Qigong for Health

To book into all LIVE CLASSES and SEASONAL RETREATS, go through to our booking page https://integralhealth.mylearnworlds.com/liveclasses

Used by the Chinese for mainly health purposes over the last few thousand years, qigong (sometimes seen as Chi Kung or Ki Gung), which simply means "Energy Exercise". This gentle and accessible health practice can be used to help you boost your physical energy, improve balance and stability and to work with the overactivity of the mind.

It has been shown in research in recent years to be beneficial for a number of health issues, including reduction of chronic pain, improving knee and hip health, recovery from injuries and surgery, bone density, quality of life, fall reduction, and psychological improvement, hypertension and stress. For links to the research please click here, here and here.

Qigong is generally a set of simple gentle movements that you are guided through while being given specific instructions of where to pay attention in your body. This helps to follow the Chinese equation that "The Mind, Leads the Qi (energy), Leads the Blood". By directing our mind to pay specific attention to parts of the body as we move and breathe, we create a biofeedback loop that creates change in many layers of the body, from circulation, hormones and neurotransmitters, muscle, tendon, fascia (connective tissue), as well as in the mind itself.

Qigong has been used in 3 distinct branches. Firstly for health, which is it's most popular form. In China, there are hospitals of Medical Qigong at which, along with other traditional and classical forms of Chinese medicine, patients are prescribed courses of specific qigong exercises to do for their health condition. The second form is Martial, and this can be seen in practices like Tai Chi Chuan, Ba Gua and Xing Yi. Lastly is spiritual qigong, which is used mainly as a spiritual meditation discipline.

The Centre runs regular classes that are open to all abilities, levels of experience and ages. You can attend the class at any time, we do not run set length closed-door classes. Qigong is a progressive practice and will be developed by you over many months and years. You are always welcome to come when you can and will be supported to develop a good qigong practice. Of course, the best results are seen by those who practice regularly over extended periods of time. During warmer weather, we try to hold our classes outside for a pleasant evening practice. 

We also run a series of practice days that aim to integrate the energy of the incoming season in accordance with the Chinese 5 Element theory. Each of these days is there to help clear out any stagnancy from the previous season and help prepare the body physically and emotionally for the energies of the season we are just entering. 

To book into all LIVE CLASSES and SEASONAL RETREATS, go through to our booking page https://integralhealth.mylearnworlds.com/liveclasses