Qigong Class Announcement - 2007
After numerous inquiries, I've decided to offer a public class this year. My schedule is so busy right now that I will only have time to schedule one class series. Right now I'm planning to offer the class in Reno this September.
Learn more about this class by clicking here.
To learn more about qigong, read the article below...
Qigong: Ancient Exercise, Modern Results
If you want to increase your energy, mental focus and overall sense of balance in your life, qigong can help. This ancient form of exercise does all of these things when practiced regularly.
Qigong (formerly spelled "Chi Kung") offers these benefits by using gentle, relaxed movements combined with breathing and stretching. On the outside it looks surprisingly simple, but on the inside the effects can be dramatic. One recent student commented, "When I first learned this, I thought, 'This is too simple to be effective...' I was wrong."
Another interesting aspect of qigong is that it can be adapted to your unique health situation. World-class athletes benefit from it as do people with serious limitations.
For example, in one set of classes I had 3 students who were unable to stand due to Multiple Sclerosis. All of them learned and practiced the exercises with little difficulty. One of them even commented that she noticed better balance, more stamina, and a deeper awareness of healing from doing qigong.
How Does Qigong Work?
If the effects of qigong can be so dramatic, how does it work?
This is difficult to say in detail. There are many facets of qigong that contribute to this effect. Even so, there are some generalizations that might shed some light on the process.
When you combine mental awareness, presence in the moment and movement aligned with breathing, you are coordinating all the most fundamental aspects of your experience as a human being. Done while practicing certain specific movements you create a powerful combination that acts to balance all of the energetic influences in your body.
For some people this sounds somewhat esoteric, but in reality it is based on sound physiological principles. For example, by virtue of being alive you generate a measurable electromagnetic field around your body. The electromagnetic field of the heart alone can be measured by instruments from 15 feet away. Other organs also have a similar quality. In fact, every cell in your body generates such a field.
The combination of specific breathing, movements and focused attention creates a combined effect that is greater than just the sum of the parts. By performing the exercises regularly, you release the effects of stress, help re-program your body at a cellular level to return to a healthier state and give yourself a literal 'breather' from the concerns and activities of the day. It's kind of like a mini-vacation that you can take every day.
If Qigong Is So Great, Why Isn't Everyone Doing It?
Good question.
Needless to say, there is no form of exercise that will be right for every person. And qigong isn't some sort of magical cure-all. If you don't practice it, you get no benefit.
On the other hand, those who do practice definitely feel the effects, particularly the longer they practice.
Another student recently commented to me, "I learned these exercises a year ago in a class you gave. They felt really valuable to me, so I kept up my practice over the last year. Now that I am learning more about the underlying ideas, I can see how they have affected me over the year. I am able to move more freely in my neck and shoulders, my attitude and outlook on life is better and I feel overall much stronger. These exercises are a huge gift to me in my life."
Powerful stuff.
What To Do If You Want To Learn More...
My schedule is very full these days, but people still regularly ask me about teaching classes. Although I do offer private lessons, not everyone is interested in this type of learning.
Because of this, I've decided to teach one class this year (2007). It will be in Reno, probably in August or September. My plan is to teach exercises that I've never taught before. It will be a very limited-size class that I may not offer again.
If you'd like to be put on the notification list for this class, please contact me.
You can reach me at (775) 827-6901, or email by clicking here.
