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Courses and Workshops taught by Paul






UPCOMING EVENTS




THE FOUR PILLARS OF TAIJI QUAN


HENTON, SOMERSET, UK


16th & 17th August 2025


This two day workshop will be held in a picturesque village location on the outskirts of the beautiful and historic city of Wells in Somerset UK.

 

 

   

The 4 pillars that support and make Taijiquan an all-encompassing practice are.

 

  • Nei gong - internal development and the building of the Qi based Taiji body
  • Form - The development of balance, grace and connectivity through to daily practice of the Taijiquan forms
  • Tui Shou ( pushing hands ) to develop skilful hands that with time and practice develop the unique to Taijiquan skills of mysterious hands
  • Applications - to understand and be able to apply the qualities and movements of Taijiquan in a manner that enhances students abilities

 

This two day workshop taught by LNG international senior teacher Paul Mitchell will take the class through all four of these essential elements of the practice of Taiji in an inclusive manner to both introduce novice practitioners and experts alike to these fascinating practices

 

The material taught within the Lotus Nei Gong School is inner door by nature and this event is therefore a rare opportunity for students of the Internal Arts to learn and practise authentic classical Taiji Quan.



 


The teacher of this event will be LNG senior teacher Paul Mitchell who is the father of LNG internationals founder Damo Mitchell.


Paul’s training and subsequent teaching of the external and internal methods of Asian arts has spanned several decades and has taken him throughout Europe and America as a teacher of Lotus Nei Gong unique methods.

 

This workshop will be tailored to the students that attend and as always Paul will tailor his teaching to improve both understanding and the skills of all -  from beginner to expert



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NEI GONG

 

Developing the skills and qualities of Dantien Gong, Sung and Ting


25th & 26th October 2025


HENTON, SOMERSET, UK




This two day event held in the peace and calm of rural Somerset UK will have the building and activation of the Dantian plus the qualities of song and ting lying at the heart of every aspect of the weekends activities.


Through sitting,standing and moving exercises the group will begin to develop a conscious connection to the lower elixir field ( Dantian ) through the process of song ( the release of residual tension in body and mind ) and ting ( the ability to connect and listen to the internal processes of our consciousness and energetic movements).

These skills and qualities are the tools to develop soft external movements into,authentic internal methods.


For those in the group that have travelled further down this path within the Lotus Neigong international school of Daoist arts there will be a natural process of progression built into the workshop in order to assist them in their efforts of ever deepening practice.

Neigong is a wonderful method of personal cultivation that enhances every aspect of the human experience giving one a conscious connection to their Qi ( life force ) and moving them into a state of awareness of their connection to the macrocosmic environment.


All levels of ability and physical disposition are more than welcome to attend.

From beginner to expert all welcome.


However, if one finds themselves of an overly stressful disposition or particularly low or vulnerable at this time it would be best to spend some time in the healing process before embarking upon this practice.


If attending please bring a meditation style cushion although if for any reason one cannot sit at floor level chairs are available at the venue and this will not hamper any aspect of the practice.


The workshop will be taught by LNG senior teacher Paul Mitchell ( LNG founder Damo Mitchell’s father ) .

Paul has many decades of experience training and teaching the arts of Asia throughout the UK, Europe and America


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TAIJI QUAN WORKSHOP


The Building and Mobilisation of the Energetic Body of Taiji Quan


22nd & 23rd November 2025


Henton, Somerset UK




This two day workshop on the inner door aspects of Yang Taijiquan as taught in the Lotus Neigong international school of Daoist arts will through the process of Kaimen ( open gates ) song, ting and most crucially Dantian Gong be focussed primarily on the building and mobilisation the energetic Taiji body. This process literally brings the practitioners Taiji to life

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So many things little heard of in the Western hemisphere having be omitted from “simplified methods”of Taijiquan and the internal arts in general that to revitalise these arts has always been the main driving force behind LNG.

