QIGONG
mindfulness & rejuvenation through movement
What is Qigong?
Qigong is an ancient exercise and breath-work system. Practical. Time-tested. Passed down through generations of Eastern Medical traditions to build physical resilience, wellbeing and vitality. It’s a cross between kung fu and moving meditation - similar to Tai Chi - that encourages a deep mind-body connection.
Most forms are practiced standing (although many can be practiced seated), using rhythmical motion - weight shifting, squatting and circular, spiralling movements.
The main difference between qigong and something like aerobics is the specific attention paid to the interior of the body. The aim is to cultivate awareness of things such as the breath, posture, and felt sensations in the body.
In true Chinese paradoxical style these mindful exercises are energising yet calming, strengthening yet relaxing, invigorating yet grounding.
Why practice Qigong?
Improved Energy: helps to cultivate and sustain steady energy levels and clear feelings of sluggishness and fatigue
Grounded Awareness: increases your internal connection (interoception) and spatial awareness (proprioception) through mindful movement and breath work, which helps to improve balance, coordination and posture
Joint & Muscle Relief: increases joint range of motion and a releases muscular tension through gentle articulation, stretching and mobilisation (including the shoulders, hips, spine and the often overlooked joints like the elbows, shoulder blades, wrists and ankles)
Nervous System Calming: soothes stress stored in the body, aiding deep relaxation and giving a racing or overactive mind a quiet place to settle
Styles Taught
Heaven & Earth Qigong
This deceptively simple 2-part, circular movement is an incredibly grounding and relaxing Qigong set. In traditional Chinese medical theory, it works predominantly with the Wood element - which corresponds to the joints, tendons and ligaments - helping to encourage smooth, fluid movement throughout the body, and the mind.
The main benefits of this set are:
gentle articulation of the spine, shoulders and chest with soft stretching of the joints and ligaments
relaxation of the nervous system and mind through soothing, rhythmical, meditative movement
squatting movements that exercise and strengthen the hips, legs and lower back
Tai Chi Circling Hands
This set is a foundation for Tai Chi. It’s a progressive group of exercises that work with 3 circles - horizontal, vertical and coronal. The circles are made using spherical and spiralling motions of the arms, legs and waist.
Some of the benefits of these exercises are:
improved balance and leg strength from weight transference and continuous, yet gentle, twisting of the muscles
an understanding of the basic principles of tai chi - including the 4 energies of peng (spherical expansion), ji (focused extension), liu (yielding) and an (compression)
calming, circular movements which soothe the nervous system
Dragon and Tiger Qigong
A set of 7 simple movements originating from ancient Eastern traditions, this style of medical qigong is based on the acupuncture wellness model which aims to balance all aspects of health. The hands are moved near various acupuncture pathways to stimulate a sense of fluid movement and vitality. It’s low impact and is adaptable to seated practice in the event of illness or injury.
This qigong form specifically aims to:
gently articulate of all the main joints in the body, along with the ‘forgotten’ joints - the elbows, shoulder blades, wrists and ankles to increase range of motion and release tension from surrounding muscles and tissue
create a sense of clarity in the body of mind - reducing a sense of sluggishness, fatigue or fuzzy headedness
increase flexibility and balance through gentle stretching
calm the nervous system and mind whilst gently boosting energy levels