tai chi Archives - Mindfulness Association Being Present | Responding with Compassion | Seeing Deeply Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:11:50 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-WhatsApp-Image-2024-10-08-at-10.25.42-32x32.jpeg tai chi Archives - Mindfulness Association 32 32 Mindful QiGong Moving with Compassion https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindful-qigong-compassion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindful-qigong-compassion Thu, 23 Nov 2023 11:17:51 +0000 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/?post_type=mec-events&p=28602 Learn how to combine the ancient arts of Qigong with Mindfulness over 5 evening sessions online. ]]>

Mindful QiGong Level 2 – Compassion ~ Tuesday Evenings Online

Bring Balance to your Body and Mind

The Mindful Body – Compassion- Learn to tap into the wisdom of the Body

Help release trapped emotions in the body with Mindfulness, Qi Gong, Tai Chi & Gentle Yoga

5 Weekly Evening Sessions 7pm – 9pm starting Tuesday 25th June -Tuesday 23rd July 2024

With Jacky Seery

Complete with videos to download and manual.

“The body is not experienced as a solid object but as the ‘experience of sensing’, floating weightlessly like a cloud in the open, empty, loving sky of awareness” Rupert Spira

“The Taoist book Saikdondan says: The rest in rest is not the real rest; there can be rest even in movement. An Ancient worthy says “Meditation in movement is a hundred, a thousand, a million times superior to meditation at rest”. Lopez

About the Tutor:
Course tutor Jacky Seery undertook her QIgong, Yoga and Tai Chi Mastership training over 10 years ago and taught for several years before undertaking her MSc Mindfulness training. Jacky skilfully interweaves the ancient practices of mind and body bringing together a gentle programme of healing and wellbeing suitable for every body.

What to Expect:

  • This course follows on from the Mindful Qigong Course where we introduce new Compassion practices into the Qigong movement flows, however anyone can join the course.
  • You will learn new qigong sequences which incorporate compassion practices from the Level 2 Compassion Course.
  • This course will include gentle, easy to follow mindful movement – using Qi Gong, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meridian Stretches.
  • You will learn short, easy to follow movements and sequences as we go on a journey bringing mindfulness and compassion to every move.
  • We will begin to become more aware of trapped emotions inside the body and begin to help these release with Mindfulness and the ancient arts of gentle Yoga, Qigong and working with the meridians that are familiar in Chinese Medicine.
  • You will learn some mini sequences to do at a desk or in a chair.
  • Cultivate awareness of the body throughout any movement, including how to be more mindful when running, cycling and swimming etc.
  • The sessions will include sitting mindfulness practices as we transition from sitting to movement and back to sitting.
  • We will also practice a compassionate body scan and explore how to move our bodies with kindness.
  • In our Mindfulness Training – awareness of the body helps us to remain present and can reveal a multitude of emotions that we are experiencing or even hiding.
  • This new awareness provides us with the opportunity to give some space and kindness to any pain or tight sensations we are experiencing and allow healing to happen and the movement helps to shift the trapped energy.

The course will take place on Zoom over 5 Tuesday evening sessions from 7-9pm.

This course counts as Continued Professional Development (CPD) for Mindfulness teachers wishing to learn more about mindful movement in their practice and teaching.

 

If you wish to continue after the course, once a year there is the opportunity to deepen with the Mindful Qigong with Insight.

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Mindfulness through Movement – Free {online} Taster Session https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/latest-news/mindfulness-through-movement-free-online-taster-session/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindfulness-through-movement-free-online-taster-session Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:34:25 +0000 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/?p=25013

FEBRUARY 28th 7-8pm – with Jacky Seery

Mindfulness through Movement? Our bodies can be driven by our heads from a place of autopilot – how often do we truly and deeply check in with our bodies?

Gentle movement with mindful awareness allows us to free ourselves from the grip of the mind, and to really be present within the body and cultivate a positive relationship with it just as it is, with kindness and acceptance.

I often hear the question – what is Mindfulness, what is mindful movement and what is tai chi or qi gong?

This course, Mindfulness through movement -Combines mindfulness practice and movements from the ancient art of qigong and tai chi.

Research tells us that Mindfulness has an Array of benefits for our physical health, psychological wellbeing, and overall flourishing

These include being able to cope with life’s up and down and challenges a little better,

Feeling a little less stressed and anxious, ruminating less, worrying less and coping a little bit better with life.

