Qigong
with
Steve
Qigong Instruction For All Ages & Abilities
"I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures."
Lao Tzu
"Qigong is a jewel that has many facets."
Ken Cohen
"The spirit is something to be enjoyed. It is not a harsh discipline. And I think people should take some time everyday for some kind of moving meditation, like Qigong or Tai Chi."
Shirley McLaine
"Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs."
Stephen R. Covey
The 8th Habit
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
Lao Tzu
The Buddha taught that there are 5 things to consider before speaking:
1) is it True,
2) is it Helpful,
3) is it spoken with Kindness,
4) is it Endearing,
5) is it Timely
17 FACTS ABOUT QIGONG YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW: (edited from Lee Holden)
1. Qigong is an ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and meditations. In other words, Qigong is a gentle form of exercise that helps improve health and overall well-being.
2. Qigong is pronounced “chee-gung.”
3. “Qi” is the Chinese word for energy and “Gong” means skill cultivated through consistent practice. Put together, “Qigong” means “cultivating your body's internal energy.”
4. Qigong's exercises and flows are designed to enliven the body’s Qi.
Qi is the fundamental life force energy responsible for health and vitality.
5. There are four main elements to Qigong practice: 1. Deep breathing. 2. Exercises that stretch and strengthen. 3. Slow, fluid, flowing movements 4. A meditative state of mind.
6. The exercises found in Qigong involve gentle, rhythmic movements, mirroring movements found in nature, such as a river flowing down a mountain or a cloud floating through the sky or a tree in the wind.
7. There are 12 regular meridians corresponding to the 12 principal organs. Each organ has Qi associated with it, and affects particular emotions.
8. The Twelve Meridians are the lung, large intestines, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, gallbladder, liver, pericardium, and the “triple warmer”, which represents the entire torso region.
9. In Qigong, health is seen an ongoing process of maintaining the balance and harmony of these meridians, and practicing Qigong is one way to keep Qi flowing freely.
10. The origins of Qigong date back over 3-5,000 years to ancient China. As Chinese medicine evolved over the centuries, Qigong became a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture and herbal medicine.
11. Qigong survived the Cultural Revolutions in China of the 1960s and 1970s, which banned many traditional practices.
12. Qigong is often referred to as a mind-body exercise because it explores the connection between the mind, body, and spirit.
13. Yin and yang (feminine and masculine energies, dark and light, negative and positive) are important concepts in Qigong. One goal of Qigong is to balance yin and yang within the mind, body, and spirit.
14. In China, there are hospitals that use medical Qigong to heal patients, along with herbs, acupuncture, and other techniques.
15. It’s best not to do Qigong on an empty or full stomach. Be comfortably nourished before beginning your practice.
16. Qigong is being used in the rehabilitation of patients with severe asthma.
17. Actively practicing Qigong helps improve health and well-being for a whole person (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually). Its gentle movements stretch and strengthen muscles, improve balance and flexibility. The movements also help improve circulation of blood and oxygen throughout the body, which can improve the immune system and help to remove toxins
