In these times of many stresses, I wanted to share a free tool to help you relax and find inner peace and calm.
I often recommend chi gong to clients because it is so easy and gentle and profoundly helpful on many levels. Last year I started incorporating it into my decluttering workshops because just the thought of decluttering can be overwhelming and doing chi gong is grounding and reduces stress.
How did I get started practicing chi gong?
It was a stressful time in my life. I had recently moved to Arcata, California to go to school to become a high school art teacher. It was 1998 and I was taking my pre-requisite courses when my professor recommended I try chi gong.
After getting my BFA in Ohio in 1996, my love of clay led me to move to California. I was trying to figure out how to apply my passion for art to be of service, while paying the bills. Becoming an art teacher seemed like a good fit.But as soon as I got started it became clear that teaching high school was not the path for me. What was I thinking?! As I said, it was a stressful time in my life.
My professor told me about the chi gong classes that her husband taught. I had never heard about chi gong, or anything like it, but sure, why not. Almost immediately I felt at home with this ancient Chinese art. Chi gong has been a passion of mine ever since and it's what led me to Feng Shui.
What is chi gong?
‘Chi’ is life-force energy and ‘gong’ is practice. Chi gong or qi gong is ‘energy practice’. It’s a practice of cultivating chi for your well-being. It’s a mind, body, spirit practice that is a gentle form of exercise and meditation all rolled into one.
This gentle mind/body/spirit exercise reduces stress and has many health benefits.
There are thousands of different chi gong forms. If you've tried one before and didn’t like it, try another. But it's very likely whichever one you try your body will feel good. And your mind will feel more peaceful.
Since that first class with my professor's husband, I’ve had many different teachers and tried many different chi gong forms.
If you’re interested in reducing your stress and feeling more comfortable in your body and mind then you may really enjoy chi gong.
You can do these gentle, peaceful movements along with a video, in an in-person class with a teacher or once you learn the moves you can practice on your own.
Here’s a quick and easy option for learning this ancient practice...
Santa Cruz local, Lee Holden, is a renowned teacher who offers online courses for all levels. He has a few free classes on his website that you can get started with or visit his YouTube channel that has many free classes. Lee has many options for ongoing online training and I have clients who are his devoted students.
There are likely many wonderful local chi gong teachers in your area, I know there are many in Santa Cruz. Dance studios, community centers, yoga centers, fitness centers and parks are great places to look for chi gong classes.
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