qigong

The 5 Elements

The previous two blog posts in this Taoism series have explained the concepts of Wuji, and Yin-Yang. Respectively the unseen, unfathomable void from which all existence springs (Wuji), and the duality of natural phenomena which gives it its definition (Yin-Yang).  Our next step in our journey of understanding Chinese thought …

Tai Chi and Dementia

This week is Dementia Awareness Week. In the UK alone there are over 850,000 people living with dementia and this figure is only set to rise – to a predicted 1 million by 2025.   Dementia comes in many forms, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s, which counts for …

This week in the UK it is mental health awareness week. According to the charity Mind, approximately one in four people will experience a mental health issue every year, and one in six people report a mental health problem – such as anxiety or depression – every week.   These …

Spring is here!

In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we are now heading into the Wood element and this changing of the season from winter to spring brings with it a renewing of energy, a rebirth and a new beginning.   Spring always gives me (for want of a better word) a …

5 Reasons Tai Chi is the Perfect Resolution This New Year

You can do it anywhere No need to pack a gym bag, or wear any special clothing, you don’t need to get in your car, or on a bus to go to a place to train all of the time. Just a little floor space is all you need (or …

Parkinson’s and Tai Chi

What is Parkinson’s? The NHS sites the three prominent symptoms of Parkinson’s as being ‘an involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor), slow movement, as well as stiff and inflexible muscles’. From these main indicators spring a multitude of further complications – physical and psychological – which can …

Qigong

Okay so let’s get the two most important and commonly asked questions out of the way first:   What does it mean? How do you say it?   You will see it translated as ‘Energy Work’, ‘Energy Cultivation’, ‘Working with Energy’, ‘Energy Life Cultivation’ – and other similar terms.   …

Tai Chi for Asthma

Of all the chronic conditions we face in the modern world, asthma seems to be one of the most prevalent. According to the Office for National Statistics, 1320 people died in England and Wales alone. In the UK, 5.4 million people are currently receiving treatment – this includes 1 in …

Mindfulness of Breath – a meditation in four parts…

Following on from my blog post of yesterday, where I wrote about the importance of a good breathing practice – here is a very simple meditation that I learnt when I used to visit the Brighton Buddhist Centre on my lunch breaks. Working in technology and computing, these lunch breaks …

Breathing for Life

Of all the things which sustain us, our breath is one of the most vital. We can go several days without food and water, yet the world record for absolute longest breath hold is 22 minutes. This is an almost unbelievable time (by a world champion free diver) – but …