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Learn tai chi and qi gong for health
China has an holistic approach to maintaining good health that includes eating well and adequate exercise. Traditional Chinese Medicine includes food cures, acupuncture, massage therapy and the remedial exercises of Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
About Tai Chi
Tai Chi
"Tai" means great or extreme. "Chi" means our "life energy" or "vital force".
Tai Chi, or Taijiquan, in English translates to "fist of the Great Absolute" , reflecting its origins as a martial art.
"Tai Chi: Developed in the 16th century by Chen Wangting, a retired warrior, Tai Chi (or Tai Chi Chuan) was initially a martial art form."
https://groundedmma.com/tai-chi-vs-qi-gong/
Today, Tai Chi combines gentle movements with deep breathing and imagery to promote physical and mental well-being. We will be learning the Yang Style 24 Form Tai Chi.
Health benefits of Tai Chi
Studies have confirmed that regular practice of tai chi can increase our bone density, reduce blood pressure, improve HDL's, assist with fatigue and depression, and reduce inflammatory/stress related pathways. It's helpful to prevent falls, assist with COPD, cognitive capacity in older persons, Parkinson Disease and generally increase strength.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40688454/
About QiGong
Qigong
"Qi" is our vital/life energy or life force. "Gong" is skill cultivated through steady practice. Qi Gong is much older than Tai Chi and has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The movements are often simpler than Tai Chi, and often done in close quarters. That is, you don't move around as much as you do with Tai Chi, and need less space. Great to do in motel rooms while you travel :-)
We will be learning Ba Duan Jin Qigong (Eight Section Brocade) and Taiji Qigong (Shibashi).
Health benefits of Qigong
Each form stimulates and sends Chi to a particular ORGAN system (Chinese Meridian or Channel). So while the exercises awaken our interoception and we become more aware of our body on the inside, the long-term physical and mental benefits of this practise is immeasurable due to the positive effects on our health.
"Beneficial results from practicing Qigong were reported in 97% of studies."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32696918/
"Qigong: Qigong’s history dates back over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest forms of health care in the world. It’s deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts. Qigong was initially practiced for spiritual growth and longevity, with a strong emphasis on breathing techniques, gentle movements, and meditation."
MY TAI CHI JOURNEY
About your instructor
From my teenage years I suffered spinal challenges that required physiotherapy and to be honest, that didn't really work for me. In my early 20’s I suffered IBD and frequent headaches, had an iron "distribution" problem (could absorb iron but my system didn't distribute it well so that required iron supplements frequently). Keeping active helped, but then I stopped playing touch football, and later started having children and my back pain increased, and (LOL) I didn't even know what a remedial massage therapist was back then.
After spending about $4K on chiropractic treatments which in the end were making me worse, I gave it all up and decided to learn Tai Chi because, I had read it was good for headaches. Daily practise from an instructional video (Grandmaster Gary Khor, founder of Australian Academy of Tai Chi) and a few months on, I had no back pain, no head aches, and my IBD was pretty much gone. How surprised was I to learn it did more than fix headaches?
Later on in Emerald, I trained for a few years with a teacher called Michael who has long since left town. We practised in the Emerald Botanical Gardens, Michael took us through Yang Style Tai Chi 40 form to 108 form and Tai Chi Sword 42 form.
When I moved to Toowooba I attended Australian Academy of Tai Chi.
Now I have practiced Tai Chi for 29 years and it is always my go-to when I feel crappy or stressed. It helps me to relax, to find inner peace, to energise. It’s difficult to explain just how you feel when you let it take over, but I read something that almost says it for me, so I will quote Oliver Herzfeld of the Tai Chi Foundation:
“Tai chi is not something you conquer. It is something you befriend. The more you listen, the more it teaches, not only about movement, but about yourself. So, if you are curious, begin. Go slowly. Be patient. Let it unfold. Tai chi will meet you, not where you think you should be, but exactly where you are.”
https://www.taichifoundation.org/10-things-you-should-know-before-starting-a-tai-chi-practice/
It is my goal to introduce you to this wonderful practise and show you how to use it to fortify your mind and body in ways you may not have realised.
Come and join me on this journey of personal and inter-personal discovery.
