A bunch of happy and inspired students gathered at Åbo Akademi’s premises in mid-March to learn Hold Qi Up. Our cooperation with Åbo Akademi is fairly new, but we have been active in Turku for over a decade. It can be seen in the fact that many of the students have practised qigong for a long time, and can share their experiences from a longer perspective. Through this the beginners in the course do not only a great help with the movements, but also get inspiration and motivation to get started practising. Here are excerpts from the participants’ own comments.
Alert and happy
“Practicing qigong keep my colds away. What is new is that I now get up at half past four every morning to practise. When my daughter wakes up, I am alert and happy. She likes to call me an ‘energetic grasshopper!”
No more back pain
“I’ve had great help from qigong in dealing with my bad back. Before I started training, my back was terribly bad. If I dropped something on the floor, I could not pick it up. In three years I could not manage travel by bus between Turku and Helsinki. Nowadays it is no problem. I have even shoveled snow this winter.”
Better balance, more supple body
“Qigong has given me better balance and has made my body more supple. Thanks to the training I can bend like a switch blade and wipe the floor behind the stove. And put on my shoes. In the beginning I had trouble with the slowness of movements, but now it feels just good. I have more patience. I don’t get irritated as easily.”
Migraine gone
“I started a year and a half ago. I had a lot problems with migraines. After the winter course, I have been completely free of the migraines.”
Inspiration to practise
“My quality of life has improved a lot since I started practising Qigong. Life has become easier and all my small ailments have disappeared. I work out every morning and evening.”
“I believe in this. I will continue to practise every day for at least two months.”
Practising gives strength
“I started practising a year before I was going to retire. Qigong helped me to cope with the stress of retirement. I had also suffered a bicycle accident, injured my arm, and the doctors said I would have pain for the rest of my life. After several years of Qigong the pain was gone. Last year, last winter, I slipped and injured my other arm. I could not lift it and I got strong medications. I still practised. In late May, I was able to lift my arm again. I cared for a ninety-year-old friend who died last summer. It was hard and demanding, also after her passing, because she had no close relatives. It was Qigong that kept me going. My Qigong friends “forced” me to join the summer course. It gave me an amazing strength. I am extremely grateful for everything, especially for the summer course. I’m going to join the summer course this year too.”
More mobile and less crooked
“It’s been great to be here today. There have been a lot to adjust in my movements. My body was very crooked when I started training. Now I am just a little crooked, and very mobile. If I practise for an hour in the morning I know that the day runs better.”
Teacher:
Jeanette Heidenberg