“When the Qi goes down, it becomes quiet. When it becomes quiet, it will solidify. When it becomes solidified, it will begin to sprout. After it has sprouted, it will grow.”
--From Sinologist Joseph Needham’s Science and Civilization in China
This quote, originally inscribed 5,000 years ago on six pieces of jade, is the earliest known reference to Qigong as healing exercise rather than as a dance. (And yes, by dance, I’m referring to the beautiful “Animal Frolics” or “Animal Dances”, ancient shamanic movements that we still practice in Qigong class.)
Is Qigong still enough, today, to heal what needs healing? It reliably brings our minds, emotions, and bodies back to a state of healthy equilibrium, and enables us to transform stress into vitality. However, compared to life in the agrarian cultures of the early centuries during which Qigong evolved, today we live sedentary lives. Exercise to “solidify our energy and allow it to sprout,” in the sense of building muscular strength, is relegated to “work-outs” or visits to the gym, rather than being a fact of daily survival. The truth is, many of us do need to welcome more physically strengthening movement into our lives.
When I was commissioned to write the book Strength Training Over 50; Stay Fit and Fabulous back in 2006, my research taught me how crucial it is to fight the sarcopenia (literally “flesh loss”) which begins in our late 30’s and progresses swiftly as we age: our muscles are genetically programed to weaken and shrink unless we take steps to address this natural process. How? With strengthening exercises! Qigong offers great opportunities to build strength, especially in the lower body. However, an hour-long class limits the time we can spend on movements to address the specific areas of weakness we each have. Strength building takes time and patience. Above all, it takes a clear understanding of what, exactly, we’re doing, and how to do it effectively.
That’s why I’m excited to offer the workshop “Strength Training, Qigong Style” on Saturday, March 15. I’ll share my personal journey to re-build strength, and what I’ve learned about how to enhance muscle-building, bone-strengthening, Western-style exercises by adding the mindfulness and flow of Qigong. After a Qigong warm-up we’ll take a deeper dive into the physiology of some classic Qigong ( and other) exercises, to inspire your appreciation of the strengthening benefits they offer. This workshop is suitable for all ages, and any level of experience. Tell your friends: it’s a proven fact that work-out buddies help keep us on track. Please write to me here with any questions. I hope to see you on Saturday, March 15, 10:30-12! Details, below.
