Many people know the practice of Tai Chi (Taiqi) and it's use is widespread in China for maintaining health. Qigong (Chi Kung, Ki Gong) is the basis of all Tai Chi and there are around 3000 Qigong forms of which the various types of Tai Chi are but a part. While Tai Chi is predominantly a martial arts practice, the majority of Qigong is a health support practice.

At it's basis, Qigong is about coordinated movement and breathing. The skill of which increases as we develop our practice, leading to greater awareness of our body/mind integration and to deeper states of peace and relaxation as the meditative aspects of the practice increase over time. The soft flowing set of formulated movements are based on specific structural alignment of the body. This helps to activate bio-energy flow throughout the entire system, incorporating total mind/body awareness

The focus of the movements is to create a change in the body and mind in a 4 stage process:

First we unlink or loosen the connective tissue (fascia), which is holding the body in the state of tension that it is.

Second we look to restructure the the body and realign it to a healthier form. Many of our ailments come from the body not moving or holding itself in a sustainable manner. You could liken this to a frame being put together poorly and then not withstanding the tensions put through it. Without proper alignment, our bodies will come under excess tension and stressful forces, which eventually lead to collapse or dis-ease.

Third and Forth we then relink and strengthen the connective tissue and body so that it has greater resilience and stability over time to be able to effectively withstand and transform the tensions and stressful forces we experience in our lives.

Through the system of LifeForce Qigong we have a series of goals we are working towards in this practice:

Removing residual tensions in the body
Centring body and mind
Grounding and stabilising body and mind
Body Alignment
Building and regulation of our LifeForce
Creating Self-Awareness
Calming & Regulating the Mind
Feeling and Being with everything that arises in the emotional field

The practice can be carried out by anyone of any age and state of health and many of the exercises can be adapted to be done from a seated position, so even if you are unable to stand and move for an entire session, you will still be able to carry out a deeply beneficial practice with no restriction.

Qigong for Health can also be offered as a 1-2-1 session or arranged for small groups for private tuition, corporate health days as well as our weekly classes, summer park series and special training days. Check out the events diary for more information on all of this, or contact me if you have any questions.

I have been practicing Qigong since 1990 when I was first introduced to the standing qigong practice of Zhan Zhuang (Standing like a Tree) that still makes up a core aspect of my personal and professional practice. I have studied many styles and forms of Qigong, including training with Chinese Grandmasters. My main practice is LifeForce Qigong, developed by my brother Simon Calder, of which I am a certified international teacher. By far this has been the most profound system I have studied, both for its pragmatic language and its direct experience of the benefits of Qigong and the actual sensations of Qi that can be felt in the forms.

Current research on Qigong can be found on the NHS Networks page for Tai Chi & Qigong: https://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/tai-chi-chi-kung-for-rehabilitation

More information about LifeForce Qigong can be found on Simon's website, including his international teaching schedule, https://www.lifeforceqigong.com/

Also, you can contact me for information on local classes, UK training and events for LifeForce Qigong, much of which is already on the events page https://integralhealth.mylearnworlds.com/course/live-classes

If you would like to invite me to do a taster day, informal workshop, introduction or practice sessions to you business, orangisation, school/college or any group that you organise, please contact me https://bencalder.co.uk/contact/