The Chinese Way
Over the last 2000 years the Chinese have developed systems of meditation and physical exercise to help bring the body and mind back into health and harmony by neutralising accumulated stress. One of these systems is called Qigong (pronounced chee gung). For many Chinese this is a way of life; each day starts by performing a sequence of slow relaxed exercises to bring the body into a state of harmony before the day commences.

Qigong
There are three main types of qigong: martial, medical and spiritual. Each has a slightly different intention, but they all have a number of things in common. The first is called the ‘three regulations’, and involves the regulation of the body, breath and mind. Each type of qigong encourages the cultivation of deep relaxation throughout the body in combination with slow deep breathing.

The Practice of Qigong
The exercises are performed with the mind totally focussed on the feelings and The Practice of Qigong
The exercises are performed with the mind totally focussed on the feelings and sensations that arise in the body while doing the exercises. Through this process we can start to address our tensions and postural irregularities so that our body functions more harmoniously.

The Effects of Qigong
Our focussed awareness of body, breath and mind can also bring us to a state of ‘quintessence’. This experience is different for different people. For me, it is a very relaxed state where all my senses are alive and I am aware of the world around me, neither thinking of the past or future, but fully entering into the moment in a peaceful and positive way. So we return to a more holistic, natural sense of our felt self rather than being stuck in our thinking mind.  

The Class
Qigong can be performed standing, sitting or lying down. The qigong that I will be teaching will involve physical movement in a standing position, sometimes moving forward, backwards or in circles, followed by relaxation at the either sitting or lying down. We will move from stillness to flow, from slow to fast as we undo the tensions in our minds and bodies.

The Teacher
Stephen Lee has been practising qigong for over 30 years. The way he teaches reflects many influences and interests including kung fu, tai ji chuan, yoga, 5 rhythms dance, meditation and various forms of group therapy. He has had many excellent teachers along the way and is currently learning Jeet Kun Do.