Qi What for Fitness and Health?

Qigong is a form of exercise, relaxation and meditation connecting your mind, body and spirit. I am fortunate enough to have a group that practises close by, that is not only in the perfect beachside location, it’s completely free of cost.

I practise Qi gong at the beach early in the morning

Benefits of Qi Gong Practice

It turns out Qigong is excellent for energy building in older people and any age with limited mobility. Through gentle controlled movements and breathing, Qigong may improve balance, promote greater mental focus, lower stress and anxiety, and decrease chronic disease risk.

Who would not want those kinds of benefits?

Though Qigong significantly aids the elderly or those in rehabilitation after hospitalization, injury or surgery, the gentle and controlled movement of Qigong has advantages for any age.

It claims to ease depression and lower blood sugar although scientific evidence of this benefit is lacking,

How Does Qigong Foster Well-Being

Specific movements aim to cleanse the twelve meridians of the body from blockages that are believed to cause ill health. Qigong has been used in Asia in rehabilitation after surgeries to help the body and mind return to health and nourish the spirit.

Qigong can harmonise, strengthen, and have a healing effect on the functioning of all the internal organs and bodily systems. It increases the supply and flow of energy throughout the body, can have a variety of rejuvenating effects and is believed to increase longevity, inducing a calm mental and emotional state.

Taichinews.com

Active qigong uses controlled, slow movements that are completed in a standing posture, and mainly involves the arms and upper body, so are simple enough even for the elderly while passive qigong involves stillness and calm breathing similar to traditional meditation.

Qigong includes repeating gentle, coordinated movements to promote blood and lymphatic drainage, balance, muscle strength and flexibility, and a greater awareness of one’s body in space (known as proprioception) (3Trusted Source).

Many people experience benefits that include:

• Clarity of the mind and body
• More energy and vitality
• Physical challenge symptoms reversed or disappeared
• Younger appearance
• Stabilised emotions
• Calm and peaceful feelings
• Higher levels of awareness and wellness

For four months last year, I committed to practising Qigong three times a week. Not only did I feel an increased sense of serenity and calm, I also felt I had much more strength in the upper body and an improved sense of balance, (so vital in older persons)

Additionally, there was another spin-off I wasn’t expecting.

It seems I felt able to deal with life’s challenges in a more balanced, confident way after several months of consistent practice – over three sessions a week, as opposed to one or even two, which did not seem as significant, or at least, as noticeable.

It could be an unhappy coincidence, but there’s been an associated slide backwards in emotional resilience since I injured my back last year and have been unable to complete this morning ritual, or exercise of any kind – until this week when I started attending the beachside group once again.

Perhaps, I have become a little dependent on this meditative form of exercise, at least in an emotional sense?

I guess there are worse things to become reliant on, right?

UPDATE:

As several people seem interested who don’t have groups nearby, there is always youtube. And it is nothing religious as one of my neighbours initially thought. That is Falun Gong – something entirely different, I think.

There are many resources and live demos on YouTube; short and long. Choose one that speaks to you.

This is one I recommend for beginners. It is not too long nor too strenuous but too will feel the calming effect immediately.

https://youtu.be/c

If the link to the Silk Brocade QiGong Practice doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL https://youtu.be/c