Tai Chi and Qigong
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no class 2/20
Our Tai Chi and Qigong classes begin and end with a short centering meditation. We incorporate Qigong movements before we begin the Tai Chi form to cultivate our energy. The Yang Style Short Form taught in our class is a low impact series of graceful movements connecting mind with body. Stress management skills are incorporated in our practice. Besides the health benefits of the exercises, our goal is to have fun learning skills and developing new habits to bring strength, joy, peacefulness and energy into our lives throughout each day.
While the graceful movements of Tai Chi have been long regarded as meditation in motion, Harvard Medical School has just published a report on The Health Benefits of Tai Chi that calls Tai Chi "medication in motion." (See link below).
Qigong is an ancient Chinese system practiced for health maintenance and healing. Qigong, often translated to mean "cultivating energy", helps to balance energy throughout the pathways identified in Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture as meridians. Qigong practices can be classified as medical, martial, and meditative/spiritual. Qigong improves mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing, and focused intention.
Although Tai Chi is better known in our culture than Qigong, Tai Chi is a subset of Qigong. Tai Chi, once developed as a martial art, is now used by millions of people to improve their balance, flexibility, strength, quality of life and resistance to injury.
Some health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi include:
• Reducing stress, anxiety and hypertension
• Strengthening the immune system
• Easing arthritis, osteoporosis and back pain
• Improving balance and coordination
• Increasing strength, flexibility and mental focus
Links:
Harvard Medical School:
"The Health Benefits of Tai Chi"
Mayo Clinic:
"Tai chi: Discover the many possible health benefits"
National Institute of Health:
"Tai Chi and Qi Gong Show Some Beneficial Health Effects"
The New York Times:
"Tai Chi Reported to Ease Fibromyalgia"
The News and Observer of Raleigh, N.C.:
"CDC studies ancient art of tai chi as possible arthritis aid"
Center for Disease Control, Jun 10, 2008
Previous research findings have demonstrated that Tai Chi exercise can improve balance and decrease falls among older adults. www.cdc.gov
Tai Chi and Qigong
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no class 2/20
see Monday, 5:15 class notes