Page 37 - Seniors Today - Vol1 Issue 3

How exactly does Qigong Tai Chi work? even after a few minutes of conscious relaxation
‘Qi’ or ‘Chi’ means energy. ‘Gong’ or ‘Kung
means work. so, in essence, Qigong is to
exercise your internal energy. In Yoga this is
referred to as ‘Prana’. When there is a free-
flowing passage within our body for energy,
our Chi is high and plentiful. Blockages
develop in the form of gross manifestations
as blood circulation, gas, mobility within
the joints, clear respiratory tract and good
elimination of waste or as subtler effects
such as mind blocks, negativity, imbalance of
nervous energy (hyperactivity or lethargy),
impulsivity, poor reflexes, lack of clarity in
thought and essentially and imbalance in the
various key areas where there is a nexus of
essential meridians (channels of energy lines
as per the Chinese tradition) or ‘nadis’ that
eventually lead to an imbalance in ‘chakras’ as
per Yoga and ‘doshas’ as per Ayurveda.
These blockages develop gradually through
lack of movement, excess movement, lack
of sleep or excess sleep, lack of nutrition or
excess undigested food, natural degeneration
of muscle strength, lubrication within joints
and slowing down of the efficiency of bodily
processes due to advancing age or simple
lack of positive thinking as negative thinking
drains the body’s capacity to feel strong and
therefore results in aches and pains and
eventually diseases.
Qigong works beautifully for seniors in this
regard. Qigong movements are slow-paced,
gentle, rocking motions with a mindful focus
on breath synchronisation that facilitate
digestion and leave a deep relaxing effect on
the body and mind. Most forms of exercise
that may be inaccessible to some can at least
learn and practice these set of movements
and aid their systems within. Personally, I
enjoy practicing Qigong even in a swimming
pool as water in all forms helps me relax and
releases soreness in my sometimes overused
joint regions. This is after realising that all the
magic of therapeutic healing happens during
relaxation. When we relax, our energy flows
more freely and blockages release. This is why
we feel better, healthier and more energised
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during Shavasana or Yoga Nidra than a few hours
of unrestful sleep.
Learning to let go
In our sunset years, the body begins to slow
down to prepare us for the eventual goodbye
to this alluringly beautiful world. Our joints
begin to dry up and restrict movement due to
wear and tear and signal us to move slower.
Our muscles reduce in size to in order to waste
lesser of the body’s vital energy needed in the
upkeep of muscles. Our appetite lessens to ease
the workload of digestion. The mind also is more
ready to be religious, meditative and spiritual.
This is the body’s graceful way of transitioning us
into our final stage of life or Sanyasa ashram, after
the previous four stages of life - Brahmacharya
(study phase), Grihasti (family life), Vanaprastha
(Jungle life, i.e. letting go of worldly possessions
and living simpler).
Grace and poise within any tough stage of life
and the ability to accept our current realities,
letting go of our attachments, expectations and
need for control and recognising our resistance
to change - this is essentially what we indirectly
try to apply and practice throughout our lives.
Qigong’s 18 movement can be a wonderful
therapy to help teach the body to flow along, slow
down, relax and slowly our mind will follow
and harness the storehouses of grace and energy
within to deal with this chapter in life.
SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 3