qigong (exercises for health)
What is qigong
NEW! Weekly evening class on Thursdays at Horsforth School from 11th September, 2008. For details and enrolment see www.horsfortheveningclasses.org.uk. Contact Sue for further information on the course content.
Qigong is literally breath work but the most useful interpretation is energy work. In practice it is a blanket term for a wide range of Chinese exercises for cultivation and maintenance of health. These exercises vary from the deceptively simple to the challenging. There are exercises that are within the grasp of all people.
Qigong is unusual because it is so versatile, it can be used:
- To bring health to both mind and body, helping stress
- As an introduction to regular exercise
- For those who really do not like going to the gym!
- But it can also be another type of exercise for the athletic
Last but not least, it is an excellent complement to acupuncture and tuina
about learning qigong
Like many other Eastern disciplines, learning qigong is as much about the journey as it is about the results - and it is a lifetime's journey because there is never an end to the learning. It helps if you can focus on enjoying every step of the way and increase your awareness of small changes in yourself. The successful student may appear the least physically proficient but they are the one who has seen that qigong is a different way of being. It is empowering, it is a way of being self-aware and it is a healthy way to be. Enigmatic - but that is the charm and fascination of qigong!
Using qigong sensibly
Sue Dunham cannot take responsibility for your fitness to do these exercises. Tai Chi and qigong are not a substitute for regular medical care. It is the responsibility of the individual to seek advice and consent from their medical practitioner if they have any concerns.
Qigong classes
Contact Sue if you would be interested in joining a class. 1 to 1, 1 to 2 and 1 to 3 classes are also available. Sue also does consultancy work including taster qigong sessions tailored to the group, please ask for details.
For those who would lke to try qigong before committing to a class, please arrange to meet me for a taster session.
How does qigong work?
There is nothing strange about how qigong works, it benefits the mind and body entirely through cultivating your ability to:
- Bring your focus entirely to your movements
- Correct your posture and relax
- Move freely and gracefully
These should come as naturally to us as they do to a toddler but ... there is a lifetime's challenge - and a lifetime's interest - in working on these three. It is an act of faith (in the secular sense) to believe that this will be the case but the classes are structured to help you develop these skills gradually.
Styles of qigong
sources
Exercises in the class are drawn from many sources and teachers. The qigong forms (sequences of movements) mainly come from Wild Goose Qigong, based on the excellent teaching of Dr Bingkun Hu. These are challenging forms that are widely used in China and throughout the world. They are comprehensive, beautiful and support your health if performed correctly. Warm up and warm down exercises and other popular qigong such as the Eight Brocades - Ba Duan Jing - will be taught.
why wild goose qigong?
The moving forms of Wild Goose qigong help all levels of student to learn relaxed movement and posture. Taking inspiration from the flowing, natural movements of a wild creature takes the human stress out of the equation. For me, and I hope, for you this is the door to a different way of approaching your mental and physical health.
Resources on qigong
General qigong
www.everyday-taichi.com has a section devoted to qigong, and in it is a page with links to resources on the eight brocades - Ba Duan Jing
wild goose qigong
Site for Dr Bingkun Hu www.drhuqigong.com
Visits by Dr Bingkun Hu to the UK are advertised on Ken Morgan's site www.qigonghealing.co.uk
