Universal Tao, Inner Smile and Chi Kung

A Tao session where breath, movement and attention work together. We carry old practices such as the Inner Smile and the Six Healing Sounds into ordinary daily life.

What is this work?

Universal Tao is a body of practice passed on by Grand Master Mantak Chia. I took my training and certificate from him in Thailand. In the session we experience several of the core practices of this tradition together.

In the Inner Smile you take your attention to your organs one by one and smile there. It sounds simple, and it is simple to do; that is the good part of it.

In the Six Healing Sounds we make particular sounds along with the breath. In the Chi Kung part we join breath and attention through slow, repeated movement.

What do we do in a session?

We begin with a short conversation and look at how you are that day. Then I show the practices step by step and we do them together. At the end of the session you are left with a short set you can continue on your own at home.

This is not a medical treatment; it is a practice that works the body and the attention together. The experience differs from person to person.

Comfortable clothes are enough. We practise together in the session so that you can continue on your own at home.

Frequently asked questions

What is Universal Tao, and where did you train in it?

Universal Tao is a body of practices handed down by Grand Master Mantak Chia, in which breath, movement and attention work together. I trained with him in Thailand and received my certificate there. In a session I share a few of the core practices of the tradition: the Inner Smile, the Six Healing Sounds and Chi Kung.

What is the Inner Smile meditation and how is it done?

The Inner Smile is a practice in which you bring your attention to your organs, one after another, and smile at each of them. That really is all there is to it, which is why I like it so much. I guide you through it in the session so that you can carry on with it at home on your own.

What are the Six Healing Sounds and Chi Kung practices?

The Six Healing Sounds pair specific sounds with your breathing, and Chi Kung links breath and attention through slow, repeated movements. Both are old Tao practices that fit easily into an ordinary day. Despite the name, this is not a medical treatment; it’s a way of working with body and attention, and people experience it differently.

What happens in a Universal Tao session, and what do I wear?

We open with a short chat about how you are that day, then I show each practice step by step and we do it together. You leave with a short set you can repeat at home by yourself. Comfortable clothes are all you need; there’s no equipment to bring and nothing to prepare beforehand.

Can I learn Chi Kung and the Inner Smile in Istanbul or online?

Yes. Tao sessions are one to one, either in person at Şifa Köyü (Healing Farm) in Şile, Istanbul, or online, and I can guide you in English. Write to us for available times and the fee, and tell me which practice you’re most curious about, so I know where to begin with you.

Is there a qigong class for beginners in English in Istanbul?

Yes, though it is a private session, not a group class. I’m Merve Tüfekçi, and I guide beginners through Chi Kung (qigong), the Inner Smile and the Six Healing Sounds in English, at Şifa Köyü in Şile, Istanbul, or online. I show each practice step by step and we do it together, so you leave with a short set to continue at home. It is not a medical treatment, and the experience differs from person to person.

Can I learn the Six Healing Sounds online from a Mantak Chia trained practitioner?

Yes, I teach the Six Healing Sounds online, one to one. I’m Merve Tüfekçi, and I took my Universal Tao training and certificate from Grand Master Mantak Chia in Thailand. In the Six Healing Sounds we make particular sounds along with the breath; I show them step by step and we practise together, in English if you prefer. This is a practice for body and attention, not a medical treatment. Write to us for a time.

What I have written on this

Important information: These services are not intended as treatment and do not prevent or cure any illness. I am not a medical doctor; the sessions I give are experiential practices for personal awareness, spiritual exploration and wellbeing. If you have an ongoing health concern or treatment, please consult your doctor.

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