The Unexpected Cure: How Chinese Martial Arts Healed My Chronic Pain
Ever felt like your body's in a constant state of struggle?
That was me with my chronic wrist and back pain. It felt like a relentless shadow over my shoulders, day after day - for almost a decade.
But then, I stumbled upon an unlikely hero: Chinese martial arts.
Pain, as I learned, is like a beaver dam blocking a creek—Chinese medicine sees it as an obstruction.
Clearing this blockage isn't always straightforward though, especially with chronic conditions. It's not just about removing the obstruction; it's about understanding and addressing the underlying issues.
My journey into martial arts wasn't just about learning to punch or kick; it was about mastering the basics: body mechanics, balance, alignment, rotation, and shifting.
These fundamentals brought my imbalances and dysfunctional patterns front and center.
I've been honing these skills for 14 years, starting every session with the same basics. Because without them, my movements lacked power and opened me up to injury and more pain.
Slowing down and focusing on each movement taught me to calm my nervous system on demand, reducing inflammation and promoting healthy blood flow and energy circulation—especially beneficial for my wrist and back.
These practices didn't just support my physical health; they prepared me mentally to stay present and composed during stress.
It was seriously a revelation: movement, balance, alignment, and stress were intertwined, fueling a cycle of pain I couldn't get out from under.
My 2 wrist surgeries failed because they never tackled these root causes.
Martial arts have become my self-applied rehab and therapy, teaching me daily how to realign and rebalance.
I'm still a work in progress, but I'm leagues ahead of where I started, and my wrist and back?
They've never felt better!
This journey has taught me that healing is about more than just treating symptoms.
It's about understanding and adjusting the fundamentals of how we move and live. And for me, Chinese martial arts and Eastern medicine was the key to unlocking that door.
How To Do What You Want For As Long As Your Want
I have friends and colleagues in their 50's and 60's who move and feel better than some of my clients in their 20's and 30's. Here’s what they do different.
In fitness these days most people think exercise means going as hard, fast and intense as possible.
The "No Pain, No Gain!" mentality.
The fixation on burning calories or pushing yourself beyond measure tends to damage and deplete the body and organs in ways that aren’t always so obvious.
And most think that feeling sore, tight and achy is “normal” - it’s what it takes to be “healthy”.
But unless you’re a competitive athlete, it’s a short sighted way of staying fit for most adults.
You really need to ask yourself what’s your end goal?
Is it simply to live in a state of pain and discomfort just to look good, or is it to be able to do what you want, when you want for as long as you want?
The older people I train with who display power, control, balance and agility work out hard sometimes, but mostly they focus on refined strength that’s built over time.
They’re training for today but considering how they’ll feel tomorrow and decades from now.
Refined strength and freedom of movement is something that’s cultivated using focus, patience and consistency.
They’re not just focused on their body and how it looks but how it’s connected to every other aspect of their life experience.
They’re aware that how they move is a reflection of their mental state, and how their mental state also reflects how they move.
They study the relationship and harmony of their body mind & spirit, everyday.
The latest and greatest exercise routines out there are oftentimes not a recipe for longevity and true health and fitness.
Taking some time out to consider what you truly want for your future self is worthwhile investment of your time.
Because having a body mind that functions and performs well, and with more control and freedom into your 60's, 70's, 80's and beyond is done in a nurturing way, not a violent and aggressive way.
Here are a few things to consider as you go into your next workout or activity:
Can you feel your whole body contribute to the movement/exercise you’re performing. (This will require focus and global awareness of your body)
See if you can perform the movement while keeping the breath slow, deep, even and without force.
Look for quality and precision over quantity and intensity.
If you apply these ideas consistently, and observe your results, you’ll find clarity on how to make the movement better, and you’ll experience more longevity and comfort as you continue to move forward in your life!
The path to true health and vitality lies not in pushing our bodies to the limit, but in nurturing them with mindful, balanced practices that serve us today and preserve our well-being for the years to come.
