the Ashby Center for Complementary Medicine in Berkeley has studied Da Yen Qi Gong with Master Liu for eight years and had been an assistant teacher at the Wen Wu School.

Nina Chiappa has studied with Master Liu for eleven years and Tai Chi with Master Y.C. Chiang for three years. She has been a lead Qi Gong teacher at the Wen Wu School for two years and an assistant teacher for eight years.

Marti and Nina are teaming together to teach Da Yen Qi Gong to the community at the Wu Tao Kuan Martial Arts Institute.