Tai Chi & Qigong Ancient Practices

by Lamont Thomas Modern Healing

“If you want to be healthy and live to one hundred, do Qigong.” ~ Dr. Mehmet Oz

magine a fairytale… Once upon a time a lone ach- “Qigong and Tai Chi for Seniors” mentions that practicing Tai Chi can inhibit fall event will “arrive” in Connecticut at 10 a.m. Milford’s cel- ing farmer stood transfixed by the sunrise over China’s risk (also reported on WTIC4 ). The students implement Tai ebration on the Green will honor our nation’s veterans with Hwang Shan Mountain. Slowly, he rotated his torso practices help reduce pain Chi for Better Balance, Dr. Fuzhong Li’s system, which he attendance by representatives from West Haven Hospital. At while watching a bear supplely lumbering into the has used to train many in Connecticut and the world.5 the event, supporters may make a donation and/or purchase brush, then he lept, prancing like a deer. “How grace- and stiffness, strengthen There are numerous Tai Chi and Qigong practice types, official WTCQD t-shirts to benefit The Fisher House Founda- Ifully animals move,” he thought. “Perhaps I can imitate.” many helping with specific issues. For example, Guo Lin’s tion, which builds housing facilities around the country for Inspired, he returned to his village with that intention. First heart health, heighten Xi Xi Ho Qigong is said to aid in cancer recovery. For Ar- families of hospitalized soldiers. Everyone is welcome to join his family, then curious neighbors, marveled at his improved thritis and Parkinson’s there are Tai Chi practices of Dr. Paul in the Ener-Qi which will flow that day. posture and youthful agility as he practiced poses where he Lam. Tai Chi and Qigong practices can reduce stress-related balanced like a crane and slithered like a snake. The village awareness, diminish stress diseases, such as heart problems, obesity, depression and Lamont Thomas (203.843.1595, Qi-and-Tea.com) teaches naysayers scoffed in ridicule. That is, until Masters of the Tao the post-traumatic stress commonly associated with soldiers Qigong and Tai Chi Easy throughout Connecticut and in Rye (“the way”) from the Yellow Emperor’s court appeared and and improve balance.” returning from war and applicable to numerous life situa- Brook (NY). He founded Qi & Tea after certification in 2004 they realized that this farmer possessed the life force elixir, tions. Dr. John Rigg, Traumatic Brain Injury Program Director by the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) and the vital energy of the universe, Qi (“chee”). A decree went Qi as an explanation for the body’s innate healing abil- at Georgia’s Eisenhower Army Medical Center (and a teacher has been the principal force behind Milford’s nine WTC- forth that Qi was to be cultivated in the fields like rice (a ity. Qigong is movement, meditation and medication for of “The Eight Brocade” traditional Qigong postures) suggests QDs. Thomas taught high school/college level history for major life-giving food staple) and that all loyal subjects were body (jing), heart-mind (qi), and spirit (shen).1 Tai Chi (Taiji) “Qigong is fantastic, soldiers love it...does not exacerbate 38+ years. His biography of Paul Cuffe (University of Illinois to follow subtle healing and martial movements. Thus were literally means “balance and harmony” or “undifferentiated pain [and] soldiers do it on their own.”6 Some leading Press, 1986) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He and Mar- born the seeds of Qigong (“chee kung”) and Tai Chi (“Ty unity.” It is the most widely known form of Qigong within medical professionals, like Yale’s Dr. Bernie Siegel (Bernie- garet are proud parents of Byron and Angela. Chee”). the United States and philosophically based upon the Taiji siegelmd.com), argue that there is memory and intelligence Though a mythological tale, this story has validity as (the familiar yin/yang) symbol. Taiji Chuan (chuan mean- in every cell of the body. Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard regards the origins of Tai Chi and Qigong. These mindful ing “fist”) is the most popular martial art, of which the Yang asserts that deep rest counteracts the harmful effects of stress healing art forms have been practiced for thousands of years and Wu family styles are best known. The carefully cho- (a “relaxation response,” as opposed to “fight or flight”), for satisfaction, empowerment and health, with the earli- reographed meditative movements comprising Tai Chi and thereby enhancing immunity and health.7 Mindful relax- est movements based upon animal frolics. (Chungliang Al Qigong include poetic names like “wave hands like clouds,” ation is an integral part of all Tai Chi and Qigong, which 1 Ken Cohen, The Way of Qigong Huang begins Essential Tai Chi with what he calls “The Real “dragons stirring up the wind,” “swallow skimming the stimulates the capacity for cellular (hence full self) healing, 2 Chungliang Al Hwang, Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain Fairytale.” My version above subtly references his poignant pond” and “embrace tiger, return to mountain.”2 resulting in relief and higher functioning. 3 For examples, visit: Qigonginstitute.org; nqa.org; Taoist.org. lessons about how the calligraphy character for Qi represents Research shows increasing evidence of Qigong’s healing Fifteen years ago, Bill Douglas of Kansas thought to 4 Foxct.com/2014/03/07/quinnipiac-university-physical-therapy-students-research-fall- steam from cooking rice becoming one with the universe). properties.3 Qigong and Tai Chi practices help reduce pain honor these ancient mind-body practices by founding a prevention-and-tai-chi/ What do these terms mean? Simply put, Qigong literally and stiffness, strengthen heart health, heighten awareness, worldwide celebration. So was born World Tai Chi and Qi- 5 Tai Chi and Fall Reductions in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial (ncbi.nlm. means energy (‘Qi” or “Chi”) cultivation. The movement of diminish stress and improve balance, sleep and overall well- gong Day (WTCQD). This free community event for all ages nih.gov/pubmed/15814861). Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance (ncoa.org). Qi within the body, as in therapies like acupuncture and Nei being (thereby having the added benefit of lowering medical (Worldtaichiday.org) will occur on Saturday, April 26. Resi- 6 Department of Defense & Brain Injury Center Webinar Series, January, 2013, dvbic. Gong, has transformative healing properties. Roger Jahnke, expenses). A ConnecticutPost.com (March 2, 2014) article, dents in all states and 70+ nations will spread “One Breath dcoe.mil/webinar. author of “The Healer Within,” writes about the power of “Q(uinnipiac) U(niversity) Students Study Benefits of Tai Chi (Qi)” as the world turns. Beginning in New Zealand, the 7 Relaxationresponse.org; Psychologytoday.com: “Dr. Herbert Benson’s Relaxation Response”