Carol Kirkwood
Our “cool months” schedule of Fitness Club activities may be winding down for the hot summer, however, Tai Chi/Stillness in Motion (Qigong) instructor Charles Gill is providing extended Tai Chi/Qigong practice from July through September. Charlie has created instructional DVDs of these martial arts/exercise practices for PebbleCreekers to use until his return to the October Fitness Class sessions.
The Tai Chi Essentials DVD includes five exercises taken directly from the Yang Style Form and offers practitioners 100% of the health benefits of Tai Chi. The Qigong I DVD presents an overview of the practice of Qigong. It includes five exercises varying in complexity. Qigong II or Seasonal Qigong presents several exercises in each of the traditional Chinese calendar seasons. And finally, Yinglong Qigong (seated) is a powerful Qigong exercise developed to benefit those who cannot stand for an extended period of time. All of these martial art exercises are low-impact but designed to improve our overall well-being, both physically and emotionally.
Some of the members from Charlie’s regular Tai Chi/Qigong group are planning to meet periodically in Studio III at the Fitness Center and use these DVDs to practice and maintain their skills. All PebbleCreekers are welcome to join them. Call the Fitness Center desk for information regarding these meetings. Or, if you prefer to exercise on your own, the DVDs are available for checkout at the Fitness Center desk. Studio III provides the best DVD player for viewing these discs.
The practice of Tai Chi and Qigong have many health benefits. Research shows they can improve balance and coordination, lower blood pressure, ease pain, help manage stress or anxiety, strengthen our immune system and respiratory function, and enhance cognitive ability. These are just a few of the many, many possible health rewards from the practice of these Chinese martial art forms. Call ahead to reserve Studio III to take advantage of these DVDs on your own or with a Tai Chi/Qigong group. Many thanks to Charlie for making them available.