Qigong and tai chi are ancient movement arts developed – some 5000 years ago, are easy to follow, even seated, and anyone can do them. You don’t need any previous experience.

Research tells us that a regular practice helps to lower to stress and anxiety, increases focus and builds strength in the body balance and flexibility in the body.

Developing awareness of feelings in the body is a key part of mindfulness practice.

The course starts 8th March over 5 weekly evening sessions online. To find out more click here 

To join the FREE taster with the opportunity to meet the tutors, Jacky Seery CLICK HERE 

(It’s the same link as the Daily Guided Meditations).

Jacky Seery

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Mindful Movement with Qigong https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/team-blogs/mindful-movement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindful-movement Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:17:01 +0000 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/?p=23822 We practice mindful movement with the same attitude that we bring to sitting meditation, without striving or forcing. We practice accepting our body as we find it, in the present, from one moment to the next”

Jon Kabat-Zinn

 

Whilst teaching QiGong at the Autumn Members Retreat, I was asked to recommend a book on Mindful Movement. I could not find one, all-encompassing, perfect book on Mindful Movement.  Heather suggested writing one.  And so, the seed is sown, which is very exciting, as mindful movement is a deep passion of mine.

I have been teaching Mindful Movement through Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga for 9 years now. I worked out that I have spent more than 1848 hours training to teach these ancient arts.  In addition have had a dedicated daily practice of at least two hours for 11 years amounts to a total of 10,000 hours (416 days) of the last 11 years of my life dedicated to Mindful Movement.  I love Mindful Movement.  It is a big part of my life.  I learned to teach Qigong, Tai chi and Yoga before I discovered Mindfulness. When I began my mindfulness journey it only seemed natural to weave Movement and Mindfulness together. They are a complete union and for me they form a natural and important part of my being. Therefore, it is a delight to be able to bring them together with the Mindfulness Association on the new Stillness Through Movement programme.

Some people love doing Mindful Movement, but for others it’s a bit of a ‘Marmite’ thing.  Some people find that out of all the Mindful practices there are, Mindful Movement presents some resistance and reluctance to the practices.

Have you ever noticed how you can walk from A to B and not remembered the journey?  Mindful Movement can encompass all sorts of movement that we like doing. It isn’t limited to prescribed mindful movement sequences as part of a Mindfulness Course, nor is it limited to Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong.  Mindful movement is simply to be mindful of moving, whatever it is, whenever it is or wherever you are. Mindful movement can include walking, gardening, cycling, swimming… the list is endless. When you become aware of body sensations, feelings and thoughts in the present moment as you are moving, you are doing mindful movement. The important thing is to be kind to the body as we move and be in the moment throughout the journey.

Mindful Movement and The Masters Degree

I also included some Mindful Movement in the 8 week Mindfulness Based Living Course I shared with family carers as part of my research on the MSc Studies in Mindfulness. They learned a very simple, easy to do Qigong practice.  They reported that the Qi Gong exercise helped them to feel “warm”, “more relaxed”, “loosened up” and “free”.  One participant said that “It wasn’t until I did the Qigong did I notice the effect stress was having on my physical body. I realised thought has such a physical impact on my body….. If I can focus on pain with the intention of soothing it, it softens, and I can make the pain go away by focussing on it and allowing it to be there”.

During my research I found evidence that a short practice of Qigong:

  • Reduces stress chemical cortisol (Tsang and Fung (2008 p.859)
  • Reduces stress, anxiety, depression and blood pressure (Jahnke, Larkey et al, 2010)
  • increases levels of serotonin and dopamine in the body, inducing calmness (Gaik, 2009)
  • Improves sleep duration (Manzaneque, Vera et al 2009)

 

The Wisdom of the Body

The body is able to hold emotions, feelings, thoughts and also trauma. It feels to me like difficult emotions and traumatic events get vacuum packed inside my body.  I know for a fact that ongoing stress caused me to have back pain and a stomach ulcer. Once I began training to teach Tai Chi and Qigong with Mindfulness I was able to see what was going on and use the practices to soften and relax around the pain.

