Hi, I’m Kail. I run Qigong classes on Monday mornings at the Old Lyonians Centre for the local charity Harrow Carers. Qigong is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which focuses on avoiding health issues proactively, rather than simply treating issues once they have developed (reactively). The mind and body are one unified system, and maintaining good health at both levels is key.

Qigong combines mind and body with the breath – simply and beautifully, it truly is meditation in motion. It is a way of cultivating and balancing the vital energy of all the elements in nature (including us), or life force, known as ‘Qi’ (“chee”). ‘Gong’ (“gong”) describes the continuous cultivation of Qi. According to this system, internal energy requires rebalancing throughout our lives, which is achieved by loosening energy knots that are believed to lead to illness or physical problems.

The practice of Qigong includes moving meditation, slow-flowing movement, deep breathing, with a calm, meditative state of mind. It is a wonderfully mindful, meditative practice that seeks to harmonise energy levels throughout one’s body, to balance it, so it can serve us best in whatever we choose to do in life, and is ideal for all ages.

Qigong uses smooth, graceful, easy-to-learn movements where you flow with little resistance, like water or the breeze, without any stress of seeking perfection. It is an excellent form of complementary self-care; studies have shown that cardiopulmonary, blood pressure, balance, anxiety and immune functions are all appreciably improved through its regular practice. (Source: see Links & Sources).

After a period doing Qigong (body) movements, we do a session of Guided Visualisation, so we can get the mind fully relaxed too, this further enhances the mind-body connection, often to a dreamy place in nature; Guided Visualisations have been shown to improve health and wellbeing – the mind’s ability to use imagination and creativity for wellbeing is truly remarkable (see: Subconscious Mind for more info on this).

We also occasionally use the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) – a form of acupressure that uses tapping with the fingertips on a set of select meridian points on the body for relieving issues – as well as seated (and walking) meditation, with all its many health benefits. For overall health and wellbeing, it is now better understood that one has to develop both mind and body together, as the two are one really, for lasting benefit; as the mind often places issues into the body (the tissues).

This special combination of body and mind work as we do it here, is quite unique in this field and fits excellently well as holistic, complementary health practice and therapy .. there’s really nothing quite like it anywhere!

People who first try our class have generally never heard of Qigong (or Guided Visualisation) before, but after a while, their curiosity gives way to enthusiasm as they understand what it’s all about — it’s fun, imaginative and therapeutic. Come and join us soon and see for yourself!

Read what members think about their experience with both therapies: