Have you been feeling tired and run down? Ready to say good-bye to your stress? Learn how to put more energy into your body naturally with Chinese Qigong. (pronounced “chee gung”) This is an ancient Chinese healing art that combines the use of your mind, body, and breathing to strengthen your vital energy. Qigong uses special movement exercises and visualizations that can benefit people of all ages and physical conditions.

Studies have shown that Qigong can lower blood pressure, help balance (prevent falls for seniors), reduce incidence of stroke, increase bone density and increase longevity.

Learn to:
• maintain your health
• improve circulation (good for cold feet & hands)
• regain balance and flexibility
• quiet your mind
• decrease stress
• prevent illness (improve immune system)

You will learn Longevity Qigong, Treasured Vase Qigong, Arm Swinging Qigong and more!

No experience is necessary because the exercises are fun and easy to learn.

Date/Time: Fridays, 10:30-11:30am, January 15th – February 19th
Cost: Only $100 for all 6 sessions. Or pay drop in rate of $19 per session. Over age 65 is only $10 per session.
Location: Richfield Lutheran Church, 8 W 60th St., Minneapolis, MN 55419
To register: call 612-866-4000 or go to http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong_class.html

About the Instructor: Naijin Sonmore has dedicated her life to bringing true Chinese culture and health practices to the US. Originally from China, she has studied from several famous Qigong and Tai Chi masters. Naijin started learning Qigong as a teenager. In 1987 she began studying Chen Style Tai Chi from a disciple of Chen Wanting. In 1995, she obtained her Qigong teacher certificate. She teaches Qigong as a way of self empowerment to easily enhance your own health. She will teach you how to cultivate a joyful, relaxed, optimistic and energized state of mind.

“If you want to be healthy and live to 100, do Qigong.”
- Dr. Oz

After a tense day at the office you may not feel particularly motivated to exercise. But researchers are discovering that exercise is one of the most powerful stress and anxiety busters. “Any exercise that gets your heart rate up helps lower levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol,” quoted from Dr. Mark Liponis, corporate medical director of Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass. Long term stress results in your body releasing greater amounts of these hormones which can lead to insomnia, headaches, depression, digestive issues, and other health problems. Exercise promotes the release of natural pain killing endorphins and boosts your mood.

When you think of exercise you might think of lifting weights or running. However Chinese exercise is different. It builds up your vital life energy naturally. The gentle yet effective moves of Qi Gong help you to identify the tell tale signs that you are stressed…like back and neck tension…and allows you to chill out before you become physically and emotionally exhausted.

Qi Gong exercises link your body and mind using mindful movements to release blocked “Qi” or energy. That blocked energy is your stress.

Ready to say bye-bye to your stress? Then join us Saturday September 27, 2008 for the Fall Qi Gong & Tai Chi Workshop.  Discover Medical Yin/Yang Qi Gong exercises and breathing movements that relieve stress and boost your energy. These exercises are practiced to maintain health, promote longevity, quiet the mind, and prevent or treat illness. You also will learn:

Tai Chi for Neck and Back Pain…exercises to strengthen your body and prevent neck and back pain. These exercises are gentle and require no extra equipment. Enhance your balance, posture and cardiovascular functions. Tai Chi is gentle and easy enough to do in business clothes at the office. Recent studies show that it can provide as much cardiovascular benefit as moderate impact aerobics. You can learn to prevent pain before it happens.

If you are not fully satisfied with our workshop in the first hour we will give you a full refund!

When: Saturday; September 27, 2008; 10am-5:30pm

Where to go: Days Inn University, 2407 University Ave S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Cost: Only $165 PLUS receive a free T-Shirt (with beautiful Chinese calligraphy, a $24 value) and FREE lunch ($15 value).  Seniors (65 and older) receive a 10% discount.

To Register: Purchase on line now at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html . For more information, call 612-866-4000. DVD’s and CD’s will be available for purchase at the workshop. Please wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing.

Presented by Health Preservation Association.

About the Instructor: For more than 20 years Steven Sonmore helped people transform health problems into solutions for attaining better health. Steven is a licensed acupuncturist, a certified Health Preservation Association instructor, herbalist and Oriental bodywork therapist. He is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Qigong (pronounced “chee gung”), means “life energy practice”.  It is an ancient Chinese healing art that combines the use of mind, body, and breathing to strengthen and balance vital energy in the body called “qi”.  The practice of Qigong consists of meditative techniques and special movement exercises that can benefit people of all ages and physical conditions.  Qigong can even be done seated or lying down for those with weaker constitutions or lower body concerns.  Qigong is practiced to maintain health, promote longevity, quiet the mind, decrease stress, and prevent or treat illness.  It is a natural and simple tool to balance body energy so that life can be experienced to its full potential.  Those who are new to qigong or have never heard of qigong before may have some simple questions which I will try to answer here.

Is Qigong the Same as Chi Kung?
Yes.  These terms are simply derived from different translation systems of the Chinese pictographs. The terms are synonymous with each other.

Is Qigong the same as Tai Chi Ch’uan?
Yes and No. The graceful postures and exercises in Tai Chi Ch’uan and Qigong all follow the same principals of body movement and alignment and even share many of the same postures.  It is because of this that many Tai Chi Ch’uan schools teach Qigong, but there are differences.  Qigong exercises tend to be shorter and require less space in which to perform the exercises in than their Tai Chi Ch’uan counterparts.  Tai Chi Ch’uan is also taught as a very effective martial art program, despite it possessing the acclaimed positive health and meditative benefits.  Qigong tends to be almost entirely for exercise and meditative practices, but there are a few martial art exceptions.  The only difference between learning Tai Chi Ch’uan or Qigong as a martial art or as a relaxation exercise is the intent in which you practice.  

Is Qigong Therapy the same as Qigong Exercise?
No.  Since the rise of the Communist party in China, the Chinese often refer to anything related to qi as qigong even though both practices cultivate or align qi by very different means.  This can lead to a lot of confusion for those of us in the West. When talking to new students, I add a descriptor to the name to help differential each practice.  Qigong “Therapy” is one of the oldest and most widely used forms of Chinese medicine.  The primary goal of Qigong Therapist is to locate and correct imbalances in the circulation of qi of a patient and lead them back to the natural state of good health. The same rules that apply to Acupuncture apply to Qigong Therapy, minus the needles.  This often is done by private healing sessions with a trained qi healer or therapist.  Qigong Therapy can be compared to Reiki, Luminous Healing, and Therapeutic Touch in its approach.  Qigong “Exercises” help cultivate and self-regulate the energy in the body through gentle exercises and meditations.  Qigong Exercises can be compared to some aspects of Tai Chi Ch’uan or Yoga and are often taught in a small class setting.  Both types of Qigong can combined together to create a total health regimen.  In fact many Qigong Masters and Therapists will often prescribe Qigong exercises for their patients as a form of rehab for their ailments or illnesses after they have their healing session together.

Qigong is growing in popularity thanks to people like Oprah promoting its positive health aspects.  It is a safe, natural healing practice and exercise for all ages.  Its centuries old techniques improve posture, balance, strength, stamina and flexibility which will lead to better vitality even if you don’t believe in qi.  For those who do believe in qi energy I encourage them to try qigong therapy.  Anyone with questions about qigong doesn’t have to wait for Oprah to answer their questions.  They can seek out the answers themselves whether through books, the Internet or local practitioners and instructors. 

About the Author:
Mark Brophy is a Qigong Therapist certified by the Chinese Healing Arts Center, a Professional Member of the National Qigong Association and Health Preservation Association Certified Qigong & Tai Chi Instructor.  He currently teaches Qigong & Tai Chi Ch’uan in the Columbia area.  Check out Mark’s website: www.scqigong.com .

Join us in Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, June 28, 2008 for the upcoming Summer Qi Gong and Tai Chi Workshop. Come learn Qi Gong and Tai Chi exercises that relieve stress and strengthen your cardiovascular system. Register today at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html .

Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects’ anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.” This study laid out a way to save our society, perhaps billions of dollars annually, and possibly save some patients with mild chronic hypertension the potential negative side effects of chronic lifelong medication. However, this largely hasn’t occurred.

I caught a glimpse why when I was staying in the beautiful mountain town of Otavala, Ecuador, with a woman known for her knowledge of traditional Indian medicines. A tour of young American medical students stopped here to listen and learn from the Indian woman’s tour of her herbal gardens. As I followed them, I asked a group of young bright medical students if they were aware that Tai Chi was found to reduce high blood pressure. One lovely young woman replied, “Oh, yes, I’ve heard that, but I would never prescribe it.”

I asked why, and she responded that she couldn’t because she didn’t know if it would work. Although Tai Chi studies do show that Tai Chi indeed helps lower high blood pressure, it is true that it does not reduce it in every person. However, it is also true that every drug prescription does not work on every person either. I suggested to the young medical student that she consider that many times I’ve been to the doctor, and he’s pulled out a prescription pad and explained, “Let’s give this a try, and see how it works for you, and if it doesn’t do the job, we’ll try something else.” Most of us are familiar with this, and by the confused look on the student’s face, I’m assuming her memory banks were bringing up similar images.

So, why are our medical universities leaving students with the impression that they should not be prescribing Tai Chi, since we know it can help lower high blood pressure for many, who if it is successful with them, may enjoy a lifetime free of chronic and costly medications? And not only do that, but offer a plethora of GOOD SIDE EFFECTS including a stronger immune system and healthier respiratory system. This is a deep and important question we need to be asking as patients and consumers, and health professionals must begin asking this question regularly in order to fulfill the duties of their Hippocratic oath, specifically the admonition to “do no harm.” Because if a drug has potential side effects that are harmful, and a natural Tai Chi prescription only offers healthful side effects, than the Hippocratic oath would be violated if only the negative side effects option is offered by the physician. For, today we have even a much better understanding of Tai Chi’s potential than we did a few years ago, so ignorance or inconclusive data is not an acceptable explanation from our medical universities that train our future doctors, without teaching them about Tai Chi research, and what it portends for their future patients.

Today, we are clearer on exactly why Tai Chi is such a powerful therapy for high blood pressure sufferers. In a March 17, 2005, article by the Mayo Clinic staff posted at mayoclinic.com they lay out what a “stress response” is, and the effects it has on the body. This is at the core of high blood pressure problems and the physical changes chronic stress responses illicit that creates or aggravates hypertensive conditions.

In their article, they explain that a stress response, or “fight or flight” reaction involves our pituitary gland releasing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which sets a domino effect signaling other glands to produce additional hormones, such as adrenal glands which flood the blood stream with stress hormones, such as “cortisol” and “adrenaline.”

When ordinary life’s daily frustrations trigger this effect over and over again, the results can be damaging to the mind and body. Many of us experience this domino effect of triggers and hormones daily, which is why about 1/3 of Americans, or over 90 million Americans, suffer from high blood pressure.

Cutting edge scientists like Dr. Herbert Benson, President of the Mind/Body Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, are discovering a stunning reality through their research. In a wonderful article by Jeanie Lerche Davis at WebMD Medical News entitled The Mysterious ‘Medication’ of Meditation (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/25/1728_57992.htm), she writes of how such researchers are discovering that “meditation can indeed be medication – creating long lasting physiciolgical effects that reduce high blood pressure and even help unclog arteries to reverse heart disease.”

Dr. Benson, who is also associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, sought to prove how this effect could be shown objectively, and had five long-time meditation practitioners take MRI brain scans while meditating. Dr. Benson informed WebMD in the aforementioned article by Davis, “There was a striking quietude across the entire brain which was documented through MRI . . . The areas of the brain that became active from that quietude were those that control metabolism, heart rate, etc., . . . We knew meditation caused a relaxation response, but we couldn’t prove it. We knew that if you thought in a certain way, with repetition, that physiologic changes would occur in the body. Here now is proof that mind, in the form of repetition, is affecting the brain, which affects the body . . . ”

Stroke Magazine reported on a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, conducted by Dr. Amparo Castillo-Richmond, from the Maharishi University, more specifically on high blood pressure afflicting black people. The meditating group saw a reduction in the thickness of one of the arteries that supplied blood to the brain. Which indicates that blood flow is increasing. The group only using diet and exercise saw their artery walls getting thicker, which indicated that less blood was flowing through to the brain. This finding led Dr. Castillo-Richmond to make the profoundly exciting assertion, “It’s possible to reverse heart disease through meditation.”

In fact, not only hypertension, but up to 90% of other illnesses sending us to the doctor are being caused by stress, according to Dr. Herbert Benson. Which makes Dr. Benson’s and Dr. Castillo-Richmond’s findings that meditative techniques can so dramatically alter our stress producing “fight or flight” response in healthy ways even more wonderful and important.

Dr. Benson explains, that the relaxation response triggered by repetitive actions [like tai chi, yoga, etc.] can result in decreased metabolism, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and also slower brain waves.” Benson asserts that it is the repetitive nature of acts like praying the rosary, yoga, or tai chi’s physical repetitive muscular actions that provides the profound hope for reducing anxiety, mild and moderate depression, anger and hostility, hypertension, cardiac irregularities, and all forms of pain, which are made worse by stress.