Instant pain relief? Qigong's quick results are what you've been searching for!
Looking for instant relief from unresolved orthopedic pain?
Most of us can relate to being injured and needing relief. But, most people can't relate to chronic pain. Luckily for them!
Once you’ve taken painkillers from your doctor, or had injections, they can offer immediate relief. The problem is when they don’t, or the effects wear off requiring more drugs.
Massage, bodywork and chiropractic is another way to get immediate relief, but the problem arises when they stop working or never work to begin with.
Even when these approaches help to some degree, you’re left relying on these external factors for the immediate pain relief you’re looking for.
This is where (authentic) Qigong shines and separates itself from everything else out there.
Qigong can give you profound relief immediately and can be done anywhere - at home, at work, outside, etc.. It’s safe, has no negative side effects, and is simple enough to learn no matter what you’re struggling with.
It teaches the body to release excess tension due to the discomfort of pain. When things are tense and blood, fluids, and energy don’t flow unobstructed, we feel pain and discomfort.
Qigong teaches us to realign and rebalance the body, promoting and restoring the natural flow of blood, fluids, and energy. This puts us in a parasympathetic mode, allowing the nervous system to relax and inflammation to decrease. Over time, this becomes the new normal.
Qigong also connects us with our body’s intrinsic, natural movement that we were born with. The alignments and principles learned can be applied universally.
Whether you’re cleaning the house, picking up a child, working, giving bodywork, or sitting at a computer, it teaches you how to maintain balance and alignment.
Many start their Qigong practice while on medication, and over time, as the pain heals, less medicine is needed.
Unlike other therapies, including physical therapy, Qigong's purpose is to incorporate alignments, breathing, and movement patterns into everyday activities. This sets the groundwork for sustainable relief.
When I was in my 20s, working as an electrician in New York, I had three cortisone injections into my left wrist and two surgeries. Neither offered lasting relief. Qigong got me out of that hell because it taught me how to readjust and realign my body, alignment, movement patterns, and breathing, which I bring to my day-to-day.
The messed up thing was there wasn’t anything ever wrong with my wrist; the pain was simply a downstream problem from improper posture, breathing and movement.
If you’ve never heard of Qigong, I hope this illuminates it for you, and if you have, perhaps it’s time to give it a try.
Even if you don’t have pain, Qigong will help you avoid future injuries.
If you found this article helpful, please send it to a friend in pain who’s looking for a solution. It might be what helps them out of their situation.
Back to Basics: Breathing Techniques for Spinal Health and Rehabilitation
Throwing out your back can be such an excruciating experience that it literally takes your breath away.
I remember once, about 10 years ago, I walked into a friend's house, and he had thrown his back out earlier in the day. Just the smallest movement caused his whole body to seize up. I could see the pain in his face and I felt horrible.
Later on, I realized that this is a problem so many people struggle with, and for most, it’s a recurring issue.
One thing that was so eye-opening to me was learning that the spine and our breathing are so intricately connected that injuring ourselves can have a huge effect on how we breathe, and in turn, affect all of our neurological and physiological processes in the body.
In contrast, we could develop a poor breathing pattern, that is, breathing at low capacity, i.e., shallow breathing, and this can cause discomfort, pain, and other imbalances and misalignment in the spine. So it can go either way.
The fact that we have soft connective tissues directly connecting to the lumbar spine, low back, and our diaphragm, means that we actually have some control over how we manage our pain.
Breathing is one of those things that our body naturally does without us needing to think about it, but we can also take control through focus and intention.
In Chinese medicine, Qigong, Bagua and Tai Chi, we look at pain and discomfort as a lack of movement, obstruction of the flow of blood, fluids, and energy, Chi, throughout the space that is dealing with pain.
So when we throw out our back and the result is pain and discomfort, tension, the way I look at that is something is not moving.
So we can recreate and reestablish more flow through the area of the spine that is misaligned, which in turn alleviates pain and stress.
