Movement is MEDICINE!
Here at Red Raven we think that movement is one of the basic forms of medicine. Study after study shows that simple, easy, gentle movements can increase your quality of life, neuroplasticity, and overall well being. Movement based therapies are shown to decrease pain, risk of heart disease, and risks of cognitive decline. Too often people think this means you have to go hard at that crossfit class, or run 20 miles on the weekend. But gentle, fun movements can have a dramatic effect on your health as well. Eastern practices like qigong, yoga, taiji (tai chi), and walking meditation are great examples of this. Read more below to find out about qigong, one of the influencing practicing of Traditional Chinese Medicine
What is Qigong (Chee-gong)? It is a practice that releases stagnation inside the body to promote health and longevity through simple exercises and breaths. It has an extremely long history starting in China and moving throughout the rest of the world. It is one of the simplest and most powerful practices a person can start to improve their overall health. Here is an awesome video that can explain it better than I can:
Many people have never heard of this amazing practice from China, so I wanted to provide some information on what it is and why it's so important for me. I have taught this practice for over 12 years to friends, to patients, to anyone who was interested! I have found this to be one of the most profound changes one can make to their life. Just starting these movements and taking even a a few minutes a day to practice them will truly make a difference in your health and overall well-being. I find if I miss a few practices, even after all these years, my mind begins to turn against me lol. If I get stressed I know to just take a minute and go through some qigong and I almost instantly feel better. But enough about me, please continue to read to learn more about this practice, where it comes from, and how to incorporate into your daily life!
I started my practice in the mid 2000s, and it had a dramatic effect on me, that I became somewhat obsessed with it, wanting to do it all the time and learn all the forms lol.
I can honestly say this practice not only changed my life, it saved my life.
This page is a dedication to this incredible practice, and a collection of videos and ideas I have learned from studying with so many different folks from around the world. A veritable treasure trove of information, please reach out to me with any questions, I love talking about this stuff! And if you want to take classes with me directly click one of the links above learn how to sign up!
Pre-pandemic I taught a weekly free community Qigong Class at my local Pride Center. It was open to the public and required no experience whatsoever. Beginner's were encouraged to come, as all the movements can be standing or sitting, and are easily modified for all levels and abilities. Since we haven't been able to continue for a while, I have posted them online, along with all the videos that have inspired me. Keep looking around to find out what style and form you like best!
Why Qigong?
Numerous studies have shown qigong to have an amazing impact on our bodies and our health. It's been shown to help with pain management, insomnia, stress and anxiety, dementia, and even blood sugar control just to name a few. Based on exercises that involve meditation, controlled breathing, and movements that are straightforward and easy to do. Its primary focus is to help support health and longevity by boosting the immune system and reducing stress by increasing the parasympathetic response and balancing hormones. Physically, slow gentle qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; nourish the vital organs and connective tissue; and promote circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial, lymph). Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.
Check out the pages below for different forms to see more qigong!
I started my practice in the mid 2000s, and it had a dramatic effect on me, that I became somewhat obsessed with it, wanting to do it all the time and learn all the forms lol.
I can honestly say this practice not only changed my life, it saved my life.
This page is a dedication to this incredible practice, and a collection of videos and ideas I have learned from studying with so many different folks from around the world. A veritable treasure trove of information, please reach out to me with any questions, I love talking about this stuff! And if you want to take classes with me directly click one of the links above learn how to sign up!
Pre-pandemic I taught a weekly free community Qigong Class at my local Pride Center. It was open to the public and required no experience whatsoever. Beginner's were encouraged to come, as all the movements can be standing or sitting, and are easily modified for all levels and abilities. Since we haven't been able to continue for a while, I have posted them online, along with all the videos that have inspired me. Keep looking around to find out what style and form you like best!
Why Qigong?
Numerous studies have shown qigong to have an amazing impact on our bodies and our health. It's been shown to help with pain management, insomnia, stress and anxiety, dementia, and even blood sugar control just to name a few. Based on exercises that involve meditation, controlled breathing, and movements that are straightforward and easy to do. Its primary focus is to help support health and longevity by boosting the immune system and reducing stress by increasing the parasympathetic response and balancing hormones. Physically, slow gentle qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; nourish the vital organs and connective tissue; and promote circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial, lymph). Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.
Check out the pages below for different forms to see more qigong!
Check out Red Raven Qigong on YouTube!
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Qigong Forms
Not only are there dozens or even hundreds of different forms, they are tons of variations within them. One thing that frustrates people when they first start, is that each teacher will teach the form a little differently, so when they go online to try to a video of the form, it can look really different from what they were taught. On this page I'm going to show you links to the different videos and different forms throughout the years that I have referred to to refresh my memory, or even find a variation that I liked better. First though, here are a few more videos about the history and practice of qigong:
Okay, now let's get into it! Here are some of the most accessible forms I have learned, click the link to go to that page and find videos of the variations and explanations of that form:
