In response to the pandemic I have been offering online tuition and group classes in Qigong (pronounced chee-goong). This is a type of mind-body exercise that is renowned for it's health benefits, in particular it's ability to promote mental-emotional wellbeing. I have had great feedback from private clients and also teaching large corporate groups, so invite you or your company to contact me about organising classes.
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ABOUT QIGONG
Qigong is known for its ability to assist the body in healing injury and disease and for promoting longevity. For this reason in China (it's place of origin) it is like keeping a 'personal health insurance' and is hugely popular with people above 60. Qigong is very gentle on the body and so increases circulation without putting excess stress on the nervous system or mind. Because qigong involves mastering the breath, it has an excellent effect on our mood and alleviating stress.
Qigong doesn't require any special equipment or a large amount of space. It is helpful in alleviating back and neck pain, stress, and can greatly assist in the healing of many illnesses. In fact, there are many hospitals in China that prescribe forms of qigong as medicine. Qigong is actually an umbrella term for a wide range of traditional self-care practices that involve gentle stretching, mindfulness, breath-work, visualisation and affirmation, self-massage, among other things.
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Alex has enjoyed the practice of qigong for over 20 years and has been teaching in various capacities for over 10 years. He is insured alongside his acupuncture policy and can offer tailor-made programs to suit all individuals or circumstances.
Alex runs regular online classes via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The charge for individuals is £10 and for private/corporate classes £60/hour, payable via bank transfer. For more information and to reserve a space contact Alex on (+44) 079212 65432 or by email at [email protected]. Once payment is made an email with the Zoom invite link and password will follow.
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ABOUT QIGONG
Qigong is known for its ability to assist the body in healing injury and disease and for promoting longevity. For this reason in China (it's place of origin) it is like keeping a 'personal health insurance' and is hugely popular with people above 60. Qigong is very gentle on the body and so increases circulation without putting excess stress on the nervous system or mind. Because qigong involves mastering the breath, it has an excellent effect on our mood and alleviating stress.
Qigong doesn't require any special equipment or a large amount of space. It is helpful in alleviating back and neck pain, stress, and can greatly assist in the healing of many illnesses. In fact, there are many hospitals in China that prescribe forms of qigong as medicine. Qigong is actually an umbrella term for a wide range of traditional self-care practices that involve gentle stretching, mindfulness, breath-work, visualisation and affirmation, self-massage, among other things.
---
Alex has enjoyed the practice of qigong for over 20 years and has been teaching in various capacities for over 10 years. He is insured alongside his acupuncture policy and can offer tailor-made programs to suit all individuals or circumstances.
Alex runs regular online classes via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The charge for individuals is £10 and for private/corporate classes £60/hour, payable via bank transfer. For more information and to reserve a space contact Alex on (+44) 079212 65432 or by email at [email protected]. Once payment is made an email with the Zoom invite link and password will follow.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF QIGONG
- Reduces stress. Qigong is an exercise that works both the body and the mind. As you chi flows through practice, your mind and body begin to relax and as you being to relax, your stress reduces.
- Balances emotions. As your stress reduces, your emotions become balanced and you’re able to develop a clear and tranquil mind. These benefits can help those suffering from depression and anxiety.
- Improves overall well-being. Because qigong strengthens the body and the mind, a regular practice will give you an improved sense of well-being.
- Increases focus. Studies of qigong practitioners have found a boost in beta waves which indicate a strong focus and sharpening of the mind.
- Improves memory. Given that qigong sharpens our focus, it helps to improve our memory.
- Improves quality of life for cancer patients. Studies have shown that qigong can help improve the quality of life for cancer patients by helping to reduce stress and fatigue. It has also helped with improving sleep, balance and strength.
- Increased Energy and Vitality. Qigong improves chi flow which naturally leads to increased energy and vitality.
- Aids in digestion. Your digestive organs get massaged during this practice which brings more oxygenated blood to them. This improves the overall function of the digestive system.
- Builds bone density. Studies have shown increase in bone density amongst qigong practitioners, most noticeably in post-menopausal women.
- Builds the immune system. A study conducted showed that practicing qigong increased the monocyte and lymphocyte quantities which are 2 white blood cell types that make up most of the lymphatic immune system.
- Builds power. Qigong is an internal art that builds “relaxed power”. Instead of fighting and straining like in traditional western exercises, it loosens you up and allows the energy to flow.
- Clears your skin. Practicing qigong allows your body to eliminate toxins which in turn, gives you a clearer complexion.
- Lowers blood pressure. In a 30 year study, researchers found that qigong practitioners were able to decrease their blood pressure medication or get off the blood pressure drugs altogether.
- Decreases stroke risk. In the same blood pressure study, researchers also found that these same qigong practitioners enjoyed a reduced risk of stroke.
- Destroys free radicals. In a study done on healthy individuals and individual suffering from a variety of diseases, the concentration of free radicals was dramatically reduced for all individuals through qigong treatment.
- Improves sleep. The deep relaxation and mental quiet you get from practicing qigong help you to enjoy a deeper and more restorative sleep.
- Slows respiration. Practicing qigong over the long term slows down breathing. This slowing of the respiration allows us to take in more oxygen.
- Improves asthma. An added benefit of slowing down the breathing is that qi blockages in the lungs are relieved. It’s believed that these qi blockages are the root cause of asthma.
