QiGong Exercise Specialist
I caught a news report the other day that made meshake my head. A recent report spoke about how a Chicago High School improvedstudents grades from C’s to A’s by just including exercise before the acedemic day. By providing exercise before classes, the students added one year of reading level and a twenty percent increase in math scores! Although extremely newsworthy, doesn’t this just make common sense to those of us in the exercise world?
So young and not so young have reason to move, or asI like to say “Move Your Blood!” In nature, anything that does not move, and moved frequently, slows down and becomes stagnant – think of water. Clean water flowing through the Earths waterways (streams, rivers,fiords, seas etc.) is a metaphor for the blood flow in the human body. Theconcept of the blood becoming stagnant or thick is reffered to in Chinese Medicineas blood stasis. Blood stasis is the cause of many many Qi deviations or the best translation, although not entirely acurrate, in disorders or pathology (disease of mind and body) ( See MedicalQiGong Teaching Certification in this blog). How many people do you know that take a baby aspirin, by suggestion of their doctor, or are prescribed coumadin to thin the blood?
Thus, QiGong taught by professionals such as the QiGong Exercise Specialist can have an enourmous impact on our children and our future (see http://www.inner-strength.org/infoQES.htm.
Today, PE includes the likes of climbing rock walls, unicycle riding lessons, incorperating the video game Dance Dance Revolution, yo-yos and heart rate monitors all add a unique flavor to PE classes. Still, according to the U.S.Surgeon General, 75 percent of high school students are currently not enrolled in any PE classes! Professor George Graham of Virginia Tech health and PEstressed the power of positive experiences to get kids hooked on fitness."If you can design a program where kids are successful 80 percent of thetime," he said, "you have a good program."
Trying not to date myself, I can remember having gymclass everyday in school from grades chool forward. It was not an option or twice a week event, but mandatory unless you had a doctors excuse – and even then you had to watch your fellow class mates “play” – no study hall or library time to read magazines for you! Admittitingly, gym class, (now called Physical Education) was a tough, team oriented activity, reminiscent of Dodgeball the movie (without the wrenches). Once a year we would have conditioning, right before the Presidents Award contest was held. In 6 weeks, we did more sit ups and pushups than I care to remember, yet most students, if I remember correctly, had a great time.
Althoughmethods may have changed in the last decade or so, the bottom line is why aren’t our children exposed to the positive side of making exercise a life-long lifestyle? Healthy kids equate to healthier adults.
Some things toponder:
Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states last year, according to the “F as inFat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007” report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). Twenty-two states experienced an increase for the second year in a row; no states saw a decreased rate of obesity.
Other key findings of the report include the following.
- Twenty-two percent of American adults report that they do not engage in any physical activity. Mississippi has the highest rate of inactivity at 31.6%, and Minnesota had the lowest rate of inactivity at 15.4%.
- Seventeen states require their school lunches, breakfasts, and snacks to meet higher nutritional standards than the US Department of Agriculture requires (6 states enacted new laws in 2006-2007).
- Twenty-two states have set nutritional standards for foods sold in vending machines, à la carte, in school stores, or in bake sales in schools (9 states enacted new laws in 2006-2007), and 26 states limit beyond federal requirements when and where these foods may be sold on school property (6 states enacted new laws in 2006-2007).
- Although every state has school physical education requirements, many are limited in scope or are not enforced.
- Sixteen states screen students’ body mass index or fitness status and confidentially provide information to parents or guardians (8 states enacted new laws in 2006-2007).
In China and Japan, martial arts like taijichuan, QiGong or gung fu calisthenics are mandatory before the work day in most major companies. The belief is that by moving the blood in the body via exercise, you increase productivity of mind and body.According to a report in Reuters, in 2006, the productivity rise was 3.3percent at the global level, 2.1 percent for the industrialized world. But inEast Asia the rise was 8.5 percent!
According to Molly Wagster, with the National Institutes of Health Institute on Aging, “Physical activity, particularly the aerobic kind, appears to be the best bet to improve cognitive function." Even sedentary adults, walking a minimal of 30 minutes three times a week can stimulate growth in certain parts of the brain.Whether brain or body – movement is the key.
Mind body exercises not only thin the blood byheating the core temperature of the body but pumps nutrients and oxygen aroundthe core that contains the organs. This is the same premise of Chinese medicinewhen we suggest QiGong as a prescription for the five Yin organs (Lungs, Heart,Liver, Kidneys, and Spleen). It is through certain distinctive movements, visualization and breathing techniques and patterns that we achieve uniform blood flow or Qi flow within the vessel. This gives the mind and body the sense of well-being, a balance or centeredness, and sometimes euphoria. These typesof exercises are defined as QiGong for health and not to be confused withMedical QiGong. Medical QiGong is one of four branches of Chinese medicine (the others being: Acupuncture, Herbology including Nutrition, and Bodywork).
The beauty of these ancient exercises is that they are performed slowly with deliberate muscle control – perfect for the convalescent, geriatric or obese communities. A very unique property of QiGong, unlike most weight training, machines, and bodyweight movements (pilates or theraball), QiGong lowers blood pressure and decreases pulse rate during practice. These populations could all benefit from the increased blood flow without increased pulse and blood pressure elevation.
The QiGong Exercise Specialist can have an enourmous impact on our childrens’ mental and physical development – aswell as allow them to lead healthier and happier lives.
