Lesson 55 – Qigong Exercises For Thyroid Health and Metabolism  (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

Lesson 55 – Qigong Exercises For Thyroid Health and Metabolism (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

This is a replay of a live session showing you some Qigong exercises for thyroid health and metabolism, 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 and 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 Exercises for Thyroid Health and Metabolism – Introduction

Our thyroid gland, located in the neck, secretes hormones responsible for the regulation of our metabolism and “rate of living”. There are two main types of hormone imbalance:

  1. Underactive thyroid, manifesting with symptoms such as feeling cold, dry skin and hair, puffy face, constipation, weight gain, sluggishness and depression
  2. Overactive thyroid, manifesting with symptoms such as feeling hot, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors, increased appetite but losing weight, diarrhea, anxiety and irritability.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) thyroid imbalance is indicative of an imbalance of Yin (the cooling, moistening and nourishing functions in the body) and Yang (the warming, moving and activating functions in the body). These two broad imbalances are:

  1. Underactive thyroid is related to Yang deficiency
  2. Overactive thyroid is related to Yin deficiency

Note: These are broad indications and should not be used in place of a full TCM diagnosis from a fully qualified TCM practitioner.

The Role of Exercise In Managing Thyroid Imbalance

Any exercise which increases stress levels and exhausts the muscles and tissues of the body (e.g. cardiovascular or intense exercise) will not be of benefit to you because an already exhausted system will struggle to recover.

Helpful exercises for thyroid regulation involve those which benefit tissue building and repair, breathing and lowering of stress levels such as Qigong because they do not overtax your system.

Qigong Exercises For Thyroid Health and Metabolism – Method

  1. Begin sitting or standing with a few abdominal breaths.
  2. For overactive thyroid use the method of exhaling through the feet to rid anything you don’t want in your body/mind and inhaling into Dan Tian (lower abdomen) to draw in clean, fresh Qi to calm the mind.
  3. For underactive thyroid use part of the “Swimming Dragon” method to gently circulate the Qi throughout the whole body without causing exhaustion.
  4. Conclude with a few abdominal breaths.

Additional Video Resources

Many other live lesson replays can be found on my blog page. Take a look at some of them to 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.

Click here to join our Qigong group on Facebook.

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Lesson 35 – Qigong For Resilience (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

Lesson 35 – Qigong For Resilience (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

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 Resilience – Developing The Skill

Resilience is our ability to face problems and stresses so that we can successfully navigate challenges in life. Think of it as a skill you can develop by using a toolbox of methods to draw on. Examples could be the strategy of talking and asking for help, spending time in nature, meditating, feeling the fear and pushing through it. You can add Qigong to your toolbox as further support in acquiring greater resilience, a quality which we could all benefit from in the current climate!

Qigong For Resilience – Method

  1. Begin by taking a comfortable standing (more on Qigong stance here) or sitting position (more on seated Qigong here).
  2. Settle into your practice by relaxing your body and mind with Abdominal Breathing.
  3. Following along with the “Shooting Vulture” movement, one of the “8 Pieces of Brocade” method which you can find in my Space To Relax Programme of 50 Qigong videos lessons.
  4. Relax the body and twist from side to side to perform the “Knocking on the Gates/Door of Life” method.
  5. “Stand on Tiptoes To Rid the 1000 Diseases” movement which is fabulous for balance too (and another of the “8 Pieces of Brocade”).
  6. Consolidate your practice with a few abdominal breaths.

Please watch the following videos I made previously which you can also use to help develop the skill of being more resilient to life’s challenges!

  1. Qigong for Emotional Balance (to calm your mind).
  2. Release Fear With Qigong
  3. Qigong for Energy Protection.
  4. A Grounding Qigong Routine.

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 click here. In these lessons you’ll learn more about abdominal breathing and Qi movement along with how to rid waste Qi from your body in 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.

Website homepage.

Lesson 21 – Qi Flow Routine (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

Lesson 21 – Qi Flow Routine (Replay of Live Qigong Class)

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.

Qi Flow Routine – Introduction

If you have been enjoying these classes during the last couple of months and you’d like to donate something by way of a thank you, I’ll be giving 50% of donations to the ICU nurses in my local hospital. Click here to donate.

Introduction To Qi Flow Routine

In this video, you can follow along with a Qi flow routine which is focusing on creating the optimum conditions for Qi to flow in an unimpeded way throughout your body. The emphasis is on releasing tension, promoting relaxation, and enjoying the simple movements which combine with your abdominal breathing.

Method- Qi Flow Routine

1. Adopt the Qigong sitting, standing or lying down posture (more here).

2. Begin with Abdominal Breathing to get into the “Qigong State” of calm and relaxation (more details here).

3. Follow me as I guide you through the routine of the Circles method to promote movement of Qi in the 4 directions and circles around Dan Tian. More details on these methods are here.

4. Practice the Qi Ball method (more details here).

5. End with the Discharge Waste Qi with Vibration method (more details here).

Integration into Your Day

You can perform this Qi flow routine anytime you have a few minutes. Remember that the focus is less on performing 100% correct movements and more in moving in a way that feels comfortable and relaxed for you.

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.

Website homepage.

