Why Senior Qigong

Why Qigong?

Qigong (pronounced chee-kung) is an ancient healthcare system, which integrates physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intention. It's practiced for health maintenance, healing, and increasing vitality. Qigong energizes and renews the mind, muscles, tendons, joints, and inner organs, helping to improve circulation, relieve stress and pain, and restore health.

Qigong is especially beneficial in areas of:

• Balance and coordination

• Enhanced immune system

• Flexibility and range of motion

• Greater stamina and vitality

• Improved cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, and digestive function

• Focused attention

The distinguishing feature of qigong, compared to other healing movements, is the gentleness and ease with which the movements are performed. Qigong can be practiced by almost anyone, regardless of age or physical limitations. Young children practice qigong, and seniors in their nineties also practice it. Kung fu masters in the Shaolin Temple in China practice qigong, as do people recovering from serious injuries.

Summary of Health Benefits

• High blood pressure: In a study lasting 20 years, patients with hypertension experienced a drop in blood pressure that stabilized over time as a result of practicing qigong twice per week.

• Immune system: Just 30 minutes of daily qigong training for one month is found to produce a tangible impact on the body’s immune system. In one study, blood samples taken the day before training started and after it was completed showed a statistically significant difference in white blood cell counts, indicating a more active immune system.

• Stroke: In one study examining mortality among patients who had suffered a stroke, the group practicing qigong had a 50% reduction in death from any cause, including death due to stroke and illnesses related to stroke.

• Arthritis: My personal experience with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is that the daily practice of qigong has given me a greater range of motion, significantly less pain, and a reduction in the frequency of painful episodes.

• Stress and Chronic Illness: According to a study from Pennsylvania State University published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that individuals who were more stressed and anxious about everyday life were more likely to have chronic health conditions (such as heart problems or arthritis) compared to those who viewed things through a more relaxed lens.

In fact, qigong’s ability to relieve stress without exhausting the body has made it an increasingly common recommendation for seriously ill patients. At the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine, cancer patients are offered weekly qigong classes. Doctors at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, prescribe qigong to patients with severe heart disease.

In summary, Qigong is a holistic practice that merges physical movement, controlled breathing, and focused intention to promote health and well-being. Suitable for individuals of all ages and physical abilities, Qigong offers many physical health benefits, as well as enhanced emotional resilience. Integrating Qigong into daily routines is an excellent pathway toward better health and vitality.