Now, the first few breaths are likely going to feel very uncomfortable. The trick is to inhale very slowly and carefully and exhale in the same fashion. What people find is after a few breaths of deep, abdominal breathing, breathing unforced into the lower abdomen and feeling it expand in all directions, can help push blood and fluids and energy through the obstructed area in the back.
The diaphragm, which helps us breathe, also has connections to the rib cage and the sternum. So when we breathe fully into our lungs, and into our lower abdomen, it has an effect across the entire spine, and in turn, relieves pain, calms the nervous system, and promotes circulation.
If this is something that you’ve never tried before, it can change your entire life, and that’s not hyperbole.
Give it a try right now, no matter what you’re doing. You can be sitting, standing, or laying down on your back. The purpose is to engage in what we refer to as observational breathing. What does that mean? It means watching your breath enter and leave your body.
This can take some patience and focus, but it’s well worth the effort. You want to hold your attention in your lower abdomen region, a few inches below the belly button, in front of the low back, and in the perineum area.
We want that space in our lower torso to absorb our awareness, so we can literally have a tangible connection to our breathing. The breath will not fall into that area if the diaphragm does not expand and drop.
This means you’ll likely have to focus on releasing tension from your lower back. Give yourself some time as this may not come easily in the first minute or two. The more you practice this observation of breathing and filling your lower belly with your breath, the faster your body will recover, and the better chance you have at preventing this from happening moving forward.
The beauty of this practice is that you can practice it no matter what time of the day or what you are doing. We’re constantly holding ourselves in alignment and breathing. The goal here is to create more awareness around how you are doing that moment to moment, so we can regulate our breathing and our posture.
Pain relief and stress relief are simply two of the benefits that are had by engaging in observational breathing practices. There are many more benefits that are all byproducts of simply doing what our body was intended to do.
If you’re struggling with any kind of back pain or neck pain, any conditions related to spinal health, and are looking for more support and guidance, schedule a free consultation and let’s see if we can get you back to feeling yourself again.
The Essence of Qi: Demystifying Energy Flow in Our Lives
Throughout my life growing up in the NYC metropolitan area, the word Qi (sounds like chee) was not part of everyday nomenclature.
Have you ever heard of Qi?
From what I’ve seen, most people think it’s hocus pocus, whoo whoo nonsense.
And, I get it. For a lot of people, if they can’t see it - it’s not real.
But to understand energy flow, especially from a Qi Gong, Nei Gong, Ba Gua or Taiji perspective, we need to take a quick look at Qi and its meaning(s).
Historically, Chinese people saw the existence of Qi and believed it to be the basic substance by which all movements and mutations of all phenomena in the universe arise. (1)
In essence, Qi permeates all aspects of life, both visible and invisible.
Now, there’s a lot of literature written on Qi, but the way I like to explain it to new qigong and ba gua practitioners looking for better energy flow throughout their daily lives, is to think of Qi as internal physiological activity inside the body.
This is a simple way to think about it.
In early Chinese texts, Qi is used to refer to various phenomena such as:
Air
Mist and Fog
Moving Clouds
Aromas
Vapors
Smoke
Breathing - Inhalation and Exhalation (2)
In Eastern philosophy and Traditional Chinese medicine, there’s ultimately one qi, but it’s broken down within the body and assigned to different structures, organs, activities, actions and functions.
There’s Liver qi, Lung qi, Upright qi, Orginingal qi, defense qi, warming qi, nutritive qi, etc.
So when you go for acupuncture or herbalist or work privately with a qigong teacher, they generally ask you a bunch of questions about what’s going on.
You may go for neck or back pain relief, but you’ll find them asking about old injuries, digestion, sleep, emotions, energy, etc. ultimately trying to get a sense of what’s going on with the harmonious flow of qi within your body and where it’s being disrupted and imbalanced.
From the eastern perspective, you’re having a blockage of Qi in the area of pain/discomfort, i.e. your neck or back, but the goal is to help you re-balance the Qi within your whole body.
