you can develop your energy ( chi ) by bascily doing almost anytype of internal arts. the main ones are taijiquan, xingyiquan,and baguazhang ( id recommand a teacher if your going to train in these arts ). right now im developing my chi by doing zhan zhuang ( stationary or static qigong which you dont need a teacher for ) and simple qigong exercises.

It seems strange to me that this is coming from me, but I have to say I disagree somewhat.
You can learn a lot of things without a teacher, but if you learn them correctly is another question. If you have no teacher, some things are "easy" to learn and some things are extremly hard.

I think Zhan Zhuang isn`t exactly easy. You can never be 100% sure that you`re doing it correctly, unless a teacher checks you out. A good thing about Zhan Zhuang though, is that it doesn`t have bad side effects if you do it incorrectly. Or does it?

How does your friend know what the correct posture is?
There is a lot more to proper standing than what you see on the outside. The outside is where Zhan Zhuang begins, it is from there that the practiotioner relaxes more and more and learns to 'listen' to their body and thus bring the practice to a more internal level.
As an internal method of training, Zhan Zhuang has many different areas of focus that must be combined. The structure, the mind, and the emotions.
Is your body in a state where a teacher or partner can physicaly apply pressure without the engaement of the musculature?
Is your mind in a state of rest?
Where are your emotions?
These are the main areas one needs to focs on when standing.
Keep in mind that standing is not only a useful tool as far as training internal power. It is also a way of meditating.

I suppose that I will always stand in disagreement that a teacher is not needed to check your Zhan Zhuang. The teacher is there because they know more than you on a particular subject and you are there to learn. Not to mention that the teacher can point out micro adjustments that need to be made to insure you are practicing correctly. Even though it seems simple to do, Zhan Zhuang can have potentially negative side effects if not trained properly, this is why a teacher is necessary. The teacher can also lead you to more rapid progress than you might be able to achieve on your own.
Have the teachers help when it is available and use the teachers teachings on your own when they are not available, this is the way to make progress in the IMA's. Get a teacher and train your butt off!

Kind regards,

Chris

good point

Hi, fisherman.

Without disagreeing in the least, I'd like to ask if you could elaborate a little on this statement:

"Zhan Zhuang can have potentially negative side effects if not trained properly"

as my occupation puts me in a position where I'm (among many other things of course) trying to help people with their posture, it could be important for me to know of any such potential danger!

Thank's

what is a energy dispersion and a burn out? and the having the over-abundant sexual disire is a weird one.

From someone who is by NO means an expert (me) ...

Energy dispersion is when your strength disperses to the limbs and becomes external strength, while internal strength becomes emptied.

Burnout, as I understand it, is similar to what weightlifters call overtraining, except it can be worse with qigong because the central nervous system may be affected more.

The overabundance of sexual desire is probably something you wont need to worry about, but when chi and vitality increases, so does 'sexual energy' and what is considered 'original chi'. The increase in 'sexual energy' is not a bad thing, but not every practicioner is used to it and can get a little lost in their sexual desires if a firm foundation is not set in place first.

Fisherman can give you a more experienced account for what can go wrong since he has more years practice than I.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to scare you off, just be careful and mindful of what you are doing, and know that Fisherman is an experienced veteran in the IMAs and that he gives good advice.