Recently I asked the members of my “Space To Relax Free Group” on Facebook what they would like to learn about regarding Qigong and how it can help them. One great suggestion from Kathy was about how to stay motivated, on track and avoid slipping back into bad habits. This is such a great question! Today I’m going to be talking to you about how to stay motivated and also how to use Qigong for motivation.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong, and the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to benefit your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
My 7 Top Methods Using Qigong For Motivation
1. Choose something you like to do
To stay motivated for Qigong or any other exercise it is important to choose something that you like to do. By now many of you will have access to a number of Qigong methods. Choose your favourites as then you are more likely to maintain your practice.
2. Pick a regular time to practice
It is easier to stay on track with Qigong (or any good habit) if you pick the same time every day to practice. First thing in the morning works best for me as then my practice is done and I have set myself up in the best possible way for the rest of the day. Also, if I have more time at the end of the day, I’ll do more. A regular practice time will really help you to stay on track. Once you can do this, you will see how you can use Qigong for motivation in other areas of your life.
3. Keep a record of you observations
Keeping a diary or journal of your observations will allow you to see how much progress you are making. Once a few weeks have passed and you look at your journal you will see the difference between where you were before and where you are right now.
4. Practice with friends and family
Certainly with Qigong there is huge benefit in practising with friends and family. The presence of a group enhances the “Qi field” (see my blog on “What is a Qi Field?“) of everyone practising. Similarly, with other exercise such as walking, running, cycling, it is much easier to do it and stay motivated as you can encourage one another.
5. Celebrate your successes
Don’t give yourself a hard time if you don’t practice or exercise every single day. Instead focus on all the good things that you are doing. If you have set yourself a milestone, e.g. to practice 10 minutes of Qigong every day for one week, then when you achieve this CELEBRATE! Go out and do something that you love to do to celebrate that milestone. This is important.
6. Be kind to yourself
If you miss a couple of days of practice, don’t give yourself a hard time. Simply get back on track as soon as possible. Realise that you are only human. You are not a robot. You can pick up your goal and resume progressing towards it as soon as possible.
7. Start small to get motivated
If you find you have no motivation to get going then pick the tiniest thing that you feel you would like to do and just do that. Start with a small thing and build it up slowly. Over time you will find that things do get easier for you to carry forward with some momentum.
If you want to start small and learn some Qigong by practising for a few minutes each day, or getting really clever, and learning how to integrate Qigong into your day then head over to the Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up to receive three free video lessons which will be delivered to you by e-mail over the course of a few days. Also, for a free audio meditation “Calm Your Busy Mind In 8 Minutes” scroll to the bottom of the Space To Relax homepage to sign up for that.
I’d love to hear what you do to stay motivated. What do you do to stop yourself from slipping back into bad habits? How do you use Qigong for motivation? You can head over to my free group on Facebook, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, you will receive regular postings with useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button on my channel page. That way, you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” if you learned much more about how to use Qigong for self care.
This video from Dr Janice Tucker at Space To Relax explains the correct Qigong standing posture. To get the most benefit from Qigong practice you need to stand such that the Qi flows in an unimpeded and unobstructed way around the body.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
By making small adjustments in your Qigong standing posture you can make a world of difference to the flow of Qi around your body. When your Qi is flowing freely your health has the potential to skyrocket!
The following extract is taken from Lesson 2 of the Space To Relax Programme of online Qigong video lessons. This is a shortened version of the lesson explaining the correct Qigong stance.
Exercise – The Correct Qigong Standing Posture
1. The Position Of Your Feet
Your feet are important in giving you a stable grounding for Qigong practice. Look down and your feet and check that they are parallel and shoulder width distance apart. Your toes should not be pointing outwards or inwards.
2. The Knees
Your knees should be very slightly bent. There should be softness in your knees so that the knee joints are not locked.
