by janicetucker | 9 Nov 2017 | Qigong, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information, Qigong Routines
“I’d love to do Qigong but how do I find the time to practice regularly?”. If you are someone who struggles with finding the time for yourself then you’re not alone. I understand exactly how you feel as sometimes I feel like this myself. We are all busy and sometimes life can get in the way of our best intentions. What I’ll be sharing with you in this post is how to make it easier to create a regular habit of Qigong and how to establish a Qigong routine which does not take too much time out of your busy schedule.
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 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.
5 Tips On How To Establish A Qigong Routine
1. Integrate Qigong In To Your Day
If you are so busy that you cannot conceive where to find time to practice Qigong then this post was made for you! There is a solution. It’s not ideal as even 5 minutes of regular practice time is beneficial. However many of the Qigong exercises I teach do not require dedicated practice time. You can easily integrate them in to your day instead. Abdominal breathing is the perfect example of this. You can do it while standing in a queue, driving, walking the dog or watching TV.
2. Make The Decision To Practice
The decision to practice Qigong has to come from you. By making this commitment to yourself then you are more likely to be able to maintain your Qigong routine. If you are too busy to practice then you are precisely the person who can benefit most from regular practice because it actually frees up more time for you. Because Qigong helps to calm and focus your mind, you will be more efficient at carrying out your day to day tasks, in contrast to chasing your tail without clarity or focus. Your increased efficiency means that you will get more done in less time, leaving you with time to spend doing fun things with friends and family!
3. What Is Your Why?
Why do you want to practice Qigong regularly?
What are you struggling with right now?
How does this struggle affect you?
How do you think Qigong will help you with this?
What will that mean for your life, relationships, health and job?
Take some time to sit and write down the answers to these questions. They will give you a reason to practice Qigong and establish a Qigong routine. Whenever you feel as though you can’t be bothered to practice then refer back to your answers. They will give you your “Why” and your inspiration to get out there and practice!
4. Choose A Good Location In Which To Practice
Choosing somewhere in which you feel comfortable is very important for Qigong practice. Ideally this will be somewhere in nature like a forest or beach. However, if you live in the city it could be somewhere like a park or next to a river or canal. The location you choose also needs to be somewhere which is easy for you to get to on a daily basis. You will not be motivated to practice daily if your favourite place is half an hour away by public transport! Choosing a place that is close by and easy to get to will maximise your chances of practising daily.
5. Establish A Regular Time Of Day To Practice
The best time to practice Qigong is at a time that suits you. Often first thing in the morning is the best time for most people as it is quieter and you have also set yourself up in the best way possible for the rest of your day. However, night time might suit some of you, depending on your routine.
Practising at the same time every day helps you to develop the habit, just like cleaning your teeth, so you are less likely to skip a day once this habit is established.
What Do I Do Next?
1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage to sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons.
2. Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. Then 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 more about how to establish a Qigong routine (and share with any friends or family, especially the more elderly people you know who may not be so steady on their feet).
3. If you are on Facebook head over to my free 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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by janicetucker | 2 Oct 2017 | Qigong, Qigong Routines, Qigong To Help Manage Specific Health Conditions
The students in my recent Qigong live workshop were so pleased to learn some simple methods to enhance their immunity. Now they can better resist coughs, cold and other nasty infections coming into the autumn. Even if you don’t live in the northern hemisphere as I do here in Ireland, please watch the accompanying video. We all know that boosting our immunity to its optimum is valuable thing to at any time of the year. In the video next to this text I’m going to give you some tips on how to use Qigong for immunity ehnancement. I’ll be showing you how to supercharge your immune system with quick and simple methods. You can integrate these methods into your daily activities very easily so there is no excuse for not doing them!
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. 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.
Qigong For Immunity – My Top 4 Tips
1. Abdominal Breathing
a) Inhalation. In order to enhance your immunity think of inhaling clean, fresh, energising air that will improve your lung function, opening up your respiratory channels so that you can increase your resistance to disease.
b) Exhalation. As you exhale think of anything you don’t want in your body, especially if you have an infection, e.g. phlegm, cough, sinus pressure. Breathe out, using your mind to expel what you don’t want.
For more detail on this method, please click here to view my previous video on “Get Rid of the Negative with Qigong Breathing Exercises”.
2. One of the Six Healing Sounds
This is a “discharging” method which means you can use it to rid any sick or waste Qi from your body. In this method you use a specific sound to rid sick Qi from the Lung system. The sound is “tssss” and it creates a specific frequency which resonates with your lung system. In this way you can help enhance your immunity.
a) Breathe into the lower belly (Dan Tian) for 3 breaths.
b) Think of the lungs for 3 breaths.
c) Exhale each time saying the “tssss” sound as you turn to the side looking over your shoulder. As you do this think of expelling waste or sick Qi from your lungs.
You can perform this method from a standing position or as you are walking.
3. Discharge With Vibration
This is a very quick and easy Qigong for immunity method in which you simply vibrate the body to expel any sick or waste Qi from your body. It is Lesson 3 in my free 3 part Space To Relax video series (see below for details on how to access this).