This concept of Tai Chi being an effective tool for reducing or even avoiding incidence of high blood pressure or other illnesses all together, is echoed elsewhere. Mayoclinic.com also recommends Tai Chi for relaxation training in an article entitled, “Relax: Techniques to help you achieve tranquility” which also explains why relaxation is important and what you might experience by practicing tools that will help you relax.

They detail how you can improve body responses to stress, such as: Slowing your heart rate; Reducing blood pressure; Slowing your breathing rate; Reducing the need for oxygen; Increasing blood flow to the major muscles; Lessening muscle tension.

They go on to explain that practicing relaxation techniques may help you experience: Fewer symptoms of illness, such as headaches, nausea, diarrhea and pain; Few emotional responses such as anger, crying, anxiety, apprehension and frustration; More energy; Improved concentration; Greater ability to handle problems; More efficiency in daily activities.

So, time and time again as we begin to examine one particular benefit of Tai Chi, such as lowering high blood pressure, we see a whole universe of potential opening up before us. An article from Archives of Internal Medicine, as reported on NBC’s local WCAU Health explained a Tai Chi research program at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston revealed a great deal. The article authors wrote, “Overall, these studies reported that long-term Tai Chi practice had favorable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of falls in elders . . . Cardiovascular and respiratory function improvements were noted in healthy people and those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery as well as people with heart failure, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, arthritis and multiple sclerosis . . . Benefit was also found for balance, strength, and flexibility in older subjects; falls in frail elderly subjects; and pain, stress and anxiety in healthy subjects.”

They add the actual ways that Tai Chi provides these benefits are not well known.

The fact is that less than .5% of the National Institute of Health’s budget goes to research alternative therapies, leaving yoga, meditation, tai chi, massage, herbal therapy, aroma therapy, and the entire massive field of alternative health systems to struggle over .5%, or a little over $100 million of the $28 billion (approx.) annual budget. Given the above studies, it boggles the mind that such a small portion of the health research dollars are going to Tai Chi.

To recap, about 1/3 of the American population suffers high blood pressure. Tai Chi is proven to be a beneficial therapy that not only has no bad side effects, but dramatically improves immune function, respiratory function, lowers the incidence of anxiety and depression, and profoundly improves the balance of practitioners. Tai Chi does more, but for our purposes here these profound realities are enough to show exactly why it is truly unbelievable that Tai Chi is getting so little scrutiny in medical research dollars, when it can save so many from chronic suffering and perhaps some from a lifetime of chronic costly medications.

It is time we all began to ask the question that all good consumers should ask, “What is the best way/product for my health?” If Tai Chi is that product, the next question is, “Why isn’t every physician offering it as an option to their patients with hypertension, as a prescription?” “Why aren’t all insurance policies covering such prescriptions for Tai Chi?” Ask and ye shall receive. We must become informed and demanding health consumers, in order to get the best health options available.

This article does not advocate self-treatment, and encourages all to make health choices in conjunction with their physician. However, if your physician is close-minded to anything but a certain group of health options, even when research indicates your choices may be wider, than it is time to have a good talk with your physician about possibly widening your options.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 60 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong. Bill is the author of the ebook, How to be a Successful Tai Chi Teacher (Namasta University Publishing). You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, search a worldwide teachers directory, and also contact Bill Douglas at http://www.worldtaichiday.org

Experience the profound benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong at the upcoming Summer Qi Gong and Tai Chi Workshop, June 28, 2008 in Minneapolis, MN.  Learn Qi Gong and Tai Chi exercises that relieve stress and strengthen your cardiovascular system. Register today at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html .

Great news for those rehabilitating from cardiac related illness! And for everyone else! The BBC reported on a US study of 30 patients which found regular Tai Chi classes gave patients better movement and reduced BNP levels, a measure of heart failure. The British Heart Foundation said the study was “excellent news” and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future. In fact, another study in The Harvard Women’s Health Watch, reported, “studies support Tai Chi [use] for heart-attack and cardiac-bypass patients, to improve cardio-respiratory function and reduce blood pressure.” While, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine reported that Tai Chi “results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects’ anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.”