Another way to think about this is, Qi flows through the body kinda like water flows through a hose.
If the hose gets kinked, that’s where we feel pain. But that buildup of water behind the kink can cause other problems, both upstream and downstream, from the obstructed flow.
For example, when I was struggling with chronic wrist pain working as an electrician in NYC in my early 20’s, I had some stagnant qi (energy) in my wrist that was causing me pain.
And 2 surgeries, PT on my wrist, cortisone injections and 8 years of pain didn’t fix the problem.
Why?
It turned out that my upper back, neck, shoulder, lungs, diaphragm and digestive organs all had kinks that were causing a disruption which popped up as wrist pain.
That’s why the wrist surgeries didn’t work.
Movement practices like Qigong and Ba Gua helped me uncover where things were stuck, misaligned and obstructed. It was in places no one else could find. I had to learn how to open them up to get the energy flowing freely again.
And it was done safely and in a way that felt akin to going for massage or chiropractic adjustment.
Once you experience that, you can't unlearn it.
This is incredibly helpful because we’re always getting things kinked up from both physical causes like an injury or bad posture but also from emotional issues and diet as well.
It’s incredibly efficient because It works for all kinds of issues like orthopedic pain, but also headaches, anxiety, general stiffness, digestive disorders, libido issues, and much more.
Your acupuncturist, massage therapist and pt can do a lot in finding some of the obstructions, but when you hit a plateau or things aren't getting better, Qigong and the internal arts help you work from the inside out as they work from outside in.
At the end of the day, there’s a lot going on with Qi! It is energy, but it’s more than that too.
Understanding energy (qi) flow within your own body is your birthright and is essential in functioning well throughout the course of your life.
Pain, tension, stress and disease all point to blockage in energy flow. When you learn how to open up the energetic pathways within your body to restore flow, you feel more relaxed and energized at the same time. Pain fades away, and strength, balance and alignment take it’s place until there’s another kink in the hose that needs to be unkinked.
If you're seeking energy flow practices that have stood the test of time, or if you're grappling with unresolved health issues affecting your daily comfort, I highly recommend exploring qigong, ba gua, or tai chi with an experienced teacher.
References:
(1)The Foundations of Chinese Medicine - Giovanni Maciocia
(2) 21 Things About Chinese Medicine That Every Internal Martial Artist Should Know - Tom Bisio
Listening to the Body: Embracing Modern Approaches in Ancient Arts
Within the world of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Nei Gong, and Ba Gua Zhang, there are lots of traditional styles and lineages that exist.
And having trained in authentic Qi Gong, Nei Gong, and Ba Gua Zhang since 2010 and taught professionally since 2016, I understand the importance of maintaining the authenticity of your lineage.
It's from this position of understanding and respect for the traditions that I've sometimes found it cringe-worthy to see people on the internet modify or fuse these arts and market them under their traditional names.
When I’d see someone seemingly just swing their arms around and label it Tai Chi, devoid of any authentic connection, it was hard to stomach.
But hearing a personal experience of a new client recently, led me to having a profound epiphany.
This person, plagued by various physical ailments, got tremendous value from a fairly popular online Tai Chi youtube page.
To me, sure, this account seemed to be 'Tai Chi-ish'.
Their method took Tai Chi movements and made them more accessible to the masses, without delving deep into the principles and alignments of the art, which in my understandting is what makes the internal arts unique.
But with these videos, the focus was less on correct form and internal alignments, and more on simplistic follow-along routines.
Now, even though I might have criticized this before, hearing about its value firsthand changed my perspective.
My client, after following along with these videos for the past few months, felt real relief for a few hours after he’d practice. But then, on a friend's recommendation to switch to a more 'authentic' teacher, he began to experience discomfort and lost that sense of relief.
I told him, "Forget what your friend said. Your body is the most honest critic. Listen to it."
My client's main goal wasn’t about attaining mastery as a martial artist, it’s just to live with more comfort and improve his quality of life. So, while the teachings might not be 100% traditional, what truly matters is the persons intentions, goals, and how they resonate with the practice.
