Qigong. Stop. Breathe. Relax.
Ok so let’s be honest. I have a pretty good feeling that you didn’t seek out this essay as some good bedtime reading material. A parent or a family friend probably encouraged you to find out more about Qigong, the ancient Chinese form of moving meditation, and directed you to this website. You are not expecting much more than some boring lecture about finding you inner Qi (pronounced chee) and clearing the clutter from your mind. You probably think Qigong is for old people who like hanging out in the park in the morning and performing karate moves at a glacial pace. So let me just state that I am not here to scold you for not taking yoga every morning and I don’t expect any one to start drinking green tea 18 times a day. I mean I understand being busy. With school and work and friends it’s a miracle that I even have time to write this. All I can say is that I will tell you the truth about Qigong and about how much your life may be missing it.
We all know stress is a big part of life. There are wars and homework and parents and friends and colleges and bosses to worry about. There is never enough time in a day and somehow the “to-do list” never gets finished. We’ve heard about the studies that have concluded our generation is overachieving and apathetic. We understand that college is increasingly harder and harder to get into. And we know that no matter how much we do, it will never be enough. It is known that teen depression and suicide is ever increasing, according to Dr. David Brent, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine(1), and still, stress continues to live within us. I mean it’s not like anyone wants to be stressed out, but the fact of the matter is that stress has become such a standard, such a norm in our everyday lives that we hardly even recognize it anymore.
“Stress,” according to Jennifer Dyl, PhD, a Bradley Hospital psychologist “is defined as the way our bodies and minds react to life changes. And since adolescence is a period of significant change, including physical, emotional, social, and academic changes, many teens are under more stress than at any other time of life. (2)” Life is filled with conflicting demands from teachers, parents, employers, friends, coaches and oneself. “Growing up,” according to Joyce Walker a 4-H Youth Development Director at the University of Minnesota “—negotiating a path between independence and reliance on others—is a tough business. It creates stress, and it can create serious depression for young people ill-equipped to cope, communicate and solve problems. (3)”
This is where Qigong comes in. “For thousands of years, millions of people have benefited from Qigong practices and believed that improving the function of Qi maintains health and heals disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, good health is a result of a free flowing, well-balanced energy system. It is believed that regular practice of Qigong helps to cleanse the body of toxins, restore energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and help individuals maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. (4)” Aside from the large number of Qigong followers, there has actually been research preformed that brings astounding credibility to this ancient form of exercise. Dr. Kevin W Chen, director of the Center of Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland and esteemed by the National Institute of Health, has conducted many conclusive experiments adding to the integrity of Qigong and its benefits. (5)
Better still is how easy Qigong is to take part in. It can be done sitting, lying down, standing, or moving. It requires no special clothing or place to practice, is free, and can be done anytime. Qigong consists of meditation, relaxation, physical movement, mind-body integration, and breathing exercises. Now, with exercises with names like, “Flying Wild Goose,” “Rolling the Ball,” “Push and Pick Up the Wheel,” and “Wave Hands in Clouds” I can totally understand being skeptical. But Qigong is actually pretty fun. It really focuses on keeping your body and mind healthy and you can feel its effects right away.
Even though taking care of yourself may not seem like the most important thing in the world when each morning the news paper is splashed with horror stories of unrest and death, it is so important to remember to take a little time to breathe. All the events in the world combined with the stress of everyday life only add to the importance of finding an appropriate way to deal with stress. After all, when there is so much chaos in the world it seems that everyone who has the opportunity to be stress free should take advantage of it. You owe it to yourself and to the people in the world who only dream of having the time to relax.
So if you aren’t going to do it for yourself, do it for someone else. Allow yourself to be calm and centered so that you might aid a friend who cannot cope. Let your own priorities straighten out so that you can truly make the most out of the life you live. Let yourself find your inner Qi so that you can do more than just “get through the day.”
In a perfect world there would be no wars, there would be no murder, there would be no homework and there would be no stress. We would all just live and breathe. On Earth we have to work for it. We have to work for money, for peace, for a grade, to get into college, and even to find time to relax. But you know what? Working for something is always more rewarding than having it handed to you on a silver platter. So go ahead, reward yourself. Work hard and live the life you deserve. Each choice you make shapes the rest of your life. So I ask you, why not choose to enhance the quality of your life with Qigong? What grudge are you holding against your self that makes you feel undeserving? But as I said before, I am not here to make you do something and I am not here to lecture you. I am here to give you an opportunity for happiness.
So tomorrow, when you are taking your calc test or writing your English final, remember that you deserve better. Put down your pencil for fifteen seconds and let your inner Qi flow. All you have to do it stop, breathe and relax.
1.
Gardner, Amanda. "Preventing Teen Suicide a Tough Challenge." Medicine Net. 28 Dec. 2006. 27 Feb. 2007
<http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/
2.
Dyl, Jennifer PhD. “Helping Teens Cope with Stress.” Lifespan. 2006. 27 Feb. 2007 <http://www.lifespan.org/services/childhealth/parenting/teen-stress.htm>
3.
Walker, Joyce. “Teens in Distress Series. Adolescent Stress and Depression.” University of Minnesota Extension. 2002. 27 Feb. 2007
<http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/youthdevelopment/DA3083.html>
4.
qigonginstitute.org
5.
Dr. Kevin W Chen. (www.qigonginstitute.org/html/papers/QigongResearchUMaryland.pdf?PHPSESSID=23ec480d4dcf3f5e0)