My name is Elisabeth and I’m 54 years old. In 2003, I joined a project that the European Zhineng Qigong Center had started together with the Breast Cancer association Amazonas. At that time my life situation was very hard. I was getting treatments for breast cancer, my mother died after many years of illness and I was moving after having lived in the same place for over 30 years.
During my first ground-course I felt very stiff and insecure. I thought I would never learn the movements, but I practiced at home with the CD and I also joined the group training. I found the arm-training very hard but after some weekend-courses it started to feel better. The first result that I noticed was when I was out walking and I could feel that my back and my neck were much softer and the arm that had been operated started to feel normal again. When I felt that my body became softer and that I had more energy I got happier. I often had a lot of pain when I trained but afterwards it felt pleasant. The training was so nice! Before, when I tried different sports, the only thing I felt afterwards was muscular pains.
After the project had ended at Christmas time I continued to join the weekend-training during the spring. I participated in the summer-course for nine days in 2004. I also joined “Project 2005”, the summer-course of 2005 (18 days), and many weekend-courses.
So what results did I get from the training? I feel soft in my body, softer in my joints and I’m more relaxed. My neck and my shoulders are not as stiff as before and my standing-position is much better. Furthermore I’m not as cold as I used to be and my skin is not that dry anymore. I need less sleep without feeling tired. If I catch a cold it doesn’t bother me as much as it did earlier and sometimes I don’t even notice it. I have more energy, endurance and I’m more positive. Another pleasant effect is that I’m more effective and I can concentrate better. I use a more positive thinking-way and I don’t think of all the bad things that can happen. I’m calmer. Small things don’t bother me anymore. I dare to do more things and I got a lot of new friends. I’m happy with my life as it is.
I’ll keep on practicing Qigong to keep in shape and to stay as healthy as possible. It feels great to be softer and more flexible in my body even though I am getting older. It’s exciting to practice Qigong. It feels as if I’m on my way to something better all the time.
Elisabeth Brehmer Ståhlberg