How often do we pay attention to what the body is telling us?  Have we ever felt sensations like butterflies in the stomach?  Or something we know of as a ‘gut feel’?  That sensation can manifest as a slight nagging feelings, or even anxiety or just a general sense of unease.  It can be totally inexplicable and illogical.  But sometimes I have used this sense to help me make a decision.  I think of the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ aspects of a situation and notice how it feels in my body if I took the ‘yes’ route or the ‘no’ route.  The majority of the time it turns out that one way just feels wrong in my body, and the other way – maybe nothing or maybe a tingling.

By paying attention to the body – knowing what’s happening while it is happening – we create the opportunity to change.  Maybe we notice that we hunch our shoulders or hold ourselves tight when our boss calls us, or are worried about something.  We might even notice thoughts and feelings are linked with body sensations.

So why movement?

Mindful Movement is meditation in motion.  If we pay more attention whilst doing movements that are good for the body, we have an opportunity to be more mindful.  During movement we can then become aware of any changes happening in the body.

We can also detect underlying striving and intellectualising and any sense of not being good enough.

We can then become armed – building more resources with necessary information to respond more mindfully and skilfully rather than reacting from our behavioural habits on autopilot

As we become more mindful of the body we can approach moving and sitting practice with full awareness, weaving the two together in our daily lives.

How can we practice Mindful Movement?

The practice is simple.  Just be present in the body wherever it is, whatever it is doing.  Also be aware of posture.  Our posture, whether we are sitting, standing, laying down or moving contains our intention to be aware and present

The body houses our awareness shaped by stories, thoughts, memories, and emotions.  By cultivating an attitude of kindness coupled with skilful action we have a choice.

Learning to listen to the unspoken language of the body with movement encourages the mind to break the cycle of thoughts.

Whenever we notice feeling uncomfortable in any way such as tired, agitated, restless, disinterested, or irritable we can transition this awareness into movement and notice what arises and manifests.  We become aware of emotions through movement and aware of the body through movement. When we are mindful of the body moving in flow, whether it is yoga, tai chi, gardening, cycling or walking etc, the mind comes along.  We can use it as a support for our formal and informal mindfulness practice.

To practice mindful movement there are three easy steps:

1.Notice what is happening in the body

2.Recognise what is on your mind- notice troublesome thought we cannot stop arising. Recognise the habitual patterns.

3.Accept that feelings and thoughts are impermanent and just passing through. Allow them to be in the space you are noticing. Allow yourself to feel what you feel.

If you find resistance – just notice how that feels with a sense of kindness to yourself.  Breathe into the blockage or difficulty with a sense of softness.

If your mobility is limited, notice what movements you can do with ease.  Qigong can be done seated and there is also Chair Yoga.  You might want to capitalise on movements that are ok for you, even circling your arms, hands or feet, or flexing the wrists. Above all, allowing, acceptance and kindness are key to any mindfulness practice, still or moving, sitting, laying down or standing.

Stillness Through Movement

The Mindfulness Association 3 level Stillness Through Movement Programme was born from bringing mindfulness and movement together.  The first level is Mindfulness Through Movement, where, using easy to do Qigong and Tai Chi sequences we become more aware of the moment-by-moment changes in the body as they arise through the movement.  By integrating some of the Level 1 Mindfulness practices, such as Settling, Grounding and Resting and the Body Scan, we then become aware of sensations and how we are feeling while we are sitting or moving, as we sense energy, feelings, sensations and space in the body.

The second level, Compassion Through Movement, encourages us to cultivate a sense of kindness to the body through stillness and movement. We also go deeper into the body by sensing the 12 main meridian channels in the body and doing specific stretches, which are designed to work with the channels for the main organs.  We deepen the Mindfulness, Qigong and Tai Chi practice by increasing the movement sequences and integrating Compassion practices from the Level 2 Responding with Compassion Course.

Insight Through Movement, the third level, deepens the knowledge of the meridians and the Qigong and Tai Chi sequences.  Combined with practices from the Mindfulness Association Level 3  Insight Training, this helps us to create the conditions for Insight to arise through movement. In particular, we work with the 12 main meridians which are the same energy centres and channels worked with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and the 7 chakras in the body which are familiar in Yoga practice.

So the course has been created.  Now for that book……..

 

“Movement is the unifying bond between mind and body and sensations are the substance of that bond”

Dean Juhan

Weekly Challenge

This week’s challenge is to bring full awareness to sensations in the body, feelings, thoughts and emotions as your body is moving. If the mind is busy and drifts off just notice that with kindness and guide the mind back to the sensations in the body. Notice how it feels and what comes into your awareness.