Qigong For Headaches and Migraine

Qigong For Headaches and Migraine

Have you ever had a headache or migraine? If the answer to this question is “No” then you are probably in the minority of people reading this. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that “almost half of the adult population have had a headache at least once within the last year“. Among those people, 30% or more have reported migraine. This makes headache one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. (Click here to see the WHO document). If you or someone you know suffers with this problem then watch the video on this page to learn how you can use Qigong for headaches and migraine management.

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 head over to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.

The Impact Of Headache and Migraine On Our Lives

You will all no doubt know someone who suffers with recurrent headaches and/or migraine. This is because it is such a common problem affecting people of all ages, races and income levels around the world.

If you’ve ever suffered with a headache you will know that it is painful, miserable and debilitating. Other negative impacts of headache and/or migraine may include:

  • Fear of when the next one is going to occur.
  • The ability to carry out our daily tasks.
  • Days or months of work lost with a consequent financial impact.
  • A severely restricted social life.
  • Side effects of medication we may take which create further health problems for us.
  • A predisposition to further illnesses. The WHO states that “anxiety and depression are significantly more common in people with migraine than in healthy individuals“. Click here for the WHO factsheet.

I think you’ll agree that enduring recurrent headaches or migraine is not an acceptable situation!

The Solution – Qigong For Headaches and Migraine

  1. Make sure you are hydrated. Although this is not Qigong I’m including this tip here because on many occasions headache can be caused by a lack of fluid intake so ensure that you are drinking plenty of water.
  1. Discharge With Vibration Method. This is lesson 3 in my free 3 part video series (more about how to access that below). This method will quickly rid pressure in your head literally in the space of less than 5 minutes.
  1. Qigong for Cleansing. Watch my previous video on “Qigong For Cleansing“. You can use this method of Qigong for headaches and migraine because it helps to rid any waste Qi from your body, i.e. pain, dizziness, nausea, heaviness in the head.
  1. Face Wash and Massage. This simple method will give you relief from headache. Rub palms together until hot. Close eyes and place palms on eyes feeling the heat from the hands. Face wash. Comb over head down to back of neck. Pluck around eyebrows and under eyes with index finger and thumb. This brings more circulation of Qi into the face and stimulated acupuncture points around the eyes so if you have migraine where vision is affected this can be a very useful little tip to improve things for you.

What Do I  Do Next?

If you would like to start using Qigong for headaches and migraine then:

  1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. These three lessons, in addition to the videos referred to above, will give you many useful pain relieving methods to help relieve headaches and migraine. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to relieve pain, calm your mind and eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. This includes many more effective Qigong methods to minimise headaches and migraine.
  1. Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you do to manage headaches and/or migraine.
  1. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.

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Qigong For Grounding

Qigong For Grounding

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could all live our lives in a state of feeling grounded, centred and like nothing could throw us off course? Many of us feel exactly the opposite of that most of the time. We suffer from constant mental chatter, anxiety and stress! In the video on this page I’m going to show you how you can use Qigong for grounding. When you can do this you can sail more smoothly through life and it’s daily challenges without been thrown off course. You’ll remain calm, relaxed and focused, even when people around you seem to be losing the plot!

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 across on Youtube. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.

What Does It Mean To Be “Grounded”?

Mindbodygreen.com published an article on grounding and wrote:

“Being grounded is an essential skill for empaths and highly sensitive people who pick up emotions from the people and environment around them. It means that you’re present in your body and connected with the earth, allowing you to feel centred and balanced no matter what’s going on around you.

If you aren’t grounded, you’re like a leaf in the wind: very vulnerable and thrown off balance very quickly. But when you are well grounded, you are like a big, strong tree. If something happens around you, it doesn’t influence you so much and you are able to feel much more peaceful and balanced in your daily life.”

For the whole article click here.

The Solution – Qigong For Grounding

Qigong methods in general are perfect grounding exercises for us as they encourage you to be present in your body and connected with the earth and nature. However there are a couple of methods which are particularly useful to get you started on your journey to feeling more grounded.

1. Breathing. Make sure that you are breathing efficiently. Qigong has the perfect solution to this as it requires us to pay conscious attention to our breath. Breathing usually takes the form of what is called “Abdominal Breathing” (as you breathe in your belly expands and as you breathe out your belly shrinks) which is extremely relaxing. This simple method alone will help you to feel more grounded, especially if you practice outside in a pleasant environment like woodland, a park or the beach.

2. Watch my previous video, “Getting Rid of the Negative With Qigong Breathing Exercises“.This is an excellent method to bring you into the present using your mind and your breath.

3. Practice a moving Qigong exercise where you have to pay attention to your movements. This will again bring you into the present and help to develop a feeling of being grounded. The more you practice the more that you will experience this feeling even when you’re not practising!

What Do I Do Next?

If you would like to start using Qigong for grounding then:

1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. Lesson 1 will teach you how to breathe more efficiently with Abdominal Breathing. The perfect moving Qigong exercise to perform and bring you into the present is lesson 2. Lesson 3 will teach you how to rid waste Qi (energy) from your body and feel a closer connection with the earth.

2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you do to help you feel more grounded.

3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.

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