Nourish Through Breath Part 5 Qigong Breathing for Health The fifth part in this breath work programme looks at developing your breath work by combining whole body movement. The heavenly breath is a foundation Qigong practice that is co-ordinated with diaphragmatic breathing. You can also learn to train your breath to become slower over time,…
Chronic Health Tai Chi Livestream Online Group Classes via Zoom UK Join our virtual livestream for a relaxed Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation class. Open to all abilities, the lessons include seated and standing movements, guiding you through gentle tension relief, physical relaxation and meditation techniques. Anyone can join in, whether living with chronic illness,…
Winter Solstice Livestream Online Taoist Meditation Workshop Wednesday 21 December at 6pm UK time zone Join our virtual winter solstice gathering for a nourishing dose of seated breath work, relaxation and Taoist meditation. In the Chinese calendar this is the time of absolute yin, known as Dong Zhi, with the shortest day and the longest…
John Blue Snake and Turtle Qigong Instructor John Blue from SnakeAndTurtle.com has a new youtube channel and Patreon page dedicated to sharing healing qigong movements and meditation teachings. He is an experienced qigong instructor with a Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a lineage holder in Taiji Quan, Qigong and meditation. He lives in…
Types of Meditation There are thousands of types of meditation and mindfulness practices, varying from stillness to movement. You can be seated, standing, lying down, walking, dancing or doing. When starting out with meditation, practice a very simple method like pausing or focusing on the breath, daily or every other day if possible for small…
Learn to Breathe Well for Life In ancient Eastern cultures breathing is seen as fundamental to life-long health. This has become lost in the modern world, leaning more on pharmaceutical companies to provide us with ‘better health’. Learning to breathe more effectively can have a profound effect on how the systems in your body function….
Slowing Down in a Fast World If you consider your daily routine, what tasks and activities do you do at speed? I don’t mean sports where you deliberately train fast for aerobic exercise and strength and conditioning training. I mean everything from chores to work, to speaking and movement. If you observe your pace, you…
Deception Training Body Language and the Mind Body Connection This article looks at deception training and the relationship between Tai Chi and Qigong movements and stillness meditation practice. The Stress Response What does the fear, stress, anxiety, scared, afraid, discomfort or nervous response look like in your posture and movement? Posture: Hands are hidden or…
Meditation Myths There is a lot of misinformation about what meditation and mindfulness are, mixed in with unnecessary stereotypes and superiority. For many this puts the stillness practices out of reach. When I teach meditation and mindfulness, I strip away preconception, expectation and myths. Simplicity is the key. On a basic level mindfulness and meditation…
Winter Qi for the Kidneys Winter is yin by nature, a time for consolidating, stillness and retreating within. It is a dark, cold, wet and icy time. The winter solstice is seen as absolute yin, with the tiniest spark of light within. It is easy for our vitality to become depleted in this season, as…
Autumn Qi for the Lungs Autumn is a mellowing and contracting time of year that is governed by the metal element and the lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here are my suggestions for strengthening your lungs as the weather turns cooler. Lungs and Large Intestines in TCM The lung is known as a yin…
Ways to Relieve Stress I would go as far as saying that stress is one of the most silent health disorders of our modern times. Managing stress is often overlooked and seen as trivial. There is growing pressure on everyone, to go faster, be more productive, achieve more, do more and so on. Before we look…
Self Managing Chronic Pain For those living with chronic pain who would like to be active in their self care management, read over a number of free online resources that aim to naturally and holistically support you. Explore gentle and powerful movements for both mind and body. Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation instructor Nicola lives…
Earth Qi for the Pancreas Stomach & Spleen The earth element in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) governs the stomach, pancreas and spleen organs. Earth as an element is located in the centre and is associated with stability and being grounded. This is mirrored in TCM as the stomach, pancreas and spleen are central to health. Stomach,…
Chronic Pain Course ReMap Course Summary –Â March to June 2019 Wednesday 12 June 2019 saw the completion of the 12 week ReMap course, a movement and stillness class for those living with chronic pain. Over the duration I introduced the students to ‘Hibernating Bear Tai Chi’, covering a variety of Qigong, Chen Tai Chi and…
