CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) – Often called “liquid meditation”, tea ceremonies are an ancient practice that is still recognized today. Erik Harris is the owner of Chi for Healing. He is a Qi Gong and Tai Chi Practitioner, Asian body therapist, Herbalist, and Energy healer.What type of tea are we drinking today?

Da Hong Pao, Wulong tea from the Wu Yi Mountains. It is a prized tea dating back to the Ming dynasty where the Emperor’s family was healed from drinking it.

This tea comes from a descendant of those same tea trees. They are high up on the mountains where the soil is pure and fertile. The trees are really old there so they are even more medicinal in quality.

I have added honeysuckle flowers that I harvested last spring. Japanese honeysuckle grows wild as an invasive. In Chinese it translates as Jin Yin Hua meaning the gold and silver flower. In Chinese medicine the dried flowers made as tea are used for cough, cold, flu, allergies, tonsillitis, and for clearing heat.How do you prepare for a tea ceremony?

Having the components of a tea table, tea brewer, tea strainer, teacup, teapot, tea utensils, tea and hot purified water. It is good to have on a flat table with room for all the accouterments. It is often called liquid meditation. The whole process takes time and can be therapeutic. Thank all of the hands that touched the tea to bring it to you today. Connect with the water like a waterfall pouring down from your head to your toes as you make the tea. Strain the tea and pour into a cup. Smell, sip the tea, and feel its energy going into your body. Take your time to savor the cup. Sit, breathe, and enjoy the present moment.What are the benefits of drinking tea?

Wulong tea is filled with anti-oxidants and boosts the immune system. It is beneficial for hair, teeth, nails, and skin. It is also beneficial for digestion and the respiratory system. It gives you a natural boost of energy that is slow and longer lasting as opposed to coffee that is quick and doesn’t last long.What are the similarities and differences between Qi Gong and Tai Chi?

Qi gong is the foundation for Tai Chi like Yoga it has been practiced for thousands of years. Qi gong translates to the practice of moving energy. Qi gong focuses on breathe, movement, and meditation to open up the energy flow in the body. Both practices are based on Taoist philosophy and are done from the standing position.

Tai Chi is the martial arts application of moving energy. This art has more of a flow and a balance between yin and yang than other martial arts.What are the benefits of Qi Gong and Tai Chi?

These are practices that use your whole body. Lifting up your own weight builds up strength, endurance, and balance. These practices tonify your muscles and stretch tendons and ligaments. Bringing your energy back into balance can alleviate stress, anxiety, depressive disorders. When you become grounded and relaxed you feel better. These practices open up the circulatory system because qi moves blood. These practices may help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also good for digestion and respiratory systems. They boost brain health by balancing the hemispheres. They can help with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s working with fine and gross motor movements. They have also been known to help with osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis by strengthening the bones and joints.

Who can practice Qi gong and Tai Chi?

All ages can be modified for children, adults, elderly, disabled people.What will you be demonstrating for us today?

Getting into the Wu state, dumping garbage, grasping the wild sparrow’s tail (4 tai chi movements with cloud hands)