We’re All Stress Endurance Athletes These Days

Last week one of my students sent me a link to a Brene Brown podcast, an interview with authors of a best-selling book on healing burnout. “This sounds just like Qigong to me” she wrote. (“Unlocking Us” with Brene Brown, Oct.14). Yesterday the Times published an article on how elite athletes build mental endurance: “…always have a little in reserve… commit to a routine… adapt.” (“Build Mental Endurance Like a Pro”, Nov.7). Again, this is what we do in our Zoom Qigong classes. Qigong was developed thousands of years ago to build health by transforming stress into physical, emotional and mental vitality.

Today we are all in a gigantic stress endurance trial, battling and adapting to life during Covid. Last week’s election deepened our struggles even more. Having the opportunity to move, breathe, and share some stress purging, energy-replenishing exercises with my Qigong class 3X a week helped us all feel so much better. (By the way, movement, breathing, and social connectivity were the three prime antidotes to stress and burnout mentioned by the authors of that best-seller discussed in that Brene Brown podcast!)