4. Get Advice From Your Practitioner or Local Health Store
The ideal time to book a course of treatment with your Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist is before your immune system is challenged. Make use of your healthcare practitioner or consult with your local health store to get advice on the best immune boosting herbs and supplements.
What Do I Do Next?
To learn even more tips on Qigong for immunity enhancement go 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. Abdominal breathing is Lesson 1 and Discharge with Vibration is Lesson 3. Also, for the free audio meditation “Calm Your Busy Mind In 8 Minutes” scroll to the bottom of the Space To Relax homepage.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. Then 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 more about Qigong for immunity boosting.
If you are on Facebook head over to my free 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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by janicetucker | 6 Jun 2017 | Qigong, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information
I don’t know about you but I was familiar with yoga and what it was way before I had a clue about Qigong or even how to pronounce it! In this blog I’ll be discussing the similarities and differences between Qigong and Yoga.
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.
The Main Similarities and Differences Between Qigong and Yoga
5 Similarities Between Qigong and Yoga
1. Both are Eastern forms of exercise.
2. Qigong and Yoga both teach awareness of your body and mind.
3. Both utilise similar breathing techniques.
4. Qigong and Yoga are both whole systems involving the body, mind and posture.
5. Both are very ancient practices.
5 Differences Between Qigong and Yoga
1. Yoga tends to focus, at least in the West, on more physical postures or asanas. Qigong focuses on physical movements to a lesser extent and incorporates more of the breath and mind in its exercises.
2. Qigong movements are slower and more gentle than yoga movements. Because of this Qigong is often perceived as a bit boring and not as good at getting you fit as yoga. This is not true. Qigong, when practised regularly, can make you very strong and fit. It will unblock stagnant Qi and allow it to flow more freely so that your health improves. Do bear in mind though that Qigong does not offer you instant gratification. Significant results in terms of health are achieved over a long period of time. You should instantly feel more relaxed when you practice Qigong though! 🙂
3. Yoga originates from India. Qigong originates from China.
4. For yoga you may need slightly more athleticism than you will need for Qigong, at least how it is taught in the West. Yoga requires more movement than Qigong. Anyone of any level of mobility can perform the slow and flowing movements of Qigong, even those in a wheelchair or those with severe physical limitations.
5. Nearly every Qigong exercise improves your balance in some way. There are specific yoga balance postures but not every asana in yoga incorporates a balance element to it.
So Which Is Best For You?
If you are more athletic, you may decide that yoga is for you. If you want to address a certain medical issue then you may choose medical Qigong practice. If you are like me, you will do both. As a Qigong teacher I’m also a massive fan of yoga and attend weekly classes as I find that the two blend extremely well together and play a complementary role in enhancing my health and well-being.
What Should I Do Next?
So, if you would like to learn some Qigong for yourself got 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.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. Then 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 the similarities and differences between Qigong and Yoga.
You can also 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, by joining this group, you will receive regular postings of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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by janicetucker | 20 Apr 2017 | Qigong, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information, Qigong Routines
Qigong is the practice of co-ordinating your movement, breath and mind to promote the free flow of energy (Qi) around your body. In this way the body can heal itself and come back into a healthy balance. One of the difficulties my students experience is how to focus during Qigong and stay relaxed enough to allow for the open flow of Qi. They often find it hard to balance the mind, the breath and the movement with the relaxation that is necessary in order to promote unimpeded Qi flow. This video on how to focus during Qigong will show you exactly how to do this.
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 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.
How To Focus During Qigong Practice
1. “Sloppy”, casual focus of your mind
Pay “sloppy” almost casual focus with your mind to what you are doing. Do not concentrate with a “laser beam” focus on what you are trying to do. Rather, pay fleeting attention to your movements and breath, then let it go.
2. Observe
Observe what is happening as though you are watching and playing no part. You are simply observing the exercise, the flow of Qi, the breath and sensations in your body.
3. Relax and breathe
All you are doing is allowing, making a clear pathway for the Qi to flow. You do this by relaxing. Relaxation is the key.
4. The Qi Reorders Itself
By relaxing the Qi reorders itself because you are not doing anything to block this from happening.
5. Health and balance are restored
Once the Qi has reordered itself this promotes the self-healing mechanisms in your body and mind so that your physical, mental and emotional health come back in to equilibrium.
Summary
If you focus too much, like a laser beam, all you will do is give yourself a headache. Don’t try to force things too much. You are not moving the Qi with your body, breath or mind. The more you try to force things to happen the more the Qi stagnates. You are simply relaxing and breathing, paying casual attention so that the pathways along which Qi can flow become more open, unobstructed and unimpeded. It should feel effortless, calm and relaxed. This is the whole essence of how to focus during Qigong practice.
What Do I Do Next?
So, now you know how to focus during Qigong practice why not give it a go by heading 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.
You can also 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, by joining this group, you will receive regular Qigong articles and videos with useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel 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 how to focus during Qigong practice.
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by janicetucker | 21 Feb 2017 | Qigong, Qigong & Emotional Issues, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information, Qigong Routines
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.
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