- Improves cardio-pulmonary function. The slow deep breathing of qigong strengthens both the heart and the lungs.
- Improves circulation. By increasing the elasticity of the blood vessels, the practice of qigong helps to improve circulation.
- Improves flexibility. The movements of qigong have been shown to increase the flexibility of its practitioners.
- Improves kidney function. Qigong has an exercise that targets the kidneys. It stimulates the qi within the kidneys which allows them to heal in patients with chronic kidney disease.
- Improves posture. The muscles used for respiration are also the muscles that support the posture. Because of qigong’s focus on correct deep and relaxed breathing, the posture is also improved.
- Improves skin elasticity. Free radicals are a major cause of tissue degeneration and because qigong destroys free radicals, it helps to improve skin elasticity.
- Increases balance. Due to qigong’s low impact deliberate movements, it can help to improve the practitioners balance.
- Speeds recovery. One can practice qigong after injury or surgery. Doing the gentle movements using your uninjured parts can help speed recovery by increasing circulation and energy flow to all parts of the body.
- Loosens muscles. As qigong builds relaxed power, it helps to loosen the muscles.
- Lowers resting heart rate. A study of a 12-week qigong training program and at the conclusion, the qigong practitioners experienced a significantly improved heart rate.
- Normalizes EKG. Deliberate control of the autonomic nervous system which regulates the heart rate helps to normalize the EKG.
- Prevents joint injury. The better balance you learn from practicing qigong teaches you how to move without straining or locking your joints. It’s gentle stretches which increase flexibility are also helpful for preventing joint injury.
- Prevents muscle spasms. As mentioned earlier, qigong also helps to develop slow and deep breathing which opens constricted blood vessels. This process helps to reduce muscle spasms.
- Reduces pain. Pain is often associated with qi blockages. Practicing qigong removes those blockages, allowing for the flow of qi which reduces pain.
- Relieves bronchitis. A regular qigong practice can relieve bronchitis because it opens and strengthens the lungs.
- Relieves migraines. Another great qigong benefit is that it can help to relieve migraines by building deep relaxing, strengthening organs and bringing back internal balance.
- Accessible to the seriously ill and bedridden. A wide assortment of people with a wide variety of physical capabilities can practice qigong because it is a very gentle practice. A person in a weakened condition can perform these exercises sitting or lying down and it’ll enable him or her to strengthen her body and internal organs.
- Strengthens ligaments. In the same way that it strengthens joints, qigong can strengthen ligaments.
- Strengthens nerves. Qi (or chi) flows along the nerves and qigong’s techniques strengthens the mind-body connection. With continued qigong practice, body awareness grows, putting us in touch with our nervous system. This in turn makes our nerves stronger.
https://microabode.com/qigong-benefits/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3085832/
https://www.inner-tranquility.com/qigong-osteoporosis-and-bone-density
www.researchgate.net/publication/262694652_Qigong_Effects_on_Heart_Rate_Variability_and_Peripheral_Vasomotor_Responses
Qigong Traditions & Lineage
There is a huge array of diversity in qigong practice, with many thousands of different forms, traditions and lineages. There are ancient lineages that trace their history back through over 40 generations, over 1000 years ago. There are many newer adaptations and modern forms of qigong. As a generalisation, qigong traditions have been closely associated with 3 cultural niches: 1.) doctors and those seeking health and longevity; 2.) martial artists seeking supra-normal prowess; 3.) monks and spiritual seekers.
I have been greatly blessed to have connected and learnt from a number of world-class teachers. These teachings greatly inform my current practice and style of tuition:
Utmost Gratitude to these wonderful people and the gifts they share. Amongst other traditions I have benefited from the life teachings of Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson, B.K. Francis, Daniel Reid, Zhizheng Wang, and Master Lam Kam Chuen. I've also greatly benefited from the One Finger Zen Qigong as taught to me by Tai Long.
I make no claims to be a lineage-holder or representative of any of these teachers. I believe that to really enjoy qigong requires a unique type of resonance, a magnetic serendipity that the Chinese called YuanFen. If you can find a way to connect with a qigong tradition you are most certainly very lucky, for the benefits for health and wellbeing are immense.
To read my blog on finding the right qigong for you click HERE.
I have been greatly blessed to have connected and learnt from a number of world-class teachers. These teachings greatly inform my current practice and style of tuition:
- Yeung Family Tai Chi Chuan; as taught by Masters Yeung Ma Lee and Murray Douglas.
- Jing Dong Gong; as taught by Master Michael Lomax
- Meditation & Energy Arts; as taught by Guy Burgs.
Utmost Gratitude to these wonderful people and the gifts they share. Amongst other traditions I have benefited from the life teachings of Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson, B.K. Francis, Daniel Reid, Zhizheng Wang, and Master Lam Kam Chuen. I've also greatly benefited from the One Finger Zen Qigong as taught to me by Tai Long.
I make no claims to be a lineage-holder or representative of any of these teachers. I believe that to really enjoy qigong requires a unique type of resonance, a magnetic serendipity that the Chinese called YuanFen. If you can find a way to connect with a qigong tradition you are most certainly very lucky, for the benefits for health and wellbeing are immense.
To read my blog on finding the right qigong for you click HERE.