Qigong with John

More about breathing. As I said, we are born knowing how to breathe correctly. Watch an infant or young child breathing, and you will see theit bellies expanding and contracting, with mi\uch less movement of the chest and ribcage. This is because they let their diaphragm move freely in its natural direction, which is up and down. This expands the lungs downward, putting pressureon the abdomen, forcing the belly area to expand. This helps facilitate a better airflow in the lungs,

But as we grow up, we are told to suck in the belly, throw out the chest, keep shoulders back. This establishes a less natural breathing action, where we are forced to expand the ribcage to expand the lungs. This often results in what we will refer to as breathing with the upper part of the lungs, resulting in less efficient air exchange.

The first thing I do with my students is practicing breathing. Why? Well obviously we all know how to breathe, we are born with that ability. The problem is that as we grow up, we learn less healthy and less efficient breathing patterns. Some are due to stress, some are due to societal expectations, some due to occupation, the list goes on. So re-learning proper breath is job one.
Learn just that and you will reap many benefits.

Tai Chi vs Qigong - What's the Difference?
The short answer is Tai Chi is a martial art and Qigong is a system of health exercises and practices. But in reality, most people practice Tai Chi for its health benefits, especially if they practice the 10, 16 or 24 movement short forms. So Tai Chi is actually a type of Qigong, more specifically a type of Martial Arts Qigong.

A strong core is important to keep proper alignment in Qigong postures.

How to Build Core Strength without Moving a Muscle | Yuri Elkaim Want to take your core strength to the next level? I'll show you how by using tension development. Try it with these 6 no-movement-required exercises.

During the Fall season the lungs are weakened due to dryness. So it important to practice Qigong that strengthens the lungs and the protective wei qi (Chinese concept of immune system).
It is also important to eat foods that moisten the lungs such as pears, apples, apricot, fig, and pumpkin. Also sour foods like lemons, grapefruit, and pickles. These are often steamed or combined into "soups", further strengthening their ability to promote moistening in the body.

We proud to announce another article from Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, "The Scope of Qigong Practice." Here is the link: qi-encyclopedia.com/The-Scope-of-Qigong-Practice. He explores the idea that, "any activity that improves the qi circulation in our body may be called qigong. This can include the food we eat, the air we breathe and even our emotions and thoughts." He further divides qigong into yin and yang modalities. The article ends with three newly released (Dec. 30, 2019) YouTube links titled, "Understanding Qigong and Qi (Energy)."

How did qigong suddenly become a cool workout for young people? Yes, it's no longer just for seniors or confined to Chinese clans and wushu associations. The supposedly old-fashioned practice is now embraced by those in their 30s and 20s (even David Beckham gave it a go).

In Chinese thought there are five seasons, not four. These correspond to the Five Element Theory. We have Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn and Winter. While Summer is hot, Late Summer is hot, but add an element of dampness (humidity). Late Summer is also a transitional time, condensing and preparing us for the Yin Seasons of Autumn and Winter.

You've Heard of Tai Chi, but Qigong Is Packed With Health Benefits, Too—Here's What You Should Know Feeling overwhelmed or anxious? You may be looking for an outlet to help you stay centered, and luckily, there are a lot of options out there. From seeking out professional help to yoga, meditation or breathing exercises, there are many forms of exercise and mindfulness that are excellent tools to h...

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The first qigong I learned. I still practice and teach it almost 50 years later

Home | Total Visits 1201461 | Qigong is a Way of Being I first attended Stan’s Qigong classes in September 2015 at a time when I felt out of balance in body, mind and spirit and at 70 + years of age a little lost in the world. The health and well being benefits I have gained since then by regular practice have exceeded my expectations.