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Proven benefits.
A substantial body of published research has examined the health benefits of Qigong, an ancient traditional Chinese wellness practice that has similar characteristics to Tai Chi.
Qigong has been proposed, along with Yoga and Pranayama from India, to constitute a unique category or type of exercise referred to currently as meditative movement.
They constitute practical applications in the health enhancement context and share much overlap in what traditional Chinese medicine describes as the “three regulations”: body focus (posture and movement), breath focus, and mind focus (meditative components).
Qigong
Qigong originated in China about 4,000 years ago, and has only emerged into public awareness, especially in the West, within the last few decades. It is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, which state that Qi, or energy, is present in everyone’s body. Qi can be described as the "feeling of aliveness" in oneself.
According to TCM principles, a person’s Qi must flow throughout the body in order for people to feel their best. If Qi becomes stagnant in a certain area, health problems can occur.
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Qigong uses simple poses and breathing patterns to promote a healthy flow and reduce stagnation of Qi. Proper flow of Qi can help the body engage its own healing processes. The literal translation of Qigong is “to work with energy.”
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Today, millions of people worldwide practice Qigong. Those interested in Qigong come from diverse backgrounds and practice it for diverse reasons, including for exercise, recreation, preventative medicine, self-healing, self-cultivation, meditation, and martial arts training. Here are some of the benefits stemming from a regular Qigong practice:
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lowers blood pressure
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reduces anxiety and depression
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relieves chronic pain
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improves quality of life in sick people
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strengthens immune system
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improves fitness and mobility
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Seniors, people with reduced mobility, and those looking for a gentle path into movement and wellness will benefit from learning Qigong.
Yoga
Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices which originated in India many thousands of years ago, and which aim to control and still the mind. There is a wide variety of schools of Yoga. The school of Sivananda synthesizes Yoga in four main branches, which complement each other:
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Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Action)
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Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)
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Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge)
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Raja Yoga (Path of Mastery)
In the Western world, Yoga often denotes a modern form of Hatha Yoga and a posture-based physical fitness, stress-relief and relaxation technique, consisting largely of the asanas. This differs from traditional Yoga, which focuses on meditation and release from worldly attachments, a more spiritual and all-encompassing practice.
The physical benefits of Yoga are well-studied. The relaxation techniques incorporated in Yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia. Other benefits through regular practice include:
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increased flexibility
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increased muscle strength and tone
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improved respiration, energy and vitality
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maintaining a balanced metabolism
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weight reduction
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cardio and circulatory health
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improved athletic performance
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protection from injury
Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life. Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being. ​
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Anyone can benefit from a regular practice of Yoga, whether it be children, teenagers, adults, or seniors. It is applicable to people seeking to recover fitness after injury, or sedentary lifestyle.
My name is Jasper Monroe.
I am a 200-hour certified Yoga Teacher (International Sivananda School)
and a 200-hour certified Qigong Instructor (Lee Holden School).
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Since 2018, people have benefited from the physical and mental relaxation that comes from taking a private class with me, as well as in group classes with the Sivananda organization, where I have been teaching in their Montreal centre and in their Yoga camp in Val-Morin. I currently work with Santé Active, a workplace wellness company, and also teach at l'École Nationale du Cirque.
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I see Yoga, Qigong, and Meditation being taught in schools, in hospitals, in prisons, and in every home. Another kind of pandemic is running amok in our society, and in the world, and it is one of mental health, or rather "unhealth". Stress, anxiety, and depression are the root of many diseases. Thus, tools like the ones mentioned above would provide a much-needed cure, and prevention, to soothe this widespread suffering.
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These arts can be adapted to any age group and context, whether it be more dynamic for children and teenagers in school, or a seated, relaxing version for seniors in a residence. Groups of any size can be accommodated, as well as individual sessions and private classes.