This lowering of high blood pressure and creating more favorable lipid levels bodes well for all of us. A study in the Journal of American Geriatrics reported data substantiating that practicing T’ai Chi regularly may delay the decline of cardioresperatory function in older individuals. In addition, Tai Chi may be prescribed as a suitable aerobics exercise for older adults.

Tai Chi is shown to lower high blood pressure in several studies. An article in WebMD explains that the anger-associated hormones coming from the adrenal gland, located on or near the kidneys when over stimulated result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They reported that William H. Mueller, PhD (Behavioural epidemiologist and professor of behavioural sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Texas in Houston), explained that Tai Chi is documented to calm those “fight or flight” chemicals and promote healing.

Once we realize that heart disease, like most illness, is caused by stress it is easy to see why Tai Chi is such an effective preventative or rehabilitative therapy for heart disease and health (Kaiser Permente 20 year study found 70 to 85% of illness sending patients to their doctors were caused by stress). At the Institute of Psychology, Academia Sinica, a research study found that Tai Chi and QiGong practice can positively affect the states of mind of subjects to lessen the incidence of Type-A behavior patterns, believed to increase the risk of heart disease. As early as 1989, the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, reported on a study finding that “Relative to measurement beforehand, practice of T’ai Chi raised heart rate, increased nonadrenaline excretion in urine, and decreased salivary cortisol concentration. Relative to baseline levels, [Test Subjects] reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion and state-anxiety; they felt more vigorous, and in general they had less total mood disturbance.”

Tai Chi is perhaps the lowest impact exercise one can do, and is gentle and easy enough to do in business clothes at the office. Yet, recent studies show that Tai Chi can provide much the same cardiovascular benefit as moderate impact aerobics. In fact, a study from the Journal of American Geriatrics reported by Reuters found that Tai Chi lowered high blood pressure in older adults even more than regular aerobics. The fact that Tai Chi can do this without speeding up their heart rates, changes the way medicine looks at cardio vascular physical therapies. Dr. Deborah Rohm Young, of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland (a researcher in this study) said that these finding “suggest that (exercise) intensity may be less important than other factors” when it comes to lowering high blood pressure.

Yet, there may be another aspect of Tai Chi that helps prevent heart disease. An odd study result appeared a few years ago showing a correlation between regular dental flossing and reduced heart disease. Some speculate that the reduction of chronic gum infections that flossing fosters, makes life easier for the heart which is strained by the body fighting infections. This is where Tai Chi comes in, because research is now revealing that Tai Chi profoundly boosts the body’s ability to fight viral infections. A study conducted in China indicates that T’ai Chi may increase the number of T lymphocytes in the body. Also know as T-Cells, these lymphocytes help the immune system destroy bacteria and possibly even tumor cells. A more recent study at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), in what is believed to be the first study of its kind conducted in the United States, researchers have shown that behavioral interventions and integrative exercise programs such as tai chi can have a direct, positive effect on the immune system in older adults. The September/October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine reported that the scientists found “a nearly 50 percent increase” of varicella virus responder cells in Tai Chi Chih (TCC) patients from the start of the study to the one-week post-TCC period. On a patient-by-patient basis, levels of memory T-cells increased in nine TCC patients, remained unchanged in seven patients and decreased in one patient. In the control group, memory T-cell levels increased in three patients, were unchanged in eight patients and decreased in five patients.

Fact is that all the same benefits Tai Chi and Qigong (Chi Kung) provide those in heart health therapy, or cardiac rehabilitation, are the benefits that bode well for everyone. Tai Chi’s uniquely multidimensional benefits put it in a class by itself as far as comprehensive benefits provided by one easy to use, gentle on the body, fitness regimen. The exercise entwines the mind, body, and emotional systems and the chemicals that link these aspects of ourselves to create a powerful life enhancing tool, as well as a health & fitness tool. As modern medicine continues to discover the links between the heart, mind, and physical health, Tai Chi will increasingly emerge as a giant in the future of modern health care.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 60 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong. Bill’s been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. Bill is the author of the ebook, How to be a Successful Tai Chi Teacher (Namasta University Publishing). You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, search a worldwide teachers directory, and also contact Bill Douglas at http://www.worldtaichiday.org

P.S. Enroll in our upcoming Qigong and Tai Chi Summer Workshop June 28, 2008. Learn to contol your blood pressure naturally and rejuvenate your cardiovascular system.  Register at http://www.orientalmedcare.com/qigong.html