Our bodies are built to move, so by integrating movement into our daily lives can benefit us more than we realise. If we just moved gently for 3 minutes every hour, it would help us clear the mind and increase our energy levels.

Qigong is an ancient art of movement, developed thousands of years ago in the East, with the philosophy of becoming more aware and aligned with the body and know how healthy it is. In our Mindfulness training we learn to become more aware of the body as a place to become present.  We learn that, if we take the time to notice, we can tune into the body and become aware of sensations and tightness that we are so used to, it gets lost in the hustle and bustle of life, so it gets missed. The body has its own language and it often informing us, but we aren’t used to listening.

In our Mindfulness training we begin to learn about the undercurrent of thoughts, feelings and sensations that are ever present in our awareness.  But as Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn describe in their book The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness, “We can all become more aware of the ‘stream of consciousness’ going on in our minds, moment by moment. It often takes the form a running commentary. If it is potentially damaging to us, it is not because it is buried deep in the psyche but because it is left virtually unattended. We have gotten so used to its whisperings that we don’t even notice it is here. And so, it shapes our lives.”  In the same way being oblivious to the sensations in the body can have the same effect, in that we are so used to it that we don’t notice it and so we are missing the opportunity to change and heal.

In the West we tend to only know we have parts of the body when they go wrong. We also tend not to pay attention to our breathing, or how stressed we are. What would happen if we started to listen to the body?  We might take a little more care of the body and begin to see that sensations in the body are often linked to our thoughts and emotions. Once we begin to see a pattern emerging we have the opportunity to notice that we can ease tightness and pain in the body by moving very gently.  Then rather than the tension or emotion getting stuck, we can begin to learn to move it through us. This can be the beginning of the healing process.

Whilst Qigong has been practiced to promote and restore health for thousands of years, it wasn’t called Qigong until the 1950s.  Until then it was referred to as “the worlds oldest healthcare system”.

The low impact movement in Qigong help introduce gentle movement to muscles and joints which may feel tight, tense or achy. According to traditional Chinese medicine (which originated over 2000 years ago) when we move in Qigong we are moving qi (energy) through the body which helps improve circulation and all the fluids in the body to flow freely, rather than becoming blocked. Our mindfulness can help us notice if we feel blocked in the body anywhere through these tight, achy areas and we can then use the gentle movements to get it all flowing again facilitating healing.  Research tells us that just 10 minutes of Qigong each day helps to raise our serotonin levels. Serotonin is one of the natural body chemicals that controls mood. It works with melatonin to help control when we sleep and wake up, as well as how we feel pain and our overall wellbeing.

If we can set an intention to move at least once an hour, we can begin a process of taking more care of the body, our stress levels and overall wellbeing. The movement can just be simple stretching or walking, however if we can integrate some simple Qigong movement into our lives, we may be able to reap the benefits rather quickly.

The Mindfulness Association run a Mindful Qigong course over 5 weekly evening sessions. Find out more about it here. Here is a 4 minute mini mindful qigong practice. You can also try a short seated movement here.

Jacky Seery

Ongoing Mindfulness Level 1 Modules 2-4

with nature immersion and qigong

15-17 November 2024

at Samye Ling, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

This course has a nature theme and includes mindfulness, mindful walking and qigong in nature.  Experience the benefit of immersion in nature with practices with our guest nature expert who will help you experience all nature has to offer including shinrin yoku – forest bathing. Research informs us that Mindfulness, Qigong and being in nature all support us in reducing stress and increasing our wellbeing.

This is the second ongoing weekend into module 2 of our Level 1: Being Present Mindfulness Training taught over four weekends. If you have completed an introduction weekend you can now complete the course over three further three weekends (15-17 November 2024, 31 January- 2 February 2025 and 4-6 April 2025).

Tutor: Jacky Seery, Karen Baird and Mike Pratt

Times: 19.00-20.30pm on Friday evening, 8.00am to 20.00pm on Saturday and 8.00am to 15.00pm on Sunday.

Booking: To book modules 2-4 of this ongoing course please email info@mindfulnessassociation.net. The course is at Samye Ling on the following three weekends, (15-17 November 2024, 31 January- 2 February 2025 and 4-6 April 2025) these can be paid for in six monthly instalments of £82.50.

Once booked and if you are staying at Samye Ling, please then contact bookings@samyeling.org to book your meals and accommodation.

If you are making up for missed weekends, please email info@mindfulnessassociation.net to sign up.

Please book your accommodation and meals for the weekend directly with Samye Ling by emailing bookings@samyeling.org. They will need to know the dates that you would like to stay, what room you would like (please click here to see the room types and prices), your name, and the name of the second person if you are booking a twin room, your address, phone number and preferred email address for the booking. No room bookings can currently be made via the Samye Ling website.

BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS & MOVEMENT IN NATURE

• Reduced Stress: Mindfulness, Qigong and being in nature helps lower cortisol levels and promotes relaxation.
• Improved Mood: Exposure to natural surroundings boosts feelings of well-being and happiness.
• Enhanced Focus: Mindfulness in nature can improve attention and cognitive clarity.
• Emotional Balance: It encourages emotional regulation and reduces anxiety and depression, helping us to cultivate inner peace.
• Increased Creativity: Being mindful outdoors can stimulate creative thinking.
• Better Physical Health: Walking, doing movement or meditating in nature improves physical well-being, including lower blood pressure and heart rate.
• Connection to Nature: It fosters a deeper sense of connection and appreciation for the environment.
• Enhanced Mind-Body Awareness: Nature facilitates a greater awareness of the body and surroundings, promoting overall mindfulness.
• Improved Energy Flow: Qigong enhances the flow of qi (vital energy) throughout the body, increasing vitality.
• Better Mental Focus: Qigong helps increase concentration, clarity, and mental calmness.
• Improved Circulation: Mindful movement with Qigong promotes better blood flow and oxygenation of tissues.

These benefits make Mindfulness and Movement in nature a powerful practice for mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Learn more in the 3 minute video below where Jacky tells you a little bit more about the course.

Try a practice on the elements of nature

How participants feel they have benefited from this course

Mindfulness, Qigong & Yoga Retreat Weekend at Samye Ling.

As we get older many of us can get stuck in old habits, such as neglecting self-care, not getting enough good quality sleep and forgetting to move in ways that maintain our strength, balance and flexibility. Research evidence suggests that practicing mindfulness with yoga and qigong can help all these issues and increase our confidence, happiness and overall quality of life.

During this weekend you will learn some short, easy to do, gentle Chi Yoga and QiGong movements integrated with Mindfulness practice. You will be practicing along as part of a group of like minded people in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

So if you feel stuck in your old habits why not do something different? Come and join us at the truly peaceful and beautiful retreat centre at Samye Ling in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, for a weekend of movement, mindfulness and relaxation. This weekend is open to anyone who wishes to join.

Tutor: Jacky Seery

Dates: 27-29 June 2025

Price: £165.00 including manual

Times: 19.00-20.30pm on the Friday evening (after soup at 18.00pm) in-between 8.00am and 20.00pm on the Saturday and in-between 8.00am and 15.00pm on Sunday.

Location: Samye Ling

Booking: contact info@mindfulnessassociation.net

Please book your accommodation and meals for the weekend directly with Samye Ling by emailing bookings@samyeling.org. They will need to know the dates that you would like to stay, what room you would like (please click here to see the room types and prices), your name, and the name of the second person if you are booking a twin room, your address, phone number and preferred email address for the booking. No room bookings can currently be made via the Samye Ling website.

Meet Jacky and find out more in video below.

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).