Ken Cohen | Qigong Master

Ken Cohen will teach classes at the Malibu Retreat this December, exploring the intersection of Qigong and the Alexander Technique.

Join us for this unique opportunity to integrate these profound traditions and deepen your understanding of your energy, awareness, and balance. Kenneth Cohen (Gao Han) is a world-renowned health educator, Chinese scholar, and Qigong Grandmaster with over 50 years of experience. A former collaborator with Alan Watts, he is the author of the internationally acclaimed The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing.

The Alexander Technique has often been described as a form of “Western Zen,” offering parallels to the study of Ch’i Gong (Qigong). Both systems focus on the redirection of energy throughout the human organism, though their methods differ in approach and emphasis. At the Alexander Technique Retreat this December, we will delve into the fascinating similarities and differences between these two transformative practices.

F.M. Alexander famously stated: “It is not the degree of ‘willing’ or ‘trying,’ but the way in which the energy is directed, that is going to make the ‘willing’ or ‘trying’ effective.” He believed that unnecessary muscular tension and habitual postural patterns lead to inefficient energy use, creating strain and restricting natural flow. The Alexander Technique cultivates awareness of these tendencies, encouraging conscious inhibition of unhelpful habits to promote ease, efficiency, and a sense of wholeness in movement and stillness.

Ken beautifully captures the essence of Qigong: “Qigong is the art and science of refining and cultivating internal energy. Stillness and action are relative, not absolute, principles. It is important to find a balance of yin and yang, not just in Qigong but in everyday life. In movement, seek stillness and rest. In rest, be mindful and attentive.”

To Find Out More and Register for the Malibu Retreat,click Here