Lifestyle Qigong

What is Qigong?

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Qigong - pronounced “chee-gong” - is one of the oldest and most widely practiced exercise systems in the world.  Translated literally, Qigong means "Breath Work".  There are various types of Qigong.  The type we practice together in the sessions I lead is ‘Self-Healing Qigong’.  This uses specific breathing techniques combined with specific movements to gain greater access to one's own internal energy, or "Chi".

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As a holistic soft form internal healing art, Qigong involves working with your Chi to perform the specific exercises which help you to rebalance your internal energy with your external (or physical) energy.  This helps you, as a whole person (physically, mentally, emotionally, psychically and spiritually) to re-centre, rebalance, re-align, strengthen, relax, and generally make you more fit and healthy, more connected internally, and more like your whole best self.  That sounds complicated, but most of it happens without having to think about it, due to the amazing exercises which have been passed down and adapted over 5000 years.  It may sound far-fetched to anyone unfamiliar with Qigong, but the exercises have an almost magical quality.  By allowing and assisting your body to make particular shapes and forms and flows, which I guide you through, you invoke the self-healing power of your Chi, and reap the rewards and benefits.  It’s nothing that shouldn’t happen naturally all of the time; but our modern lifestyles block this natural process, so we need to give it a jump start and a helping hand, and Qigong is the best way I’ve found of doing this in my 40 years or so of being interested in and fascinated by these things, with much study and practice and trial and error along the way.

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Most Qigong exercises are relatively simple to learn, and the benefits are immediate and also progressive.  There are countless different Qigong exercises.  It used to be said that every village in China had its own folk Qigong exercise!  Some are quite specific and others more general, some fast and some slow, and all of the myriad graduations in between, but all share the same common principles; and all share the same common goal of helping you to achieve greater health and fitness, greater oneness and balance and harmony, and as a result a more peaceful and happier life.