Taiji Qigong (Shibashi) Sets I & II

“Taiji Qigong is my must do activity on a Friday morning whatever the weather, unless it’s raining hard.  It’s really calming, practicing the movements outdoors, pausing the traffic in my brain and being more aware of the trees around us, the sky above, the earth under our feet.  It’s a cliché I know but it makes me feel a part of the natural world!”  Clare, Newport

The word Qigong means exercising or working with the qi, life force, inner healing energy etc. and is an umbrella term for self-healing energy exercises, of which there are many.  Often described as movement meditation, Qigong is a great therapeutic art that unifies mind, body and breath for deep relaxation.  Combining movement, postural alignment and moments of stillness, it focuses on cultivating the qi for health, vitality, and longevity to facilitate the harmonious circulation of qi around the body.  When we are grounded, centred and open, with the mind focused on the breath, we are allowing the nervous system to settle and reset thereby achieving better health.

Following the seasons, classes include a variety of exercises that clear and ground the energy and nourish the organs and channels and usually ends with Taiji Qigong (Shibashi), a slow, flowing sequence of 18 moves.

The Benefits

Practicing Qigong regularly will help you feel calmer and more grounded which in turn will help you become more mindful and present.  It will equip you with self-care techniques for anxiety that will benefit you during challenging times. Besides improving mental and physical well-being, you will also develop an awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, especially when practiced outdoors in nature.  When we have that sense of connection, we are more likely to feel gratitude and compassion for nature, ourselves and each other.

Taiji = yin/yang symbol which illustrates the interconnectedness of all things.