Qigong Wall Squatting Wall squatting is an ancient Qigong whole body movement. This is the ultimate squat that develops leg strength, power, balance and body awareness. The stretching and relaxing motion in the spine gives circulation a boost, helps the body detox and massages your internal organs to aid their functioning. As a beginner there…
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…
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 help. Explore gentle and powerful movements for both mind and body. Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation instructor Nicola lives with Ehlers Danlos…
Pain Instructs Training Tai Chi and Qigong during times of injury, chronic and acute pain can offer some unusual benefits. Simply put, pain instructs. It’s one of the responses in the body that is not subtle, it hurts and we react to it. When you experience physical pain in your Tai Chi or Qigong practice,…
Hibernating Bear Tai Chi “Build a Strong Foundation for Mind and Body Health” The phrase “Hibernating Bear” comes from instructor Nicola’s ethos to make authentic Tai Chi and Qigong available to all abilities of students, no matter age, physical ability or location. The online hibernating bear lessons follow the Taoist principles of kindness, modesty and…
Physical Symmetry Training Physical Health for Life I remember a training session a few years ago with Tina Chunna Zhang from Qigong for Women in NYC. She said that qigong practice is for ‘finding your weak spots’. To me, this means training the body in a way to create physical symmetry or harmony in the…
Tai Chi Qigong for Injury Recovery In this article I would like to explore the benefits of using Tai Chi and Qigong as restorative exercises to help during injury recovery. Over the years I have worked with many students to aid physical rehabilitation after accidents and injury, from frozen shoulders, twisted knees and falls, to…
Prolonged Sitting is Killing You Tai Chi and Qigong to improve your posture in daily life If you have attended my Tai Chi and Qigong classes, you’ll know how emphatic I can be regarding frequent healthy movements and postural health in your daily life. By practicing the Classical Chinese arts regularly, the corrections to your…
Travel with Hope Tai Chi and Qigong for Parkinson’s Disease A Parkinsons Disease Interview Introduction This interview on April 11, 2014 is an update to a previous interview on March 15, 2013. Meet ‘John Doe’ and read his story of learning to live with Parkinsons Disease (PD). He studied Qigong with me, instructor Nicola for…
Qigong for Parkinsons Disease ‘Travel with Hope’ This excerpt is from ‘Travel with Hope’, a Parkinson’s Disease interview with one of my Qigong students. “What would be the message that you would like to give to others with Parkinsons? It would be one of hope. I remember when I was diagnosed I met a very…
Method Not Mimic Your Tai Chi Journey As a beginner when learning the internal martial art of Tai Chi or Qi Gong, it is important to learn how to move rather than mimicking the instructor. Without guided and personal instruction, the movements become mere choreography. If you simply watch and follow your Tai Chi or…
Psoas Muscle in Tai Chi The psoas (pronounced so-az) muscle isn’t well known and yet plays a huge role in our bodies. It is the deepest muscle in the body and unlike most other muscles it lays buried. This muscle is vital for appropriate alignment/structure, full muscular range of motion and correct joint rotation. Location…
Tai Chi Standing Zhan Zhuang – Standing Still for Powerful Health Zhan Zhuang is a powerful internal practice where a static posture is held for a period of time. Standing is an important part of Tai Chi and Qi Gong training and should be built up gradually whilst the body adapts, the legs grow stronger…
Static Stance Training Tai Chi As a beginner, Tai Chi can be perceived as something quite simple. Yet the emphasis on achieving the correct posture whilst relaxing the body and breathing deeply can be quite difficult at first. As soon as you concentrate on dropping your shoulders, your lower back closes. Ok, try again…. as you…
Doing One Thing Correctly Principles and Layers in Chen Tai Chi Active Movement Drills and Form Training When learning the Tai Chi form and training drills, it is important to have a single point of focus. This is active mindfulness. There are many principles and layers of learning, and it is impossible to focus on…