3. Hips and Lower Back Area
To check this place one hand in the small of your back and one on your lower abdomen. Then make a hollow in your lower back so that it is curved by sticking the buttocks out. Feel how the vertebrae in the lower back feel squashed or compressed. Your lower back will feel tight.
Next tilt your pelvis forward by tucking the buttocks under. You will feel the lower back flatten and the whole area open up. You will feel as though there is space in this area. This openness allows the Qi to flow up and down the spine much more freely.
4. Shoulders and Arms
Your shoulders should be loose and relaxed. Your hands hang down from the shoulders by the sides of the body.
5. Head and Neck
Your neck, like your lower back, is an important area in which to maintain space and openness in order to allow for the free flow of Qi. Make sure that your head is not tilted too far forwards or too far back. Imagine the top of your head is being pulled up by a string. This creates length in the back of the neck. At the same time tuck the chin in very slightly. As you do this you will feel the back of your neck extending and opening up.
Summary
These adjustments will promote the free flow of Qi up and down your spine and in to your head.
The Qigong standing posture should be relaxed. Once you are in this position practice Abdominal Breathing in order to allow your Qi to begin to flow freely around your body.
Your Qigong standing posture is the basis of many standing Qigong exercises. Once you can stand correctly you will notice huge differences in the Qi flow around your body. Your energy will quickly feel as though it is supercharged as the Qi zooms around your body in an unimpeded way! 🙂 This is turn leads you to gain much more energy, clarity, calmness and focus.
More Information
If you’d like to learn more about the Qigong standing posture and and learn some more exercises that you can practice from this Qigong standing posture then head over to my Space To Relax homepage. Here you can sign up to receive three free video lessons which will be delivered to you by e-mail. By practising these simple 5 minute lessons you will get a flavour of the Qigong benefits of feeling much calmer and at the same time more energetic.
If you head over to my free group on Facebook, “Space To Relax Free Group” you can leave any questions for me there and I’ll be happy to answer them. Also you can leave a comment in the comments box next to this video.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” if you learned much more about the Qigong standing posture by reading this article.
This video from Dr Janice Tucker is the first in a two part series about Qigong benefits. What I’d like to share with you today is specifically how Qigong benefits YOU.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
What Are The Main Benefits Of Qigong For You?
There are five main benefits:
1. Relaxation
Qigong offers you the benefit of relaxation both physically, mentally and emotionally. This has the effect of calming your mind and giving you much more energy.
2. Calms Mind, Adjusts Breath And Posture
The effects of these three factors lead to more energy, more strength in terms of health and also the ability to cope much more readily with day to day stress!
3. Strengthening of Health
As a Chinese medicine practitioner I love this particular benefit. Qigong helps build up your health. This makes you stronger and more resistant to disease. By doing strengthening your health you can help to prevent the onset of any illness which is the most effective way to manage your health! Head off any illness before it has the opportunity to take root in the first place.
4. Helps Treat Illness
By practising Qigong you can help slow down the progress of a disease or illness and also help speed up your recovery from illness.
5. Helps You To Live Longer
The idea that Qigong can increase your longevity makes sense when you consider the previous benefits. If Qigong helps treat illness, prevent disease and makes your body stronger then it follows that you have a good chance of living longer! Qigong practitioners are reputed to look younger than their actual age and be healthier than the next person. This is because they are continually adjusting and managing their health on a day to day basis.
If you’d like to learn more about Qigong then head over to my Space To Relax homepage. Here you can sign up to receive three free video lessons which will be delivered to you by e-mail. By practising these simple 5 minute lessons you will get a flavour of the Qigong benefits of feeling much calmer and at the same time more energetic.
If you head over to my free group on Facebook, “Space To Relax Free Group” you can leave any questions for me there and I’ll be happy to answer them. Also you can leave a comment in the comments box next to this video.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button above so you don’t miss my regular videos full of health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” if you learned much more about Qigong benefits by reading this article.
Look out for Part 2 of Qigong Benefits which will be available very soon.
