Qigong (pronounced chi gong) is an ancient Chinese practice, similar to tai chi, which involves gentle exercise. It can have many potential benefits to health and wellbeing, including improvements in: body awareness, posture, co-ordination, balance, strength, concentration and vitality.
'Qi' translates as 'energy' and 'gong' as 'work' or ‘training’. In the body, energy is present as heat, movement, electricity and chemical energy, so qi is the vital energy that flows through all living things. The main tools for working with energy are the mind, the body and the breath. Qigong draws inspiration from nature, and the names of many of the practices refer to animals and the natural environment. Over millennia, qigong has been used for health, the martial arts and spirituality.
The slow, repetitive movements in qigong make it wonderfully meditative, so if you struggle with other forms of meditation, this form of moving meditation may work for you.
Qigong is usually performed standing, but it can also be adapted as chair-based exercises. If you find other forms of exercise too strenuous or if you have difficulty with floor-based classes such as Pilates or yoga, this could be a good alternative for you.
If you are experiencing a chronic exhaustive condition, such as ME, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-viral fatigue syndrome or long COVID, the gentle exercise and meditative nature of qigong can help to enhance your sense of wellbeing.
I run in-person classes in Caversham and an online service, which includes access to my qigong video library, so I hope that you will find an option to suit you.
Click here for the timetable and pricing.
To find out how my clients benefit from qigong, you can read their testimonials here.
Please do contact me on 07528 708650 or email wendy@rookeholistic.co.uk to register your interest and for further details.
