It’ll come as no surprise that I’ll start this blog post with the usual caveat:
Qigong is best learned directly from a Qigong master or suitably qualified teacher.
But the cold truth is, not many of us live just down the road from a great Qigong master. You might not be able to travel tens of thousands of miles to learn Qigong. You might not be able to invest thousands in your tuition. You might not be able to leave family commitments for extended periods of time to attend courses.
I know that there are 1000’s of dedicated, disciplined and determined people who want to learn Qigong, but for whatever reason are unable to make the sacrifices that are often necessary in order to learn directly, face to face.
There are teachers who believe that if you’re not prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to learn directly from them – then you are not worthy to be taught. You have not demonstrated that you are a worthy student. I don’t subscribe to that belief.
For me, one of the core principals of Qigong is that it should complement your life, not take it over. I don’t believe you have to get into debt, spend extended time away from your family or travel 1000’s of miles to learn Qigong.
Though you might have to if you wish to learn from the very best source, but what I’m saying is that it’s not essential. Remember – Good, Better, Best.
Learning from a good Qigong book = good
Learning from a good online Qigong course = better
Learning directly from a Qigong master/teacher = best
How to Choose the Best Online Course: The Five Things to Check
Armed with the 5 vital criteria I’m going to share with you, you will be in a better position to find the best course for you.
You’ve got to do your research before parting with your hard earned cash. Because if you make a mistake, it’s not just your money you’ve invested, it’s your time you’ve invested.
Remember, time is the most precious commodity you possess. Don’t invest it in something that isn’t going to give you a good return on your investment. Do a bit of homework first and you can minimize the risk.
Here we go:
1) Check the credentials of the person who put the course together.
What is their history? Do they teach Qigong or do they teach everything from Crystals, to Angels, and do a bit of Qigong on the side?
I remember a Qigong master looking at a business card pinned up on a restaurant wall whilst waiting to be seated. Looking at the claimed credentials on the card he commented that maybe he should learn from them.
It takes time, effort and practice – lots of it to be skilled with Qigong. It is my belief that if someone is claiming to be skilled in several different disciplines, I would question just how deep their skills really are.
2) What material are they offering?
Whilst online material is useful in that you can access it in many different locations, if it doesn’t incorporate video material, then you’d be better of with a good book. Because a book is far more transportable.
Check how the material is delivered, does it require a high level of computer literacy to access? Do they offer support should you have questions or get stuck?
Look at the cost of the course and look at what they are offering. Does it seem like value to money to you?
Consider carefully the claims the course makes, do they seem outlandish, non sense or unrealistic?
3) Is it comprehensive?
Look at the blurb for the course. Does it cover setting aims and objectives? Does it have tools for measuring your progress? Is it specific? Does it sound systematic?
I was taught that when writing, presenting, teaching anything there are 5 qualities you must aim to achieve:
a) Comprehensive – your material must be complete.
b) Right Level – your material must be targeted correctly to the audiences level.
c) Systematic – your material must be presented in a clear step by step fashion.
d) Beneficial – your material must meet the needs of your audience
e) Enjoyable – your material must be engaging, encouraging and enjoyable.
Does the online Qigong course your investigating meet this qualities?
4) What are others saying?
Check around online to see what others are saying, either about the teacher or the course.
Go to google and enter the course name and do a search. What do you find? Facebook can be a good place to check – especially if the teacher has a page. Check out what is being said on there. Forums are another good source of feedback.
5) Does it come with a money back guarantee?
Listen. I make a lot of material: books, reports, videos, courses available online and I can tell you that costs of creating and delivering that information today is almost nothing.
Unlike physical books, courses and DVD’s which can be very costly.
With an online course you are paying for the quality of the content. And I don’t mean how well it is designed, how flashy the website is, or whether the video is in high definition or not.
I mean how well does the material help you to fulfill your aims and objectives? If it doesn’t meet your expectations then you are entitled to get your money back.
So make sure that the course comes with some kind of guarantee. Is the provider willing to ‘put their money where their mouth is?’ A 60 day money back guarantee is the minimum you should be looking for.
Remember – Good, Better, Best. Learning Qigong online may be the best option for you right now. My objective with this blog post has been to make it easier for you to choose the best one for you.
***Shameless Self Promotion Alert***
Warning: I’m going to break from my British, reserved, upbringing and indulge in some shameless self promoting and recommend that a great place to start your search for a great online Qigong course is my very own 22 week Qigong Secrets Home Study Course.
You can get a 2 week $4.95 trial at EnjoyQigong.com
***Shameless Self Promotion Over***
Bye for now
Marcus James Santer