I've come to realize that much of the criticism towards more accessible teaching styles might stem from a place of competition.
As skilled practitioners, especially those from renowned lineages like the one I come from, in my humble opinion, we need to rise above such sentiments.
Embracing different methods will not only enrich our understanding but also help us attract students genuinely meant for our teachings.
With all of that benign said and just to be clear, I do not condone people taking a few classes or workshops and then going out and trying to teach the masses. But when a dedicated practitioner chooses to modify what they’ve learned, I’ve come full circle and can see the value.
Does Your Back Hurt Because You’re Getting Old?
I just had a long talk with my barber about how his back has been hurting for the past few years, and he doesn't know why.
He tells me, "Jonathan," (in an Italian accent, he's from Sicily), "I used to play soccer every week, I used to go to the gym, then during COVID, I gained about 15 lbs, and now I'm in my mid-50s, and at the end of the day, my back is in pain."
He says it's not that bad, but it does hurt.
I said, "Anthony, this ain't rocket science. You used to do all those things, and now you don’t, and now your back hurts. Do you think if maybe you got back to being more active and lost a few pounds, things might start to feel differently?"
In my experience, people love to blame age. Maybe because it's convenient. But if age were the reason, then literally everyone would have the same issues as they got older.
And even if it seems like everyone over 40 that you know is struggling with something physically, it's not everyone.
But staying out of pain is not always convenient, although with practices like Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Ba Gua, it can be.
It takes a committed effort to start something new. And then to keep it going!
The key is to find something that's enjoyable for you, so at least on those days you REALLY don't want to do it, once you get started it's not so bad.
It's also helpful to find something that can check off several boxes at once. It should be efficient and convenient.
That's why I love the internal arts like Qi Gong and Ba Gua.
I think a few of the main reasons why a lot of my clients love it are: you don't need to go anywhere to practice, you don’t need any equipment, you can knock out your daily session in under 20 min if that's all the time you have, it integrates with the rest of your life so normal activities become opportunities for therapy, it feels good and makes you feel more balanced, aligned, and decompressed, it both energizes me and calms you down, it helps improve physical aptitude, increases agility and sharpens your mental focus to name a few.
It's hard to find another physical therapy approach that even comes close to that. And those aren't even all of the benefits.
If you’re thinking you're getting old and that's the reason you're experiencing orthopedic pain, you're mistaken. I mean, age is a factor, but it's literally the only one you can't control.
There are a plethora of other things you CAN control, and I highly recommend getting started on them so the next 10, 20, 30 years plus of your life aren't riddled with more discomfort.
If you want more information on a movement therapy approach like Qi Gong in New York City, Ba Gua in NYC, or Tai Chi in NYC, or if you're interested in online training, schedule a call to speak with us today.
Qi Gong: A Vital Practice for Professionals Who Depend on Their Bodies
As someone who worked in a physically demanding job for years as an electrician, I get it. Over time, your body begins to protest. You wonder - is this just a function of aging?
I thought so too, until my own journey led me to discover a unique practice known as Qi Gong (pronounced 'chee gong').
If aging were the only culprit, everyone growing older would be in constant pain, right? But that's not the case. Not everyone in a physically demanding job lives with pain. A secret to this? Good body mechanics combined with a balanced and aligned skeleton.
A few years ago, I was introduced to Qi Gong, a practice that forever changed my understanding of the body and my approach to physical well-being.
This practice not only gave me a unique perspective on how I was holding and moving myself throughout the day but also helped me suss out the root of my chronic wrist pain.
Qi Gong creates a new level of awareness that helps you identify what's misaligned before it turns into pain.
And if you're already struggling with unresolved pain - be it back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or wrist pain like me - it can be a game-changer.
Most people living with chronic pain don't get the lasting relief they hope for from conventional therapies like physical therapy, cortisone injections, chiropractic adjustments or even surgery. It's because these modalities don't always educate the person about the origin of the issue.
