This is a replay of a live session showing you some easy Qigong stretching exercises, taught by myself, Dr. Janice Tucker. I have been teaching Qigong for two decades and am the founder of the Space To Relax Programme of Qigong video lessons. I’m also a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. You can join my live classes on Zoom every Thursday at 4 pm Irish time. Click here to join us (lesson replays sent out by email in case you can’t make it).
These classes are free and everyone is welcome. However, if you’d like to contribute as a thank you for the class click here. 50% of donations will go to the ICU staff in my local hospital in Co. Kerry. The other 50% goes towards the upkeep of this website.
Easy Qigong Stretching Exercises – Introduction
This video shows you an easy Qigong stretching exercise. Qigong stretching is quite different from conventional stretching in that it is much more than physical exercise. Easy Qigong stretching incorporates movement but the mind and breath are equally important. Qigong stretching creates more length and space in the body which, in turn, allows for a more open, unobstructed flow of Qi and blood. This results in the body and mind coming back into their natural healthy balance.
Easy Qigong Stretching Exercises – Method
Begin with abdominal breathing to bring yourself into the Qigong state.
Neck tilts and turns.
Shoulder blade stretch – forwards and backwards.
Press palms and fists.
Twist to both sides.
Sideways bend.
Hamstring stretch.
Groin stretch.
Achille’s tendon stretch.
Vibrate the body.
Abdominal breathing to consolidate your practice.
Additional Video Resources
You’ll find a few other video class replays which also relate to this routine and can be combined with it if you wish to practice a longer Qigong routine.
Many other live lesson replays can be found on my blog page. I’d encourage you to take a look at some of them and find methods which you can easily combine with this one.
Click the image above to follow along with the Qigong class!
What Can I Do Next?
To sign up and attend the live online sessions please click here. Classes are free of charge and suitable if you’re a beginner or have more Qigong experience. Once you sign up I’ll send details to your email with links to the Zoom classes (check your junk/spam folders for notifications). Please share this information with your family and friends as everyone is more than welcome.
If you’d like to take your practice to the next level with my structured, step-by-step Space To Relax Qigong programme of 50 video lessons accompanied by audio and PDF files with support from me every step of the way then click here.
To get my free part video series of 3 Qigong lessons which will be delivered to you by email over the course of one week please click here. In these lessons you’ll learn more about abdominal breathing, Qi movement and how to rid waste Qi. This will help you to feel more relaxed and energised.
You can also click the red “subscribe” button to join my YouTube channel. That way, you won’t miss any future Qigong lessons from me.
This is a replay of a live session showing you a Qigong routine for Spring, taught by myself, Dr. Janice Tucker. I have been teaching Qigong for two decades and am the founder of the Space To Relax Programme of Qigong video lessons. I’m also a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. You can join my live classes on Zoom every Thursday at 4 pm Irish time. Click here to join us (lesson replays sent out by email in case you can’t make it).
These classes are free and everyone is welcome. However, if you’d like to contribute as a thank you for the class click here. 50% of donations will go to the ICU staff in my local hospital in Co. Kerry. The other 50% goes towards the upkeep of this website.
Qigong Spine Stretch – Introduction
In this video you’ll learn a couple of simple Qigong spine stretches. The aim of these exercises is to:
– loosen your spine and improve flexibility;
– connect your whole body to the movement of the spine;
– practice cultivating your awareness and powers of observation by feeling into your spine;
– promote the 4 directions of Qi flow;
– help improve your posture;
– relax the nervous system;
Focus on:
Complete relaxation of your arms;
Slow and careful movement (never do anything that produces a sensation of pain).
How the limbs pull on your spine as you move in order to maintain your balance.
Method
Begin by adopting the correct Qigong standing posture and performing a few abdominal breaths (see more here).
Drop your chin to your chest to begin and roll your head and arms slowly forward feeling the arms and crown of your head being pulled down by gravity. Perform this movement SLOWLY, one vertebra at a time until you reach the lower back area. If you cannot reach the floor then place your hands on your thighs or shins (not your knees) when you reach the full extent of your movement. If you can touch the ground then at this point straighten your legs a little to create a gentle stretch in the hamstrings.
Feel the different sections of your spine as you descend. Pause as you descend if you feel any areas of tension or stuck Qi (energy) and release this by slowly exhaling, softening into the area.
To come back up, roll up slowly from the lower back to the vertebrae in the neck, keeping the head and arms down until the last moment. Then lift the head back to upright, drop your shoulders and feel into your spine (you may feel taller).
Repeat this Qigong spine stretch at least three times.
Perform the “Looking Back Over Shoulder” exercise which is one of the 8 Pieces of Brocade, a classical Qigong set of exercises that benefit the whole body and which you can learn in my Space To Relax 50-week programme of Qigong video lessons.
