The practice

Qigong is a practice for vitality, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. As an embodied practice, it helps to release the psychological affects through the body.

It has been practised for thousands of years for general wellbeing and healing, and as a spiritual practice. In modern days it has been used as a prevention and rehabilitation approach for various conditions, such as fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression. It can also:

• reduce stress and anxiety

• lower inflammation

• strengthen the immune system

• improve heart, brain, digestive health

• enhance functional and structural integration within the brain

• increase telomerase activity, i.e., slow cellular ageing (Tiwari et al., 2017)

The Qigong workshops involve:

• gentle and accessible Qigong movements and standing/sitting/reclining meditation, which energise and ground the body and mind, unblocking stagnation and releasing tension as the Qi flows naturally

• a playful way to explore the body and mind with deep listening and feeling

Participants find the workshops:

• a rejuvenating time where they find themselves both relaxed and energised

• a training ground for the body, mind and heart; for their integration and the integration of human and nature; for focused attention, kind intention and open awareness

Mindfulness, or sati (Pali), means remembering or bearing in mind.

Remembering the here and now, being aware of the present moment, with compassion and without judgement. It is not something you need to go out to get – it is always here, and the training is to cultivate skills that help you remember; tame that wild monkey and teach it to see clearly, and remember your true nature.

As evidence accumulates over the past few decades, the benefits of mindfulness practice have been categorised into several dimensions, including affective, interpersonal and intrapersonal (Davis & Hayes, 2011). To put simply, it helps develop effective emotion regulation, decrease reactivity and increase response flexibility; it has positive impact on interpersonal behaviour and gives rise to insights, empathy and compassion. It rewires the brain for better attention, cognitive functions, and more sensitive immunoreactivity (Davidson et al., 2003; Vestergaard-Poulsen et al., 2009).

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"True mindfulness is spaciousness, pausing, considered, confronting, challenging, examining, accepting, welcoming - all happening in harmonious symphony to come to a place of peaceful right action. For me this has a deeper meaning of remembering who we are at our core essence and our essential nature. True mindfulness is what, I feel are one and the same, which is, BEING and Wu Wei."

Zoe, participant of a previous mindfulness course