Building strength and creating space are essential, sure, but without understanding why things have become weak or imbalanced in the first place, it's a band-aid solution.
This is where Qi Gong shines.
It's not just a practice; it's a daily ritual for self-calibration and rebalancing. A timeless technique that's been evolving for thousands of years, Qi Gong brings your body back to a state that feels familiar, one you might have lost due to years of injury, bad habits, and lack of awareness.
Qi Gong shows you how to move in accordance with your body's natural design.
Most tension and pain result from muscles not firing sequentially in the right order. Qi Gong helps you reconnect with the different areas of your body and understand how they should connect.
It's as simple as it sounds and feels like a massage from the inside out. It doesn't need to take long. I noticed significant improvements in a few weeks, and you could too.
If you're like me, having tried everything but still not where you want to be, Qi Gong could be your missing link.
As a professional instructor and coach now, my greatest joy is empowering others to take control of their physical well-being, just like Qi Gong did for me.
New York City Qi Gong - The Practice You Need to Survive NYC
Clearly, NYC isn’t your average city. Living here is like nothing else, anywhere else.
We're basically piled on top of each other, living in a shared bubble of personal space.
The city noises - streets, subways, shops, neighbors - they sneak into your world whether you're on the clock or just kickin' back at home.
As you know, the smells, they're something else. Some will stop you dead in your tracks (not always in a good way) and they come from everywhere - weed, restaurants, bakeries, trash, you name it.
The streets? A circus of phone-gawkers, cyclists, grumpy walkers, loonies, and clipboard-wielding folks trying to sell you something.
This is where Qi Gong steps in. If you translate it (very) roughly, it means 'energy work.' It's like a daily reset button for the stress of city living, and it helps you become teflon to the everyday grind.
The crazy thing is, when you're swimming in all this chaos day in, day out, you start to tune it out. Your mind and body cover it up so well, you might not even realize the impact it's having.
You know when you finally escape the city for a vacation? It can take days to fully shake off the city's imprint.
I remember one night, my cousin had just moved back to NYC from LA. This guy bleeds NYC pride, he loves this city like a second skin. But, as we walked to the subway after dinner, he winced at a passing ambulance siren. His brother and I just shrugged; we hadn't even registered it.
We'd become city zombies, immune to the chaos. Not exactly the recipe for long-term wellness.
That's where a NYC Qi Gong practice can help. It’s like an ongoing tune-up for your senses so you don't get bogged down by the unnoticed craziness.
Qi Gong is like giving yourself a daily massage. It feels awesome, it’s super relaxing and yet reviving. It brings you back to the 'now,' centering your mind while you focus on your body alignment, movement, and breathing. It’s a full body tune-up promoting harmonious blood and energy flow.
It’s something you can squeeze into as little as 10 minutes per day. The more you practice, the more potent the benefits. It's infinite and intended to be a lifelong journey. That’s why it's seen as a longevity practice.
Plus, it's a powerful method of physical therapy and injury prevention.
So, whether you're a bustling professional, an ex-athlete, performer, or a new parent living in NYC, Qi Gong is the self-care ritual you didn’t even know you needed.
Dive in today and trust me, you won't want to look back!
Give Your Physical Career a New Lease on Life with Qi Gong: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you feeling the aches and strains that come with a physically demanding job? Have you tried everything from physical therapy to chiropractic, with little to show for it?
Before you consider drastic measures like surgery or medication, let's talk about Qi Gong (sounds like Chi Gong). It's an ancient practice that might just give you the tools you need to feel stronger, more balanced & aligned and keep doing what you love for longer.
Intrigued? Let's talk about it..
So, What's Qi Gong?
Imagine a practice that combines gentle exercise, deep breathing, and a zen-like focus – that's essentially Qi Gong for you.
It's an age-old part of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, used to cultivate and balance your body, mind and 'life energy' or 'qi'. Sounds mystical? Maybe. But stick with me, it's actually very practical and likely familiar to you already..
