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Neigong and Alchemical Arts
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"I Don't Have Time": How to Build a Sustainable Taijiquan and Qigong Practice in a Busy Life
Among all the reasons people give for not practicing Taijiquan, Qigong, meditation, or exercise in general, perhaps none is more common than this: "I just don't have time." Any time can become practice time It is a statement heard in nearly every class and from people in every stage of life. Young professionals blame demanding careers. Parents point to the responsibilities of raising children. Students cite heavy workloads. Retirees often discover that their calendars have so
Josh Goheen
20 hours ago5 min read
Soft, Strong, and Balanced: Why Authentic Taijiquan Requires More Than Relaxation
Among the many misconceptions surrounding Taijiquan, perhaps none is more widespread than the belief that the art is simply about relaxing. Ask the average person what makes Taiji unique, and they will likely describe slow, graceful movements performed with complete softness. While this image certainly reflects one important aspect of the art, it also conceals one of its greatest misunderstandings. Authentic Taijiquan is not the practice of becoming limp, weak, or passive. It
Josh Goheen
Jun 266 min read
Choosing the Right Taiji and Qigong Teacher: Why Proper Instruction Matters More Than Ever
With the rising public interest in Taijiquan and Qigong, the number of available learning options has expanded rapidly. What was once reserved for those fortunate enough to live near a traditional martial arts school is now widely offered through community centers, wellness studios, fitness programs, and countless online videos. On the surface, this seems like an unqualified good. The spread of awareness means more people have access to practices that can improve health, redu
Josh Goheen
Jun 56 min read
The Principle of Rhythm: Learning to Flow with the Pulse of the Tao
In this sixth article of our series on the Seven Hermetic Principles and their relationship to the alchemical path and the internal martial arts, we now turn to the fifth principle: the Principle of Rhythm. If the Principle of Polarity teaches us that all reality is expressed through complementary opposites, then the Principle of Rhythm explains how those opposites move. Polarity is structure; rhythm is motion. Polarity is the two poles of the pendulum; rhythm is the pendulum
Josh Goheen
May 295 min read
The Fourth Limb: Pranayama and the Bridge Between Body and Mind
In the previous article in our series on the Eight Limbs of Yoga we examined Asana, the third limb of Yoga, and how postural training rebuilds the body into a functional vessel capable of supporting deeper internal work. Now we come to the fourth limb, one of the most well-known aspects of Yoga practice: Pranayama. Pranayama refers to breath regulation and breath cultivation. Like Asana, it is widely practiced in the modern world—often as a standalone wellness method, and oft
Josh Goheen
May 225 min read
Casual Qigong Practice Leads Nowhere
Taijiquan, Qigong, and Yoga originated as profoundly powerful systems of internal cultivation and alchemy. They were not invented as casual fitness trends, nor as recreational hobbies to fill time between work and entertainment. They were designed as serious methods of transformation—tools to strengthen the body, purify the mind, regulate the emotions, and ultimately relieve human suffering at its root. Yet in modern times, these practices have been reduced to something far s
Josh Goheen
May 155 min read
From Monkey Mind to Mastery: Xin, Yi, and Zhi in Internal Cultivation
We live in an age in which people are far more likely to emote than to think. Personal feelings have been elevated to the status of truth, while objective reality has been pushed aside—if it is acknowledged at all. A person no longer needs facts, logic, or evidence. They need only to declare how they feel, and the modern world demands that everyone else treat that feeling as unquestionable reality. This is not progress. It is regression. A society that is governed by fleeting
Josh Goheen
May 15 min read
The Four Pillars of Internal Cultivation: How to Organize Taijiquan and Qigong Training for Real Results
One of the greatest challenges modern practitioners face in the internal arts is not only motivation, nor even access to instruction—it is organization . Taijiquan and Qigong contain many methods, many training approaches, and many layers of depth. To the typical student, it can quickly become confusing. What should I practice each day? How long should I stand? Is seated meditation enough? Do I need forms? Why do some people seem to gain real internal power while others only
Josh Goheen
Apr 246 min read
The Third Limb: Asana and the Reconstruction of the Body
Having established the foundation of Yama and Niyama , we now arrive at the third limb of the Eightfold path as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali : Asana . This is the point where most modern practitioners believe the practice begins . In truth, it is where the preparation of the vessel begins. Asana is not Yoga in its entirety. It is the systematic conditioning of the body so that Yoga—true internal practice—can eventually take place. Asana serves to restructure the
Josh Goheen
Mar 204 min read
The Mystery of Fascia: The Body's Most Misunderstood Aspect
In the fields of exercise science, martial arts, and even herbal medicine there are few more widely misunderstood or ignored topics than that of the body's connective tissue networks, such as the fascia and extracellular matrix. Until very recently, modern research has largely ignored these vital tissues. Pharmaceutical biomedicine, and by extension even the naturopathic practitioners and natural supplement industry that still take the bulk of their educational models and res