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This is no surprise really. Though I find it strange that our educational system doesn't advocate it. My 16 y/o son gets "gym" only one quarter a year.
I suppose it all adds up to the american obesity situation and sequelae.
I have just learned about Qigong and am very interested in becoming a Qigong healer. I have been a registered nurse for over 25 years, but would much rather help others through natural and spiritual means. This would give me great inner joy that would never run out as it seems I would be refilled with each human connection made. I want to know how long it would take to complete the whole medical portion and how long it would take. I have started taking Qigong from Art Amann in Erie, PA and find it too be a marvelous form of meditation. I seems I would need to travel to Leechburg numerous times and stay at some accomadation repeatedly.
I am currently not working and so this may be a perfect time to begin a new journey. I could see myself doing this for many years to come. Please write back if you care to at your leisure. Namaste. judy
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Hi Judy,
Dr. Ted J. Cibik, ND, DMQ (China), H/FI
Zhong Yi 中醫
Executive Director of Inner Strength, Inc
www.inner-strength.com (Clinic)
www.inner-strength.org (University)
Www.tedcibiksblog.com (Blog)
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Thank you for responding to my inquiry. I have Certification requirements in front of me. It looks very interesting. I am CPR certified and I am not sure that I need lessons is in anatomy and physiology. Can these 2 mentioned classes by waived with proof or testing?
Also I have a close friend who does Reiki and she wants me to take classes from her. Would there be any conflict in doing so? Thanks for your time and consideration. Peace. judy
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The CPR certification can be from any Red Cross approved curriculum, as long as it is current.
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Thank you for your enduring patience. One last question, if you please. When will the next MQ1 be held in Leechburg? Looking forward to the first step...
judy
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After reading this article, the one on Medical QiGong training and the above comments, I felt strongly enough about the issues to add my two cents here.
I was led to Inner Strength because I had Reiki training as well as some Shamanic training and had explored on my own. While I can say that my teachers were all well-intentioned, there was a huge gap of knowledge that was not given to me in regards to self- protection and developing healing and psychic gifts properly. By properly, I mean that you can definitely take on energies that are not yours (even though in Reiki you are told that this cannot happen if you say your protection prayer)and you may not even be aware that this has happened....
until you find that there are very strange things going on with your own health or the events that are transpiring around and in your life.
The one thing that I can say about the training at Inner Strength is that you won't be led into something you are not ready for energetically...the individual attention is given so that that will not happen. Not all training in Reiki and other energetic modalities take this into account. While I honor the Shamanic and Reiki work I have had, some of the practice and learning experiences in these realms have actually left me feeling violated at the time.
I'm also now beginning to find that when I do the QiGong consistently, everything works better in my life and health. If I slack, things tend to become more imbalanced in my physical and emotional bodies.
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I wish to share my deepest gratitude to Dr. Cibik, having just finished the 5 day MQ2 class today. This class has the potential to open and expand your world in ways so very beneficial to yourself and others.
In class the question was asked: " Why do you practice QiGong and why would someone who doesn't know about QiGong want to learn and practice it? And with your practice how do you serve?"
I titled my answer: How to Release Suffering and Embrace Center
In every life there is a desire to avoid suffering. (different from pain) How can this be done? Only by knowing oneself and cultivating your true nature or center. No matter what profession you may choose, whether you live with many people or very few, you impact their lives also. So as not to suffer yourself or cause suffering to others, the practice and cultivation of QiGong is a method to arrive at and know Center.
In general, you serve by knowing and residing in your true nature (center). In this place you will know that you are connected to all beings and things.
There would never be a moment or breath, that you did not serve.
While working in this class with Dr. Cibik and the other students, it becomes very clear of the patience and compassion shown and shared by all.
It all has such far reaching affects.
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Hi Dr. Cibik, I signed up for and look forward to attending your MQ1 classes in May. I am very interested in this field of study as I have years of experience in traditional martial arts. I train at a very good school that teaches deeper levels of internal martial arts such as bagwa, qi gong and nae gong foundation, and through practicing these arts, I have had a lot of experiences with energy. I can feel that I have a lot of internal strength, and I have always wanted to use it to heal. I have started bringing energy to my hands by practicing iron hand. My question is, can your program teach me to use all this stored internal strength to benefit someone else?
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Hi Charlie,Thanks for writing and I look forward to meeting you at the MQ1- Introduction to Medical QiGong class. Yes, both Inner Strengths' programs of Medical QiGong and the Chinese Health Professional are designed from the ground up to teach people not only how to cultivate energy of Jing, Qi, and Shen, (bio-electromagnetic energy ), but also to coach students in Chinese Medicine principals to access and help people to heal themselves and others. Additionally, we teach how to keep these energies balanced in therapist and client alike, as to avoid Qi deviations (disease of mind and body) from occurring from incorrect practice. At the highest levels of training, I teach how to integrate a spiritual practice into healing of mind and body. Over the years of being a doctor of Chinese medicine, I have seen the relief and excitement patients exhibit when I approach healing in this manner. Many people in America are not aware that Zhong Yi is a title of physician and priest - a throwback to ancient times when villages and small towns had one doctor, who also counseled people in the community. I like to create students that also demonstrate this approach, as we need healthy minded ambassadors of healing more than ever in the 21rst century.
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