HWRK Magazine: Issue 03 - Spring 2018

inception over 2,500 years ago. Western
medicine is only 300 years old - and they
are just starting to tap into alternative
medicine or ‘biofeedback’.
Here are seven ways qigong can improve
many aspects of your health and wellness:
1
Centred & focused
The art of controlling your breathing
while doing these exercises is just
that, an art. This translates to all parts of
your life.
2
Improving digestion
The Chinese have long believed
humans have two brains. The one in
your skull and the one in your gut. Proper
breathing massages your internal organs.
3
Balanced hormones
Much of the new literature on stress
indicates that one of the largest
factors in determining stress levels is your
emotions. Deep regulated breathing allows
the body to calm down and turns off the
stress hormones that naturally occur.
4
Increasing flexibility
The more the body is able to relax at
the most visceral level, the more the
tightness or stiffness in the muscles are able
to subside. When you are under anaesthetic
a doctor can move your joint wherever they
want. The fact that you’re so completely
relaxed allows this mobility. Now, imagine
the possibilities for your own overall health
and wellness if you could tap into that on a
regular basis.
5
Strengthening muscles
Power comes from the explosive
contraction of your muscles; the
more relaxed, the greater the explosive
movement.
6
Prevents injury
Qigong is like a good gentle stretch
and an acupuncture treatment
combined, which improves the circulation
of fluids and energy in the body to lessen
the impact of injuries and allow more rapid
healing.
7
STReNGTHEN connections
A primary way chi flows is along the
nerves of the body, which makes it
a hugely effective technique for relieving
stress on a day-to-day basis, as well as rebuilding
bodies that have broken down due
to long-term stress.
personal coach
Kevin Kearns is an acclaimed
strength and conditioning coach
1. OPEN LOTUS
Stand with your knees bent
and tailbone tucked under.
Place your hands in front of
you like you’re holding a bowl
of water. Breathe in slowly
through your nose as you
bring the bowl towards your
face and over your head. Then
turn your palms out and push
your hands away to your sides
of the body.
AN INTRO TO QIGONG
Here are some simple exercises to try with this method.
All breathing should be a two and four count
2. PYRAMID
In a push-up like position,
drive your hips up in the air.
Now as you fold forward
breathe out as you bring your
body down and arch your
back and neck towards the
ceiling.
3. TRUNK
Stand with both feet shoulder
width apart and your knees
flexed. Hold your hands at
your navel in a bowl-like
position. Breathe in and inflate
your belly, raise your hands,
and then breathe out.
4. KNEE TO CHEST
Stand straight, legs shoulder
width apart, with your hands
palms down towards your
feet. Breathe in as you pull
both hands towards your
chest along with your knee, as
if you were pulling your pant
leg up. Now reverse your
hands and bring them back
down. Count and focus on the
timing of your breathing.
hwrkMAGazine.co.uk Spring 2018 // HWRK MAGAZINE // 53