Tai Chi prevents falls…..

BBC - Tai Chi prevents falls in The elderly

Slow Movement with Awareness: Better than Hard Exercise? | Psychology Today.

Slow Movement with Awareness: Better than Exercise?

How you move is as important as how much you move

Published on July 6, 2010

Cardiovascular exercise is now known to be essential for health and well-being. If exercise is your only form of movement, however, it is not a very balanced diet. There is mounting evidence that slow movement, with body sense – awareness, has astounding health benefits by itself and in combination with regular exercise routines.

According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, there are a growing number of pain clinics and integrative medicine centers that offer slow movement, awareness-based therapies (like hatha yoga, tai chi and qi gong) for pain in a wide variety of conditions including “pain caused by cancer and cancer treatments, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases and conditions.”

Throw away the pills? Stop getting injections? Scrap the pain management therapy groups? Stop the sweaty workouts? Maybe not entirely, but regular slow movement classes are increasingly seen as having essential “nutrients” for the body.

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Qi Gong (pronounced Chee Gong), is a slow, gentle, moving meditation. The movements, which are easy to learn, encourage a climate of internal calm, opening up the energy pathways of the body and  promoting the free flow of oxygen throughout the body.  This has profound implications both in treatment of diseases of the body and mind, and in the creation of high-level wellness.

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An excellent book on QiGong as a way to all round improved health:

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Dragon and Tiger Medical QiGong

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Mastery Journal – The international ezine on mastery in Qigong, Coaching and life.

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Shiatsu and Qi Gong

– are highly compatible. Both aim to clear blockages and harmonize energy.

When we are more balanced physically and mentally, our inner  healing resources are more able to do their work.

Shiatsu is a hands-on form of body therapy, whilst Qi Gong (Chinese Yoga) is a practice which continues the beneficial effects.

Gentle fluid movement, connected with full body breathing, stimulates the flow of vital energy, creating a dynamic balance of body and mind.

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Benefits of Qi Gong Practice

1) Qi Gong improves the motion of blood, warms the blood and enhances whole body circulation.

2) Qi Gong stimulates appetite, sexual function, assimilation of nutrients, and digestion/elimination.

3) Qi Gong accelerates metabolism, weight Loss, and decreases need for sleep.

4) Qi Gong bolsters your immune system by reducing Cortisol, a known inhibitor of cytokine production.

5) Qi Gong improves dexterity, reflexes, and prevents osteoporosis in clinical studies.

6) Qi Gong opens arteries allowing greater brain-based micro-circulation to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

7) Qi Gong enhances mental acuity, focus and concentration.

8. Qi Gong helps us to calm down and become more peaceful.

9) Qi Gong helps spiritual growth, regardless of faith or beliefs.

An estimated 200 Million people practice Qi Gong worldwide. The list of things Qi Gong can heal includes: Digestive problems, poor blood circulation, endocrine and thyroid disorders, migraines, asthma, allergies, pain, high/low blood pressure, eye problems, cancer, diabetes etc. More serious diseases require food based healing in addition to Qi Gong.

More people are seeking holistic solutions for their health. Qi Gong and nutrition based healing offer affordable non-intrusive approaches that work. People are questioning the traditional methods of cut, medicate, and wait until a disease occurs.

Everything is possible when we are in charge of our own health.

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Chungliang Al Huang.  My teacher, mentor, inspiration.

Enjoy!

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“Wise people breathe from deep within them,

Whereas, most people breathe from their throat.”

- Chuang Tzu

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Shibashi : Eighteen Postures Tai Ji Qi Gong

 

 

 

 

Qi Gong relates to practices which work to support and enhance the flow of vital energy.

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QI GONG (CHI KUNG):

The science and art of cultivating this vital life force energy.  Developing awareness of the flow of Qi (Chi) in the body has powerful implications in the prevention, and healing of dis-ease of body and mind.

The particular form I teach is based on the Tai Chi form. The movements are easy to learn, yet profound in their effect, helping to combat stress, prevent disease and promote optimum health and fitness. This is a very satisfying way to exercise the body while simultaneously relaxing the mind, enhancing performance in work and leisure.

Qi Gong teaches us, through gentle, easily learned movements, to breathe more fully and freely -  Since oxygen is the essential fuel of life, it may be quickly grasped that ‘everything’ works better when infused with it.

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When we do these exercises it is literally a way of ‘re-membering’ (putting back together into one, integrated whole) our disparate parts, accessing our essential nature.

Qi Gong reminds us that we are connected to (and supported by) everything else.

“When we try to pick out anything by itself

we find it hitched to everything else in the universe”.

- John Muir

 

•Qi Gong in the News:

New York Times article on Qi Gong

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© Copyright Robin Grant 2009