Talk Neuromuscular to me..
Now, you've probably done your rounds with physical therapy, right? Here's where Qi Gong shakes things up. Instead of focusing only on injured areas, Qi Gong gets down to the real nitty-gritty. It helps reprogram your body, changing how your muscles interact and fire. This new alignment and balance can help you move more naturally, which is a big deal if you're doing the same physical tasks over and over.
It’s a lot like a self massage, chiropractic or acupuncture treatment that you can do wherever, when ever.
Dealing with an old orthopedic Injury?
One of the reasons you might love Qi Gong is that it's all about preventing and rehabilitating injuries.
The practice helps to restore and strengthen your natural movement mechanics, it can help you recover from existing injuries and prevent new ones.
Once you get used to it, it instills a new confidence in you so there’s less apprehension of lifting things off the ground or bending the wrong way!
Sharpen Your Mind as You Soothe Your Body
Staying focused is paramount in any physical job. I’ve personally seen a horrible injury on a job site when working as an electrician in NYC in the early 2000’s when my partner wasn’t focused.
Good news! Qi Gong isn't just about the body. It's also focusing your mind. Studies even show that it can improve memory and concentration, which let's face it, we all could use a little more of!
Stress? Qi Gong Addresses This Too'
Work-related stress is real and can be a huge factor and contribute to orthopedic pain.
Remember the deep, natural breathing part of Qi Gong? That's a life-saver when it comes to discharging stress, decompressing and finding your calm amid chaos.
It helps you balance emotionally, so you can stay chill even when things get crazy.
Power Up Your Day
I’m sure a big part of your day is about keeping your energy levels up, too. Here's the fun part about Qi Gong: it focuses on boosting your life energy. Many people who practice Qi Gong say they feel more vibrantl and energetic, which means more productivity and a better performance at work.
The Proof Is in the Qi Gong Pudding
We know it's not just about taking our word for it, so here's the real deal. Professionals across a range of physically demanding fields – chefs, performers, construction workers, bartenders, bodyworkers, you name it – have added Qi Gong to their routine and experienced massive benefits.
As Much Or As Little As You Want
You can start with as little as 10 min a day or practice up to an hour or more. The truth is, once you get going you’ll likely want to do more mainly because it just feels so good. It’s a profound self-maintenance practice that empowers you to prevent and heal injuries and promises longevity in your work and play.
So, that's the rundown. Qi Gong could be the missing piece in your puzzle to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling career. Incorporating it into your daily routine might be the best investment you could make for your future self. You've got this!
Note: Be sure to discuss with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise routine. This blog post is meant to be informational and does not replace professional medical advice.
Stake Standing: A Human Reflection of Nature's Wonders
Imagine standing tall like an ancient oak in your bedroom and embarking on a journey that takes you into the depths of the Amazon rainforest.
This is the transformative power of Stake Standing (Zhuan Zhuang), a practice from the internal arts, like Qi Gong, where you hold a fixed posture as you plunge into an internal exploration that is as profound as it is enlightening.
Learning Stake Standing might be a little uncomfortable at first. But like a young sapling grows into a sturdy tree, you too will mature through the practice.
It guides you in realigning your skeleton and musculature, creating a new, healthier baseline for your body.
The practice fine-tunes your sensitivity to your own alignment, enabling you to correct imbalances before they take a toll on your body. Gradually, these adjustments become second nature, leading to profound transformations.
Yet, the allure of Stake Standing extends beyond physical betterment.
As in nature where a tree's branches reach skywards while its roots delve into the earth, this practice invites you on a balancing journey of introspection and self-discovery.
By adhering to specific alignment and breathing principles, you learn to release your tension, much like a tree shedding its autumn leaves, revealing an internal spring of rejuvenation.
Imagine diving into the vast ocean, pushing your boundaries the further you swim. That's what Stake Standing feels like.
The longer you sustain the posture, the deeper you venture into your self, and the greater your freedom to explore. The process can feel like a mighty river breaking its banks—an exhilarating release that connects you to the elemental forces of nature.
