What is qi gong?
Qi gong is an ancient Chinese movement practice, all about prevention of illness (physical, mental, emotional...) and promotion of good health and wellbeing.
Tai chi, which many people have heard of, is a similar practice which evolved out of qi gong.
Qi = Energy
Gong = Work, or cultivation
It is a calm, slow series of movement and exercises working with the principles of Chinese medicine, the 5 Elements (see below) and the meridian system. It is also very closely aligned with nature and the natural rhythms of the seasons. The movements can be done standing or sitting, and work well for all levels of mobility. It isn't how high you lift your arms, more about having the intention within, of the movement. I have practiced in my mind the entire set of forms lying down in bed when not feeling up to a standing practice!
It is not important to have a full working knowledge of Chinese medicine of course! All that is needed is the willingness to practice these calming and mobilising exercises on a regular basis. Ideally daily, but a few times a week will still help. And this isn't an hour a day type of commitment, just 5 or 10 minutes of gentle movement and slow breathing is enough to help. Then maybe a longer session once a week of 30-60 mins.
I have been practicing qi gong almost daily since October 2019. In 2021 I attended a year long mentorship programme with my teacher Mimi Kuo-Deemer (https://www.mkdeemer.com/) and a cohort of 30 other students from around the world (the beauty of technology!).
Having experienced first hand the benefits of practicing qigong regularly (feeling calmer, having less frequent and milder anxiety, less clunking and clicking in my joints, ability to cope with grief) I want to now share this practice with you.
The 5 Elements These are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) these elements are represented by 5 primary organs (Yin organs, ones we cannot live without) and 5 secondary organs (Yang organs which we can live without if they are damaged or need to be removed). They are also associated with the seasons These are:
Wood - Liver and Gall Bladder; Spring
Fire - Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium and Triple Heater (this last one is not an actual physical organ in our body); Summer
Earth - Spleen and Stomach; Late Summer (but also any transition time between the seasons)
Metal - Lungs and Large Intestine; Autumn
Water - Kidneys and Urinary Bladder; Winter
Classes
These are to be confirmed, but please get in touch if you are interested.
© Lynne Roscrow
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