Consolidate your practice by finishing with a few abdominal breaths and taking a few moments with your eyes closed to notice how your body and mind feel.
Integrating The Qigong Spine Stretch Into Your Day
You can practice any of the movements shown in this video whenever you have 5 minutes. They are perfect for those of you who spend a large portion of your day driving our working at a computer as they will provide relief for your back and energise your body.
Many other live lesson replays can be found on my blog page so I’d encourage you to take a look at some of them and find methods which you can easily add to the end of this one. A good example is “Qigong For Back Problems“.
Click the image above to follow along with the Qigong class!
What Can I Do Next?
To sign up and attend the live online sessions please click here. Classes are free of charge and suitable if you’re a beginner or have more Qigong experience. Once you sign up I’ll send details to your email with links to the Zoom classes (check your junk/spam folders for notifications). Please share this information with your family and friends as everyone is more than welcome.
If you’d like to take your practice to the next level with my structured, step-by-step Space To Relax Qigong programme of 50 video lessons accompanied by audio and PDF files with support from me every step of the way then click here.
To get my free part video series of 3 Qigong lessons which will be delivered to you by email over the course of one week please click here. In these lessons you’ll learn more about abdominal breathing, Qi movement and how to rid waste Qi. This will help you to feel more relaxed and energised.
You can also click the red “subscribe” button to join my YouTube channel. That way, you won’t miss any future Qigong lessons from me.
This is a replay of a live session showing you a Qigong routine for Spring, taught by myself, Dr. Janice Tucker. I have been teaching Qigong for two decades and am the founder of the Space To Relax Programme of Qigong video lessons. I’m also a practitioner of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. You can join my live classes on Zoom every Thursday at 4 pm Irish time. Click here to join us (lesson replays sent out by email in case you can’t make it).
These classes are free and everyone is welcome. However, if you’d like to contribute as a thank you for the class click here. 50% of donations will go to the ICU staff in my local hospital in Co. Kerry. The other 50% goes towards the upkeep of this website.
Qigong For Back Problems – Introduction
I think you’ll agree that very few of us go through our lives experiencing no issues with our backs. At one time or another we may injure our backs lifting something too heavy. Many people around the world suffer from arthritis of the spine. Our jobs may involve lifting or sitting at a desk for long periods of time which can be detrimental to our posture and have a detrimental impact on our back health. The long and short of it is that back problems are common!
In this video you can follow along with some simple methods of Qigong for back problems and learn how to help relieve aches, pains and stiffness in your back.
Qigong Routine
1. Begin with adopting the correct Qigong stance so that your posture allows for the free flow Qi and blood throughout the whole spine (more details here).
2. Use Abdominal Breathing to calm the mind and prepare yourself for your practice, focusing on the back of the Dan Tian area around the lower back (more details here).
3. Holding your arms at shoulder level, move the arms in and out, rounding and extending the upper back as shown in the video. Remember to breathe and smile! 🙂
4. Relax your arms by your sides, turning from one side to the other, allowing your arms to tap the back of the body as you are moving. 🙂
5. Perform the “Looking Back Over Shoulder” method which is part of the Ba Duan Jin (8 Pieces of Brocade) method. This exercise regulates everything, especially the spine and the thighs. It is useful in the prevention of painful twisting and distortion of the spine. You can also help calm your nervous system and aid recovery from fatigue as well as regulate visceral Qi and blood. Looking Back Over Shoulder can help in the prevention and management of hypertension (high blood pressure). This exercise also benefits the eyes (because we look back). Headaches will also often be reduced.
6. Massage the lower back, buttocks and hamstrings to bring more circulation into these areas.
7. End this routine with a few abdominal breaths.
For more information on Qigong for back problems please refer to my previous video here. This gives you more detail on the “Looking Back Over Shoulder” method.
Previous Live Lesson Replays
Previous live lesson replays are listed below and can be found on my blog page.
Click the image above to follow along with the Qigong class!
What Can I Do Next?
To sign up and attend the live online sessions please click here. Classes are free of charge and suitable if you’re a beginner or have more Qigong experience. Once you sign up I’ll send details to your email with links to the Zoom classes (check your junk/spam folders for notifications). Please share this information with your family and friends as everyone is more than welcome.
If you’d like to take your practice to the next level with my structured, step-by-step Space To Relax Qigong programme of 50 video lessons accompanied by audio and PDF files with support from me every step of the way then click here.
To get my free part video series of 3 Qigong lessons which will be delivered to you by email over the course of one week please go to my homepage. In these lessons you’ll learn more about abdominal breathing and Qi movement. In addition, you’ll learn how to rid waste Qi from your body order to feel more relaxed and energised.
You can also click the red “subscribe” button to join my YouTube channel. That way, you won’t miss any future Qigong lessons from me.
