Qigong

Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice (based on Traditional Chinese Medicine) for cultivating, balancing, and encouraging the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. Using gentle movements, breathing, and mindfulness techniques, we learn to relax, calm the mind, and increase our energy to experience greater vitality, resilience, peace, and clarity.

No, you don’t have to be fit to do Qigong. While Qigong can help to build strength, flexibility, and balance, Qigong uses gentle easy movements that can be tailored to honour any physical limitations. Qigong is typically practiced standing up, however can be easily altered to engage in as a seated practice, which I frequently do with clients managing chronic illness.

Yes, I’ve found that Qigong works extremely well as an online class. Feedback from my students is that they love the online format enabling them to remain in a known environment and remain in the relaxed state at the end of the class without having to navigate travel. All it requires is that you are able to step back a little from your camera so that I can see a little more of your body than you might typically see on a videoconference. If you prefer an in-person class however, this is also possible. Please register your interest and once I have enough registrants to proceed with a class I will contact you.

It is best to speak with your doctor or other licenced healthcare professional to ascertain whether Qigong might be appropriate for your particular injury or health condition. I can however share that Qigong is a gentle movement practice that has a foundational principle of honouring your own body and tailoring the practices to suit your needs and limitations. Please feel free to reach out to discuss this further.

I have taught many students who have previously struggled with mindfulness practices who find Qigong a good alternative. Qigong’s gentle repetitive movements can help students to drop into a more meditative state organically and without a focus on sitting still or quietening the mind. At the end of classes students often report feeling more grounded, calm, at ease, and with a quieter mind without having strived to achieve this.

Qigong classes typically run for 60-minutes. Classes will tend to be predominantly moving forms however non-moving forms of Qigong (meditations) will sometimes be incorporated. A typical class will start with an orienting practice, move into a practice to work all of the meridians (energy pathways) in the body, and then run through a series of standing moving practices, followed by a seated closing sequence. Practices can all be easily adapted to suit your needs and abilities, and while most practices are typically practiced standing, you are welcome to do them sitting. Instruction will include working with the breath, posture, movement, and visualisation. Feel free to reach out to discuss further and ask any questions you may have.

I generally require that students commit to a full term for a number of reasons. Firstly and most importantly, it is difficult to fully experience the practice of Qigong and its associated benefits from attending a single class. Secondly, I have a minimum number of students required to proceed with a term of classes and instruction does build in complexity, so it can be difficult to accommodate someone attending a single class. If you are unable to commit to a term however do let me know and we can discuss what options might be available as I do occasionally run a separate event incorporating Qigong.

Benefits from practicing Qigong may include:

• Reduced stress
• Reduced overwhelm
• Reduced anxiety
• Nervous system regulation
• Increased relaxation
• Improved sleep
• Improved general health and wellbeing
• Improved focus
• Improved strength & flexibility
• Improved balance

I am a qualified Qigong facilitator through OpenSky Qigong and have been teaching since approximately 2014 both in person and online. I cohost retreats with the Melbourne Meditation Centre and occasionally run classes for the Conquering Chronic Illness group.