Text and Photos by Stephanie Foster
sfoster@cnc.com

      Qigong is going to sweep the nation. Forget yoga and tai chi. Qigong is simpler. Watching the eight postures taught by David Silver of Harwich, who is certified by the Yang’s Martial Arts Association (YMAA) is like watching honey drip from a spoon. He makes it look as effortless as breathing. Actually, qigong (chee-gung) is all about breathing. But, correct breathing from deep in the abdomen. Combine deep breathing and concentration with slow movement and concentration and you’ve got something that will impact the quality of your life from physical health to an upbeat outlook.
     
    Silver, who trained in martial arts as a child, became interested in this ancient self-healing art when he was a professional drummer. While working on the Cape, he got a call to audition in New York with the band, “Season to Risk” which was recording on the Columbia Records label. He flew to the Big Apple and they liked what they heard. He got the job and spent six years touring North America. But he wasn’t a party boy. “There were no keys or panties flying on stage.” In spite of the free designer wardrobes and equipment and seemingly glamourous life style, Silver was interested in taking care of himself. “I’ve had respiratory issues all my life.”  
    
    Silver began meditating at 11 and found it to be a good  experience. “I learned there was more to the human body than what was taught in a Phys Ed class.” He continued the practice when he became a musician, combining it with basic stretching and breathing exercises. “After drumming, my body was sore and sometimes injured. It made a huge difference in how I felt.”
     
    What he was doing was qigong.  “It is the root of all martial arts. It can transform your body on a cellular level.” Qi is energy or life force. Gong means work or practice,  something that takes time and effort to achieve. Qigong means working with the energy in the human body. Silver read more and more books, took classes, and got more and more confused. “They left out key elements that made practice vague,  mysterious and mythological. I felt I was just going through the motions.” 
     
    He discovered why. Historically, masters did not reveal the secrets of the art to the public. A student had to earn trust so he sought a teacher to study with. Then the pieces began to fall into place. Silver discovered the book, “Qigong, The Secret of Youth,” by Dr. Yang that clearly answered his questions. And he practiced in Boston where Silver wanted to relocate. “I enjoyed playing drums but you can only do that for so long.” He was ready for something different. 
     
    When he got to Boston, he took the first jobs that came along -  at a surfboard store, and tending bar. Then, he called Dr. Yang. “I said, ‘Hi, I want to study with you.’ I asked him for a job and told him that I wanted to do something more meaningful with my life.” Impressed, Yang set up a meeting. By this time Silver was nervous. They met and talked. Although he had no openings in his business,  Yang’s Martial Arts Association, he created one. Silver went to work in the warehouse shipping books, tapes, cds, videos and clothing. He moved to the publishing department, and eventually ended up heading their video department, an interest he's had since childhood. 
     
     Meanwhile he trained in tai chi with Master Yang  to learn the associated form, qigong. “Qigong is the energetic framework within tai chi postures. It’s an internal art, as opposed to an external art like kung fu which works on building the outer physical body first and developing internal energy later.” Silver took regular classes,  side classes, lunch break classes, three-day weekend seminars, private classes and night classes. Over a five year period, he took every class available and even repeated a few. There was nothing left but to teach. “I had no intention of becoming an instructor. I just enjoy the subject and my own practice. But I felt I had to test myself with Dr. Yang. He has only certified a few people in the last 25 years.” Yang’s test was simple. Pull some questions out of a box and discuss.  But  mastery of qigong is complex and includes knowledge of  anatomy and Chinese medicine. Silver passed, and Yang told him he was to carry the message to the next generation.
      
    Silver continues to train with him and his levels of understanding continue to multiply. “It’s limitless. You can train your entire life. It’s not for someone who wants to be a black belt in a few weeks. This is about nourishing the organs, not the biceps. When I teach the Eight Brocades (eight postures), the difference between it and calisthenics is the mental focus.” The regular practice of qigong which involves low-impact, simple movements, coordinated  breathing and visualization of energy moving through the body, is said to not only prevent, but treat disease and boost the immune system by increasing and circulating the body’s energy. Some forms are practiced sitting or standing still, while others involve a moving meditation. Although the exercise is gentle, it is a highly effective way to reduce stress, enhance healing, and improve overall wellness. How has it benefited him? “I have incredible, improved vitality. I’m feeling better and have a more positive outlook on life. I have increased energy, deeper relaxation. A sense of conscious control in the world. I can influence my surroundings with positive energy. I haven’t had an illness, even a cold, in years. It’s due to increased sensitivity. I’m able to prevent illness through diet and controlling my energy.” And he keeps stress to a minimum. “It’s the root of all illness.” 
     
     Through the miracle of electronics, Silver now writes, directs and produces instructional martial arts and health DVDs from his home base on the Cape. He has also cowritten a book based on his most popular DVD. He also teaches private and group qigong classes, a boon for the Cape since you can’t find qigong classes just anywhere. 
     
     “Teaching is learning. It keeps me eager to learn more. I also remember what my early classes were like when I was beginning. I avoid what I call the fluffy talk. One major goal in qigong is to increase sensitivity so that you listen to the messages your body is giving you. Feeling is a language between body and mind, which can be developed. I have simplified all I’ve learned to make it easy and fun to learn. The goal of a qigong session is to make a person feel strong, centered, and happy.”
  If you go:
    David Silver teaches qigong .... For more information visit www.capecodqigong.com or call 508-430-1929.

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