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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

Jacky talks about the course in this short video

Read Jacky’s Mindful Movement Blog

Read Science of Mindfulness – Benefits of Mindful Movement Blog

Read The Power of Mindful Movement: Scientifically Proven Benefits of Mindfulness and Qigong Blog

SAMPLE QIGONG PRACTICE

You can find more short Qigong Practices on our YouTube Channel – click here to join in. 

11 Minute Qigong Warm Up

A warm welcome to the Mindfulness Association’s Living Mindfully course.

Each week for 10 weeks, we will send you an email that includes video and audio practices taken from our Level 1 course – Being Present. In addition, you will also get free 6 months access to our membership. The course information and booking link are below.

If you have any questions then please email us at info@mindfulnessassociation.net

If you can’t make it to one of our tutor-led courses or want to practice from the comfort of your own home then our online living Mindfully course is a great starting point.

Come practice with us!

A warm welcome to the Mindfulness Association’s Free Online Introduction to Mindfulness course.

This is a great opportunity to find out a little about Mindfulness without any commitment, in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, in your own time.

Each week for 4 weeks, we will send you an email that includes video and audio practices taken from our Level 1 course – Being Present.  The course information and booking link are below.

If you have any questions then please email us at info@mindfulnessassociation.net

We hope you enjoy the course.

Come practice with us!