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:
Underactive thyroid, manifesting with symptoms such as feeling cold, dry skin and hair, puffy face, constipation, weight gain, sluggishness and depression
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:
Underactive thyroid is related to Yang deficiency
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
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.
For underactive thyroid use part of the “Swimming Dragon” method to gently circulate the Qi throughout the whole body without causing exhaustion.
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.
This is a replay of a live session showing you some Qigong exercises for stability, mobility and balance, 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 Stability, Mobility and Balance – Introduction
The theme of the exercises in this video is “stabilise to mobilise“. When our joints are stable we can then move from a position of strength with confidence that we are not going to cause ourselves injury. When our balance is stablised we feel much more secure in our Qigong movements and can gain maximum benefit from them. Improved balance is also important for seniors as this will reduce the likelihood of falling in day to day life which can have serious consequences, especially for people with osteoporosis.
In this video you will learn how to use purposeful movement combined with breath awareness and mind focus (the three elements of Qigong) in order to:
Promote free flow of Qi and blood through the joints and muscles;
Prevent injury from overstraining the body;
Improve balance for fall prevention.
Qigong Exercises for Stability, Mobility and Balance – Method
Adopt the Qigong stance and begin with a few abdominal breaths.
Loosen the shoulder joints with shoulder circles, forwards and backwards, using the breath and thinking deep inside the shoulder joint as you do this.
Bring hands into a prayer position then lift them to the level of the forehead. Bring the elbows together to meet as you exhale, stretching the trapezius muscles (the ones on the tops of the shoulders which often become very tight through poor posture and when we are under pressure). Inhale, relax and move the elbows apart. Repeat a few times.
Lift the arms to shoulder level, reach forward to move the shoulder blades apart from each other, pull the arms back into the sockets, drawing the shoulder blades towards each other, creating a “valley” between them in the upper back.
From your Qigong stance, rock forwards and backwards, bringing your awareness into the soles of your feet, in particular the ball of your foot behind the big toe and the centre of the heel.
Bend your knees, lift alternating heels a few times, then both heels off the ground together in order to practice your balance.
Finish your practice with a few abdominal breaths, taking time to observe the state of your body and mind.
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.
I think all of us have at one time or another lost someone who is close to us and suffered the consequent grief associated with that loss. Grief can leave us unable to function on a day to day basis. We may feel exhausted, be unable to sleep and be so emotionally fragile that we feel unable to cope with even the smallest inconveniences or difficult situations. As with any emotion, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view, it is never healthy to bottle up grief (which leads to stagnation) but rather allow it to be felt and expressed in a healthy way without opening the floodgates so much that the person is left even more devastated. In the video on this page you’ll be learning helpful methods of Qigong for grief.
Please head to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel and clicking the red button so 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 Impact Does Grief Have Upon Us?
In serious cases the effects of grief may lead to suicidal thoughts, nicotine, drug and alcohol use, depression and an inability to complete simple daily tasks.
The emotional effects of grief include:
• Increased irritability
• Numbness
• Bitterness
• Detachment
• Preoccupation with loss
• Inability to show or experience joy
Grief can also affect our physical body and common symptoms include:
In TCM terms grief is the associate emotion of the Lung system. Therefore we need to nourish and strengthen the Lungs in order to help us process and let go of grief in a healthy way. Obviously there is no timetable for this as it depends on the individual and the degree of loss which they have suffered.
3 Methods of Qigong For Grief
Any Qigong methods which help us to get rid of or “Discharge” grief and nourish or “Tonify” (build up) the Lung system will be helpful.
The three methods below are a good starting point for you to let go of grief in a healthy way.
1. Lung sound of the Six Healing Sounds. This method is shown in the following clip and is method of discharging waste Qi (including the emotion of grief) from the Lungs using a specific sound.
2. Discharge Qi With Vibration Method. This is Lesson 3 in my free part video series. In the short clip here you can see that the movement is very simple. Be loose, allowing the knees, wrist joints and neck to be relaxed. As you do this think of “sifting” the emotion of grief up to the skin surface with the vibration of your body. As you breathe out release the grief from the skin surface, like raindrops moving away from the body. Continue with this for as long as it takes you to feel more comfortable.
3. Qigong Standing Meditation. Hold your hands in front of your chest, palms facing each other, like you are holding a ball. Feel the energy between your hands. This is a ball of Qi. You may want to visualise it as a white light penetrating into the lungs and energising them.
You can use one of these methods of Qigong for grief either alone or practice them in the order I’ve listed them, finishing with the meditation. It is always better to discharge or let go of what you no longer want in your body before you bring healing energy in with a method such as the Qigong standing meditation above.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more benefits of Qigong for grief 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. 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 eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective methods of Qigong for grief, along with other emotions too.
