INTERNAL CULTIVATION

Internal cultivation

Internal work or internal alchemy is an ancient practice and serves as the cornerstone for many disciplines.
Thai massage is not the exception to this rule.
The Internal cultivation is developing the skills that can´t be seen: listening, intuition, presence, centering.
It is cleansing yourself from within, shedding what weighs you down to raise your vibration.
It is returning to your roots.

Personal alchemy is, of course, a discipline in its own right—not merely an add-on to another practice. Beyond the skills associated with thai yoga massage, there are other elements involved, making this alchemical work a vast undertaking. While each discipline approaches it differently, certain aspects serve as pillars for proper development. Without these “skills,” inner work becomes unfocused and chaotic; it is therefore crucial to recognize the need to dedicate time to personal growth in order to advance in Thai yoga massage just as one would in any other practice rooted in inner development, such as Taijiquan or Yoga, where there comes a point when simply accumulating techniques no longer fosters further progress.

Qigong is a term that encompasses the other disciplines; however, it can also refer to a specific practice. In that context, it focuses on developing bodily mobility and, through it, the movement of Qi. It can be coordinated with breathing and visualization.

Neigong
It focuses on developing internal space and internal Qi. *Nei* means “internal.” It is a system of self-development and healing based specifically on the Qi within us; there are many different types of Qi. Internal Qi is crucial, followed by external Qi, which also plays a role in our health.
However, the goal of *Neigong* is to elevate the level of Qi we engage with, thereby elevating the spirit as well.
There are other practices that utilize *Neigong* exercises to open up the body and improve movement.

Wai qi liao fa
It belongs to the system for developing external Qi, which focuses on protecting and healing the body. It works in conjunction with *Neigong*—which also aims to increase the level of Qi accessible to us on a daily basis—but specifically addresses external Qi (the energy surrounding us) alongside internal Qi. This system deals with the emission of Qi and is used in hospitals in China; it is commonly referred to as Medical Qigong.

The three disciplines share similar characteristics, which they approach from different perspectives, thereby complementing one another.