Josh Goheen
Mar 132 min read
The Second Limb: Niyama and the Architecture of the Inner Life
In our last article of this series, we explored Yama , the first limb of the Eightfold path outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , and saw how ethical restraint forms the outer foundation of authentic internal cultivation. In this installment, we look at the second limb, known as Niyama . If Yama governs how we relate to the world around us, Niyama governs how we relate to the world within us. Together, these two limbs form the moral and psychological bedrock upon which a
Josh Goheen
Feb 274 min read
The First Limb: Yama and the Moral Foundation of Internal Power
In the previous article in this series, we examined the Eight Limbs of Yoga as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , noting how modern practitioners of Yoga, Qigong, and Taijiquan often isolate posture and breath while neglecting the deeper architecture of authentic cultivation. We now begin a closer examination of each limb in succession. The first is Yama —a word commonly translated as restraint, control, or ethical discipline. If we are serious about internal developm
Josh Goheen
Feb 205 min read
Beyond Movement and Breath: Reconnecting the Deeper Roots of Internal Cultivation
In recent years, Qigong and Taijiquan have steadily grown in popularity, finding their way into community centers, rehabilitation programs, and wellness spaces across the world. Yet among the internal cultivation arts, Yoga remains the most widely recognized and practiced in the West. While these systems arise from different cultures, they share a common alchemical perspective: each seeks to refine the human being from the outside inward, harmonizing body, breath, mind, and s
Josh Goheen
Feb 134 min read
The Principle of Mentalism: Mind as the Foundation of Alchemical Practice
In this second article of our series exploring the Seven Hermetic Principles, we begin with the first—and most fundamental—of them all: The Principle of Mentalism . This principle is placed first for a reason. It establishes the very ground upon which all other principles rest and defines our understanding of reality itself. Without grasping Mentalism, the deeper logic of alchemy, internal martial arts, and internal cultivation remains fragmented or mysterious. At its essence
Josh Goheen
Jan 305 min read
Against the Quick Path: Why Internal Cultivation Requires Time, Effort, and Depth
Practitioners of meditation, qigong, and Taijiquan face a challenge that is uniquely modern. We live in a culture increasingly shaped by speed, convenience, and immediacy. Information is compressed into fragments. Attention is fragmented into seconds. The slow processes of reading, contemplation, and deep analysis have been steadily displaced by short-form videos, oversimplified explanations, and the pervasive attitude summarized by the now-common phrase “tl;dr.” The integrit
Josh Goheen
Jan 234 min read
Entering the Alchemical Worldview: A Foundation for Internal Cultivation
As students step onto the path of Taijiquan, Qigong, Neigong, meditation, yoga, or related internal arts, one of the greatest challenges they encounter is not physical—it is conceptual. These arts did not arise merely as systems of movement or exercise. They were born within complete worldviews: living cosmologies that describe how the universe functions, how human beings participate in that functioning, and how conscious cultivation can transform both health and spirit. In t
Josh Goheen
Jan 163 min read
The Importance of Willpower and Discipline
Now and then I like to share material from other teachers, authors, and thinkers that I find to be valuable for students and for people in general. This is one such piece of material. While approached from the practical perspective of a former Navy Seal, Jocko Willink, this book perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Alchemical path. That essence is Will. In Chinese this is known as Zhi, one of the Wu Shen (Five Spirits) which resides in the kidneys. It is the source of ou
Josh Goheen
Jan 22 min read
Beyond Relaxation: The Alchemical Depth of Qigong and Taijiquan
In the modern world, qigong and Taijiquan are most commonly understood as gentle movement practices—slow, graceful exercises performed in parks, community centers, and rehabilitation clinics. They are widely promoted for improving balance, reducing stress, and supporting relaxation, especially among elderly or injured populations. This image is not incorrect, but it is profoundly incomplete. The majority of contemporary instruction does indeed emphasize soft choreography, mi
Josh Goheen
Dec 26, 20253 min read
🥋 Understanding Taijiquan: The Art of Supreme Polarity
What Is Taijiquan? Taijiquan (太極拳), often simply known as Tai Chi , is a traditional Chinese martial art that embodies the principles of...
Josh Goheen
Aug 8, 202513 min read
The Heart of Stillness: An Introduction to Meditation
What Is Meditation? Meditation is the ancient art of stilling the mind , refining awareness , and returning to one’s original nature ....
Josh Goheen
Jun 20, 202515 min read
DISCLAIMER:
As with any diet or exercise program, always consult a qualified physician prior to beginning any new routine, especially if you have any health issues. The training and information provided on this site and in person is for educational consideration only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, nor is it to take the place of any qualified medical treatment.
All original material presented represents the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of the author and is intended to be taken as such. All quoted or shared material is the property and responsibility of the original author/source.
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