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 learned from this video.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong 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 useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. It can affect men as well as women but it is more common in women. In the video on this page I’m going to show you how you can use Qigong for osteoporosis prevention by strengthening your bones. These methods may also slow down the development of osteoporosis if you have already been diagnosed with this condition.
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 health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to improve your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
Methods of Qigong for Osteoporosis
It is well known that weight bearing exercise such as walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, lifting weights, playing tennis and dancing can help strengthen our bones and thereby manage the condition of osteoporosis.
In the same way, weight bearing Qigong methods will help you if you suffer with osteoporosis and help to improve bone health.
Here is a list of the methods from previous videos which will be helpful for you. Select your favourites and practice them every day as a 10 minute routine of Qigong for osteoporosis.
1. Qigong Morning Routine. Establishing a morning routine will help you get into the habit of regular practice which is important if you are to slow down the progression of osteoporosis. Click here to watch the video.
2. Qigong for Illness Prevention. In this video you will find out why it is much easier to prevent and illness or condition from arising in the first place rather than treat it once it has occurred. Click here to watch the video.
3. Qigong for Cleansing. This lovely 2 minute method can help you to rid any pains or stiffness in the body which might be associated with osteoporosis. You will feel 100% better after doing this! Click here to watch the video.
4. Qigong Standing Posture. Learn the correct standing posture to maximise the flow of Qi, (energy), blood and fluid in to the bones and joints. This method helps if you have developed a hunched posture as a result of loss of bone density. Click here to watch the video.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more benefits of Qigong for osteoporosis and bone health 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. 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. You’ll learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods, all which can be adapted to be used for the condition of osteoporosis.
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 learned from this video.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong 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.
Are you are exhausted in the mornings? Do you have to take a nap in the afternoon to recharge your batteries? Do you want to sleep all the time? Are you listless and lacking in energy? Do you crave carbohydrates and sweet foods? Do you find that you just don’t have the energy to carry out your usual daily tasks? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you may be suffering from adrenal fatigue. In the video on this page I’ll be showing you some methods of Qigong for adrenal fatigue along with a few other Chinese medicine tips to help you on the road back to feeling revitalised, re-energised and healthy.
Please go 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 also help you prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
What is Adrenal Fatigue
In terms of conventional Western medicine, adrenal fatigue occurs when you are excessively stressed at home or at work to the extent that your adrenal glands go into overdrive and produce too much of the stress hormone cortisol as a result of the body’s fight or flight response. This then prevents your adrenal glands from secreting the other hormones that your body needs and results in the symptoms I listed at the beginning of this article.
In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) adrenal fatigue is due to a kidney system deficiency. From a TCM and Qigong perspective we can address adrenal fatigue by “tonifying” or building up the kidneys.
Methods of Qigong for Adrenal Fatigue
Simple Abdominal Breathing. Focus the mind on the kidney area as you inhale and exhale. In your mind’s eye see the kidneys. Feel them pulsating or vibrating like the beating of your heart but less pronounced. Feel the Qi (energy) entering and energising the kidney area as you inhale. Relax as you exhale. If you’re not sure how to perform abdominal breathing refer to a previous video I made by clicking here.
Kidney Massage. This is a very quick and easy method of Qigong for adrenal fatigue. Place your hands on your kidneys and rub vigorously up and down feeling the heat generated by your hands moving deep into the kidney area. This method is part of one of the exercises in my Space To Relax Online Programme of Qigong video lessons.
To strengthen the Kidney system follow along with the Looking Back Over Shoulder method in my previous video about Qigong For Back Pain.
Dietary Tips
You can make a significant impact on reducing the symptoms of adrenal fatigue by making changes to your diet. Instead of eating three big meals per day, eat small meals spaced out more frequently. Also you can include foods which benefit kidney in your diet. These include pork, sprouts, eggs, beans, barley, sardines, cheese and blueberries, kidney beans, black sesame seeds, walnuts, asparagus, sweet potato, string beans, celery, parsley, grapes and plums.
In terms of what to avoid, you will be best to cut out heavily sugared soft drinks, alcohol, and highly salted foods. Smokers should try to stop or at least cut down on their intake of tobacco.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
It is worth seeking the help of a TCM practitioner as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can also help you if you have adrenal fatigue. TCM practitioners will stimulate key points associated with the kidney. In some cases, you can use acupressure just inside the ankle between the medial malleolus (ankle bone on the inside of the foot) and the Achilles tendon. Massage the area in a clockwise motion for five minutes on each side of the foot and repeat daily for best results.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more benefits of Qigong for adrenal fatigue then:
Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. 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 eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective methods of Qigong for adrenal fatigue.
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 learned from this video.
Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong 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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