I’d love to hear how you get on so please do write to me at membership@mindfulnessassociation.net

Take care and hope you enjoy moving mindfully.

Warmest wishes

 

Jacky

 

 

Jacky is teaching the new Stillness Through Movement Course on 6th September 2022, 

She has contributed a chapter to the Mindful Heroes Book entitled “Turning Empathic Distress into Compassion – A Hero’s Journey for Family Carers”.  You can hear an extract from the chapter where she talks about the results of her MSc Studies in Mindfulness on Compassion & Family Carers. You can download a free sample of Jacky’s chapter here.

 

 

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Mindful Qigong – Insight https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindful-qigong-insight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindful-qigong-insight Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:12:53 +0000 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/?post_type=mec-events&p=22651 ]]>

Insightful Qi Gong & Tai Chi

5 Weekly Evening Sessions 7pm – 9pm starting Tuesday 5th November- Tuesday 3rd December 2024

With Jacky Seery

This 5 week course – Mindful Qigong with Insight continues our movement journey into deeper QiGong practices.  We will explore being present in the body as we introduce Insight practices into our movement, noticing how we feel about how we feel in movement and resting in the midst of our movement.

In our Mindfulness Training – awareness of the body helps us to remain present and can reveal a multitude of emotions that we are experiencing or even hiding. This new awareness provides us with the opportunity to give some space and kindness to any pain or tight sensations we are experiencing and tune into the innate wisdom of the body.  This ultimately provides us with the opportunity to respond differently.

We will learn new flowing Qigong sequences as we deepen our awareness of the meridians, energetic field and chakras. We will work more closely with the elements and learn two new flows and using yin and yang energies and deepen into the Tai Chi sequence.

The movements will be gentle and easy to follow.

The course will take place on Zoom over 5 evening sessions from 7-9pm.

This course counts as Continued Professional Development (CPD) for Mindfulness teachers wishing to learn more about mindful movement in their practice and teaching.

You will need to have completed Mindful Qigong or Mindful Qigong with Compassion to join this course so you have the basics which we deepen into on the Mindful Qigong Insight.

BENEFITS

 

  1. Stress Reduction: Qigong promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels.
  2. Improved Energy Flow: It enhances the flow of qi (vital energy) throughout the body, increasing vitality.
  3. Enhanced Flexibility and Strength: Gentle movements improve flexibility, balance, and muscle tone.
  4. Better Mental Focus: Qigong helps increase concentration, clarity, and mental calmness.
  5. Boosted Immune System: Regular practice supports immune function, making the body more resilient.
  6. Emotional Balance: It aids in regulating emotions and cultivating inner peace.
  7. Improved Circulation: The practice promotes better blood flow and oxygenation of tissues.
  8. Holistic Healing: Qigong is believed to harmonize the mind, body, and spirit, promoting overall well-being.
  9. Reduced Anxiety and Depression: It helps manage symptoms of anxiety and depression through mindful movement and breathwork.

These benefits make Qigong a holistic practice for enhancing physical, mental, and emotional health.

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Mindful QiGong – Wednesday Evenings Online https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindful-qigong-level-1-mindfulness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mindful-qigong-level-1-mindfulness Tue, 25 May 2021 12:09:20 +0000 https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/?post_type=mec-events&p=22570 Learn how to combine the ancient arts of Qigong with Mindfulness over 5 evening sessions online. ]]>

Bring Balance to your Body and Mind

The Mindful Body – Learn to tap into the wisdom of the Body

Help release trapped emotions in the body with Mindfulness, Qi Gong, Tai Chi & Gentle Yoga

5 Weekly Evening Sessions 7pm – 9pm starting Wednesday 2nd October- Wednesday 30th October 2024

With Jacky Seery

Complete with course manual and videos to download.

“The body is not experienced as a solid object but as the ‘experience of sensing’, floating weightlessly like a cloud in the open, empty, loving sky of awareness” Rupert Spira

“The Taoist book Saikdondan says: The rest in rest is not the real rest; there can be rest even in movement. An Ancient worthy says “Meditation in movement is a hundred, a thousand, a million times superior to meditation at rest”. Lopez

About the Tutor:
Course tutor Jacky Seery undertook her QIgong, Yoga and Tai Chi Mastership training over 10 years ago and taught for several years before undertaking her MSc Mindfulness training. Jacky skilfully interweaves the ancient practices of mind and body bringing together a gentle programme of healing and wellbeing suitable for every body.

