Finland held the new year’s first basic course of Hold Qi Up in Ekenäs covered in snow. Some participants came for the first time, others had attended a handful of courses and several had practised actively for 10-20 years. The ambience was calm and friendly. Those who had practised for a long time shared their experiences and helped the newer ones with the movements. Here some comments:
Help against stress
“I have known about Qigong since I was very young but never actively practised it. I took up Qigong only when I had been feeling unwell for quite some time. It has saved me several times. When I got palpitations I went to my GP. He said that I suffered from fatigue and stress and prescribed medication to regulate my blood pressure and pulse. I have not needed to take them even once since I started to practise Qigong.”
Relieved of pain
“I started practising Qigong in 2007. I had pain and my hands were twisted and the joints knobbly. The pain is gone and my hands look normal.”
“I have suffered from worn-out shoulders and inflammation in one of them. It was very painful and I have been told that the pain can return at any time. Since I started practicing for different reasons it took several years for me to realize that my shoulder pains were gone ever since I started practising Qigong.”
“I have been practising Qigong for several years. I suffer from Hallux valgus which is fairly common among women getting on in years. It usually entails pain but not so for me. People says ‘you just wait and see’ but I have still not felt anything.”
Quicker process of healing
“Four years ago my daughter was seriously ill. It took quite some time to get a diagnosis. She suffered from pains in the stomach and weight loss. Eventually she weighed less than 20 kilos. Then I brought her to a Summer Course. After the course she had no more pains in the stomach. Now she has no medication and no diets. The doctors were surprised that the healing was so quick.”
“I have undergone surgery several times, When I have practised Qigong afterwards I have recovered faster. I began practising Qigong in 2008.”
Many years of practising – a great variety of results
“When I started practising I suffered from depressive exhaustion, I always suffered from colds in the head, allergies and inflammation in a knee. Everything has got better gradually but surely.”
“I have practised for quite a long time. When I started I had a lot of problems with my back. Practising has been a great help. Qigong is my medication. I have not had a cold in the head for a long time and my enlarged thyroid gland (nodular goitre) is much better and much smaller.”
“Zhineng Qigong has been a great support for both body and mind. I notice the benefit in a number of small things like I am able to put my boots on standing up without support. I have also the ability to avoid thinking about difficult matters.”
Improvements during the course
“I have a lump on the nape of my neck. So has my mother. It is hereditary and makes you bent. I attended an earlier course a few months ago but felt no difference. Now something has started. My neck feels quite different compared with this morning.”
“I am surprised that I managed to stand yesterday. When I came to the course I could not even turn my head. Today the upper part of my back feels fine. Yesterday I had a very strong feeling of energy – even stronger than today – maybe because of the difference from the day before.”
First impressions
“My daughter said yesterday ‘fancy that all these old ladies are much stronger than we are’.”
“I have suffered from back pains for a long time. I am here because of a disc that slipped a year and a half ago. I was very bad had to undergo surgery this autumn. I had heard about Qigong before and thought that this was the time to attend a course. When I listen to all of you it seems that Qigong is good for more than the back. I think it has started something. The small of my back is suppler as if the ‘gate of life’ is beginning to open up again.”
Inspiration
“It is always great to attend a course. It gives new inspiration. You meet old acquaintances and get to know new Qigong practitioners.”
“Now I want to start practising properly again.”
“I am very happy that I came.”
Teacher:
Margareta Willner-Rönnholm