ST104: Qigong Meditation Basics 4 + Iron Shirt Qigong 1 ONLINE--1st year program
- Sat-Sun Sep 5-6, 2026 + Sat-Sun Sep 12-13, 2026
Taught by Steven Sy, ONLINE using Zoom Platform
COURSE DETAILS:
4 days: Sat-Sun Sep 5-6, 2026 and Sat-Sun Sep 12-13, 2026
Each day runs from 8:30am - 12:30pm and 2:00pm - 4:30pm [extended hours] (EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME -- [UTC-4 ] )
PREREQUISITE: ST103: Qigong Meditation Basics 3
This course continues the course material from Qigong Meditation Basics 3.
OVERVIEW
Our goal is renew and refresh the material from Qigong Meditation Basics 3 . From there, we deepen physical body qigong methods for grounding with Iron Shirt Qigong 1 and we deepen the Awaken Healing Light methods which lay the foundation for Wisdom Qigong. All of these strengthen our physical body, our healing capacity, and open us up to a higher level of conscious awareness.
The theme of this class is: Advanced Grounding and Healing Light Practices
After reviewing the basic methods of Qigong Meditation Basics 3 for awakening the healing light, we learn ways to rejuvenate the sense organs with Qi Self-Massage. We explore ways to strengthen our fascia (connective tissue) with some wonderful rooted practices (Iron Shirt Qigong 1 ), that also help us get more deeply grounded. We strengthen the Awaken Healing Light material which lays the foundation to the brain rejuvenation practices of Wisdom Qigong. All of these practices are expanded on further in the next course Qigong Meditation Basics 5 + Wisdom Qigong + Craniosacral Qigong.
ABOUT QIGONG MEDITATION BASICS 4
We will learn two new fundamental meditations for emotional and spiritual well-being:
- Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: break up blockages along the microcosmic orbit
- Reverse Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: alternate qi ball microcosmic orbit to sedate the body
In addition to the meditations, we will learn some supportive physical qigong:
- Tao Yin Qigong (3rd set): learn ways to invigorate through basic stretching
- Breathing Methods: review of QMB3 breathing methods with awakening healing light
- Qi Self-Massage (Part 1)
- Iron Shirt Qigong 1 (see below)
Along with the material in this section, we will review some of the meditations and qigong from Qigong Meditation Basics 3.
ABOUT IRON SHIRT QIGONG 1
Iron Shirt Qigong 1 is a system of standing meditation.
Specifically, it is a set of standing meditation postures designed to help you become more grounded and stable emotionally through your connection to the Earth. Through this deeper level of grounding, you find that over time your ability to remain detached from your emotions will also increase. In this way, you become more stable: rather than being controlled by your emotions, you become more able to detach from them and view them objectively as a witness. Consequently, Iron Shirt 1 becomes the necessary complement to any spiritual work for managing your emotions.
The Iron Shirt 1 postures themselves also serve to strengthen the physical body, which is a necessary tool to ward off the effects of aging. The old masters knew that they could not do their lengthy meditative and spiritual techniques without a strong body to sustain them, and they consequently looked to such methods.
Specifically, the Iron Shirt 1 postures serve to strengthen the body's core. In particular, connective tissue strengthens, blood circulation improves, and general body patterns of tension dissolve. Through the connection to the ground, healing energy from the Earth rises up into your body, and helps to promote both physical and emotional healing.
The focus in Iron Shirt 1 is on body alignment and structure. This not only enhances the grounding effect, but it serves to strengthen the physical body as well. Through this process, you develop an added awareness of your own internal life-force energy (or qi) and are able to supplement that with additional qi rising up into your body from the Earth. By strengthening your fascia (connective tissue), you will be better able to protect your internal organs and keep them healthy. This will in turn help to support the tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones, which are covered more extensively in the higher levels of Iron Shirt.
In total, the techniques taught in Iron Shirt 1 serve as a fundamental building block for a whole program of courses that are designed to build the physical body and continue the pathway of deeper levels of grounding. They form a necessary ingredient for higher levels of Iron Shirt, Tai Chi, and both martial and spiritual arts programs.
At the same time, the physical and emotional grounding that is provided, is a necessary prerequisite for continuing the meditative and spiritual pathway of Taoist meditation and alchemy. It only through becoming more deeply embodied that meditative practices become a whole-body energetic transformative process.
The material for the Iron Shirt 1 section will be covered over this course and the subsequent course ST105:
- Phoenix (review from QMB3)
- Iron Bridge (review from QMB3)
- Embracing the Tree (review from QMB3)
- Iron Bar
- Turtle I
- Holding the Golden Urn--Yang Position
- Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #1
- Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #2
- Turtle II
- Water Buffalo--Static
- Water Buffalo--Dynamic
- Advanced Iron Shirt 1 (if time permits)
- Overview of Higher Levels of Iron Shirt Qigong
COURSE SYLLABUS
Review of Basics 3 new material
What is the Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit and how it differs from Classical method
Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: what is its function?
Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: Guided PRACTICE
What the advantages and disadvantages of different orbit methods?
What is Qi Self-Massage?
What are some practices of Qi Self-Massage?
Qi Self-Massage: ways to rejuvenate the sense organs through self-touch
Qi Self-Massage (Part 1): Guided PRACTICE
Review of Basic Iron Shirt 1: Phoenix, Iron Bridge, Embracing the Tree
Iron Bar: Guided PRACTICE
Turtle I: Guided PRACTICE
How to maintain good structure in Turtle I
How to do use a partner to improve your Turtle I, aka "Pushing"
Advanced Storage Methods for Healing Light
Distributing Violet Light into the Qi/Energy Body
Tao Yin Qigong (3rd set): learn to invigorate through basic stretching
Tao Yin Qigong (3rd set): Guided PRACTICE
What is a good method to deal with Sinus issues and allergies?
Holding the Golden Urn--Yang Position: Guided PRACTICE
How to maintain good structure in Holding the Golden Urn--Yang Position
How to do use a partner to improve your Holding the Golden Urn--Yang Position, aka "Pushing"
Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #1: Guided PRACTICE
How to maintain good structure in Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #1
How to do use a partner to improve your Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #1, aka "Pushing"
Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #2: Guided PRACTICE
How to maintain good structure in Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #2
How to do use a partner to improve your Holding the Golden Urn--Yin #2, aka "Pushing"
Reverse Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: what is its function?
Reverse Qi Ball Microcosmic Orbit: Guided PRACTICE
How reverse qi ball micro differs from qi ball micro method
What are the next steps after the Basics 4 + Iron Shirt 1 material?
In total, I look forward to sharing "Qigong Meditation Basics 4 + Iron Shirt Qigong 1" with you.
If anyone has any questions in advance of the class,
Steven may be contacted at his email address: steven [at] spiritualtao [dot] com.
NEXT COURSE IN SEQUENCE IS ST105: Qigong Meditation Basics 5 + Wisdom Qigong + Craniosacral Qigong
At the end of this course, students will receive an attendance certificate which will identify hours completed in the MANTAK CHIA® system, which may be used toward the certification requirements in his system.
Do you want to be an Associate Instructor or an Instructor? If so, click on Certificate Program for more information.
This course is a main core course in the curriculum.