What to Expect:

  • This course will include gentle, easy to follow mindful movement – using Qi Gong, Yoga, Tai Chi and Meridian Stretches.
  • You will learn short, easy to follow movements and sequences as we go on a journey bringing mindfulness and compassion to every move.
  • We will begin to become more aware of trapped emotions inside the body and begin to help these release with Mindfulness and the ancient arts of gentle Yoga, Qigong and working with the meridians that are familiar in Chinese Medicine.
  • You will learn some mini sequences to do at a desk or in a chair.
  • Cultivate awareness of the body throughout any movement, including how to be more mindful when running, cycling and swimming etc.
  • The sessions will include sitting mindfulness practices as we transition from sitting to movement and back to sitting.
  • We will also practice a compassionate body scan and explore how to move our bodies with kindness.
  • In our Mindfulness Training – awareness of the body helps us to remain present and can reveal a multitude of emotions that we are experiencing or even hiding.
  • This new awareness provides us with the opportunity to give some space and kindness to any pain or tight sensations we are experiencing and allow healing to happen and the movement helps to shift the trapped energy.

Benefits

Movement and Qigong, both rooted in ancient practices, offer a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Here’s an overview:

  1. Physical Benefits:
  • Improved Flexibility and Balance: Qigong involves slow, deliberate movements that enhance joint flexibility and improve balance, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
  • Enhanced Strength and Stamina: The gentle resistance and controlled movements in Qigong build muscle strength and endurance without the intensity of more strenuous exercises.
  • Better Circulation and Cardiovascular Health: Qigong movements stimulate blood flow, supporting cardiovascular health and reducing blood pressure.
  • Boosted Immune System: Regular practice is believed to enhance immune function by reducing stress and increasing energy flow, helping the body resist illnesses.
  1. Mental and Emotional Benefits:
  • Stress Reduction: Qigong’s focus on deep, mindful breathing and slow movements helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels.
  • Improved Focus and Mental Clarity: The meditative aspects of Qigong, including its emphasis on concentration and breath control, enhance cognitive function and mental clarity.
  • Emotional Balance: Regular practice can help regulate emotions, providing a sense of calm and emotional stability, and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  • Mind-Body Connection: Qigong encourages a deep awareness of the body and its movements, fostering a stronger connection between mind and body, which can improve overall well-being.
  1. Energy Flow and Spiritual Benefits:
  • Enhanced Qi (Energy) Flow: Central to Qigong is the concept of “Qi” or life energy. Practitioners believe that Qigong helps balance and enhance the flow of Qi throughout the body, contributing to overall vitality and health.
  • Grounding and Centering: Qigong practices often emphasize connecting with the earth and centering oneself, which can provide a profound sense of grounding and inner peace.
  1. Social and Lifestyle Benefits:
  • Accessible and Adaptable: Qigong is low-impact and can be adapted to suit people of all ages and fitness levels, making it an inclusive practice.
  • Social Interaction: Practicing Qigong in groups can foster a sense of community and provide social support, which is beneficial for mental and emotional health.
  1. Holistic Health:
  • Integration of Body, Mind, and Spirit: Qigong promotes a holistic approach to health by integrating physical movement, breathing techniques, and meditation, addressing the well-being of the whole person.
  • Preventive Health: Regular Qigong practice can serve as a preventive health measure, helping maintain balance in the body’s systems and potentially reducing the need for medical interventions.

The course will take place on Zoom over 5 Wednesday evening sessions from 7-9pm.

This course is for everyone – no prior experience required – so if you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, this course will hep you begin your mindfulness journey or bring a new element to your practice. The movements are all very gentle and can be done seated if you wish.

This course counts as Continued Professional Development (CPD) for Mindfulness teachers wishing to learn more about mindful movement in their practice and teaching.

 

This is a standalone course – where you will be able to take away some practices, with video to follow, to integrate into your daily life.

If you wish to continue after the course, once a year there is the opportunity to deepen with two more advanced courses with a focus on qigong with compassion and insight.

Booking: contact info@mindfulnessassociation.net

MINDFUL-QIGONG-2-INFOG

Jacky talks about the course in this short video

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