Qigong is a 4,000 year old Chinese health and well-being practice that encompasses thousands of styles and lineages today. Qigong is even considered to be the grandmother of Kung fu and Tai chi. Qigong involves movement, sound, breath, self-massage, and awareness. It is still practiced by many Chinese citizens today.
Loosely translated, Qi means “vital energy or breath" and Gong means “work or practice”. Qigong means to cultivate this vital energy in our body, mind and soul, and to integrate this into all facets of our daily life.
This Qi or vital energy surrounds us but also follows energetic pathways throughout our body. These energetic pathways, called meridians, allow the flow of the Qi or vital energy to move through our bodies, allowing all the systems including our organs to bring us life and keep us healthy.
When this vital energy is blocked and unable to flow, or not flowing in a balanced way, pain, inflammation, emotional imbalance, and disease set in.
Unfortunately, our culture is based on the pursuance of “success”. That means pushing, working and going beyond our means. Many times that doesn’t include just financial means but our energetic means as well. This is why we are typically stressed, fatigued, and unfulfilled. We have lost the ability to nourish ourselves on a mind, body, and spiritual level.
Qigong helps us slow down, become mindful, and support the balanced flow of energies throughout our body. When we do this we find our base line of health and vitality increases. We are nourished. We are vital. We feel fulfilled.
Science has shown Qigong helps with many health conditions including depression, anxiety, and stress. Stress affects every single medical condition so it’s a no wonder Qigong helps to support and manage many health issues. These include Chronic fatigue, High blood pressure, Fibromyalgia, COPD, Parkinson’s, Chronic heart failure, fall prevention, knee osteoarthritis, symptoms, side-affects of cancer, cognition and memory, and even Covid. These many studies may be small but still lead us towards understanding the ancients were on to something. Today we can view this as a complimentary practice for moving meditation, stress reduction, and managing chronic illness.
Qigong is slow, gentle and mindful. Unlike yoga, it is normally done standing, but can be modified for practicing in a chair. Many of my elder students who are no longer able to practice yoga are able to practice Qigong. As I age, I find that the combination of Qigong practice and gentle yoga works well for me.
I teach slow nourishing Qigong flows with some mix of medical Qigong and self massage. Come and try a class. My focus is helping us slow down, become aware of our bodies and find our connection with the natural rhythms of nature. I hope you’ll join me. I am a registered yoga teacher (RYT) and self-trained in Qigong as I work towards my Qigong teacher certification through Marisa Cranfill of YOQI.
Discover this simple yet amazing practice! Like any practice, clearance from your doctor is important. Contact me with any questions you might have.
As my teacher, Marisa, says before practice, “Let’s move some Qi!”
It’s your lucky day. For new students: use this coupon code: TRYQIGONG for a 100% discount on any one, 1 hour- 1.25 hour Qigong class.
References:
https://www.nqa.org/what-is-qigong