As you maintain the Stake Standing posture, your body becomes an expressive canvas, mirroring the wonders of Mother Nature.
The tranquility of a still forest, the resilience of a glacier, the mystery of the ocean depths—all can be experienced within the microcosm of your body.
This intimate connection with nature makes Stake Standing incredibly calming and healing, and is why it feels so deeply rewarding.
Consider the striking similarity between the intricate patterns of a human fingerprint and the bark of an ancient tree, or the striking resemblance between our respiratory system and the branching pattern of a tree, or even the vein network within a leaf and our circulatory system.
These images vividly illustrate the profound interconnectedness between us and the world we inhabit.
The beauty of Stake Standing is that it allows us to experience this interconnectedness firsthand, thus revealing the truth of our inherent unity with nature.
The transformative journey is there for all who are brave enough to embark.
Say Hello to Qi Gong: Your New Best Friend for Pain-Free Living
Qi Gong: Your New Best Friend for Pain-Free Living
Life sure is a crazy ride, isn't it? Between juggling work, family, and everything in between, our health sometimes takes a backseat. If you're in your 30's, 40’s or 50’s, chances are you've had a run-in or two with annoying orthopedic pain. And, let's face it, the thought of popping pills or going under the knife doesn't exactly sound like a fun day at the beach. But guess what? There's another way to kick that pain to the curb – and it's called Qi Gong (sounds like Chee Gung).
The Struggle:
Ladies, we hear you. Between raising the kids and running the world, who has time to focus on their own health? But neglecting ourselves can lead to nasty issues like neck, shoulder, and back pain. And it's pretty hard to strut your stuff in Zumba class when your back is killing you. Fellas, we haven't forgotten you. We know it's frustrating when pain gets in the way of hitting that perfect golf swing or romping around with the kids.
Meet Qi Gong - Your Pain Buster:
Now, you might be scratching your head and thinking, "Qi Gong? What's that? Isn’t that for old people?" Let's break it down. Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice that's all about slow, deliberate movements, deep breathing, and focusing the mind. The goal is to balance your body and mind - from head to toe.
In essence, Qi Gong is like your body's personal energy factory and self-applied massage and chiropractic treatment from inside out. It works to amp up your body's natural healing abilities, balance and aligns the musculoskeletal system, physiology, body’s natural rhythms.
Why Qi Gong Beats Other Options:
Sure, physical therapy and other treatments have their perks. But Qi Gong takes things a step further. It's not just about curing what ails you physically - it's about getting your mind and spirit in on the action too. By unlocking your body's 'Qi' or 'life energy', Qi Gong helps you kickstart your body's self-healing process, alleviate pain, improve your posture, and boost your flexibility.
Also, it’s not about just resolving the issues you’re dealing with today, it’s about preventing future problems as well. Qi gong helps to reprogram the way you move through life. It restores the natural, intrinsic movement you likely once had but los, so that you approach the activities of your life with more stability, agility and ability.
Qi Gong – A Long-Term Buddy:
Here's the best part – Qi Gong is sustainable. You can take things at your own pace and still reap the benefits. Whether you're an athlete, performer or a newbie, Qi Gong is your ticket to managing orthopedic pain naturally and long-term. Regular practice is incredibly empowering and can help you take charge of your life and get back to doing what you love – pain-free!
Wrap Up:
So, there you have it. Beating orthopedic pain doesn't have to mean a trip to the operating room, reliance on doctors and therapists or a lifetime prescription. With Qi Gong, you can live a healthier lifestyle, manage pain naturally, stay more focused and energized and regain your confidence.
If you want to learn more or you’re ready to start your journey to managing pain yourself then get ready to experience the Qi Gong transformation. Get in touch with us and let’s see if Qi Gong can help you.
Keywords: Qi Gong, orthopedic pain, natural remedy, life energy, body and mind balance, chronic pain relief, improved posture, flexibility, overall health, drug-free approach.