It would be correct for one to assume that the internal skills and qualities of Taiji are developed through mainly the process of both standing and moving exercises. However, having been built in this manner they move almost seamlessly into one’s Tui Shou ( pushing hands ) practice.


This event will give ample time for students to participate in some pushing hands drills and free play.

The event will be taught by LNG senior teacher Paul Mitchell who is LNG founder Damo Mitchell’s father.


Paul has trained in and taught many aspects of the external and internal arts and methods for several decades ( more than he would like to admit )and is fully aware that not one size fits all. In modern times classical arts can become slightly elite but Taijiquan has so many benefits of body, mind, spirit and soul for all people so as a realist his teaching focuses very sharply on the individual practitioner.


Anyone is welcome to attend ( open mind and good heart is best)this workshop and much to be gained on many levels.







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TAIJI QUAN BROADSWORD

 One day workshop


HENTON, SOMERSET, UK


Monday 24th November  2025     


A perfect extra day to the Taiji Quan weekend



This one day workshop taught by LNG senior teacher Paul Mitchell will be an opportunity to have some face to face teaching on the use and development of the Yang Taijiquan Broadsword/Sabre.

Through the practice of fundamental exercises the group will build an affinity with this rather beautiful weapon of self cultivation. The Broadsword ( Dao ) is an integral part of the Yang Taiji system and forms part of the LNG syllabus making its study an important and enjoyable aspect of Taijiquan within the school. 

 Anything from a wooden sword through to a bladed version will be suitable for the practice.

 Please be aware that sharpened or live blades are not recommended for practice and will not be allowed


 * For those that don't have a practice sword, Wooden Chinese swords can be purchased if pre ordered, email for details



* Made from a Chinese hard wood, the Wooden Chinese Broadsword is an alternative to metal swords allowing you to train with a lighter weapon that also remains solid and weighted. these wooden Broadswords can be used to practice authentic broadsword exercises and Form





          





Taiji Quan

 The subject of these workshops will be that of the Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan).
The Taijiquan taught in LNG Daoist arts is from the Zhen Manquin lineage of the Yang family branch of practice as taught by Huang Xing Xian. Unfortunately, in these modern times the vast majority of Tai chi and indeed most Asian internal systems have been watered down, due partially to the fact that simplified methods were devised in China in order to keep the general population in good health and also bad transmission of information from East to West. The Taijiquan of Lotus Nei Gong lies at the cutting edge of global understanding of the phenomena that is authentic classical Taijiquan
 On these courses Paul will teach all students in attendance the internal principles necessary in order to develop their personal study into a truly internal art. In a systematic way he will teach the simple but elusive principles of:
sung ( the ever deepening release of tension in the human body ) 
 ting ( the ability to listen with our mind to the movement of our internal energy) 
 the correct development of our connective tissues (the huang). 

Through various exercises such as;• The Wu Song Shen Fa (5 loosening exercises), 
  • • The Ba Men (eight gates) 
  • • The 37 form of Huang Xing Xian,
  •    Pushing hands drills

 Students will over time develop the elusive skills around the Jins of Taijiquan.
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Nei Gong Introduction/Level 1

Nei Gong is a transformative system of alchemy energy work. It works with body, mind and breath using various tools such as; 
  • Daoyins (to open and to lead) in order to purge toxins from both the body and energy system.
  •  Qi Gong (energy work) in order to smooth and regulate the channels  
  • Standing postures in order to form the basis for all movement through the Nei Gong process,
On these courses Paul will gently introduce new students and also the more experienced to the Nei Gong practise required to develop the lower Dan Tien and direct the Qi correctly around the body. The quality of Qi is extremely important for Nei Gong practise. It has to be healthy, functioning well and circulating in the correct manner. Dan Tian involvement is extremely important as this is the vehicle to drive the Qi around the body in the early stages of Nei Gong practise.


As these courses will involve the early stages of awakening the lower Dantien the minimum age for attendees is 18 years. Beyond this restriction all students regardless of experience are welcome to attend these courses