I’ve always been a very active person and I’ve also been interested in the mental aspects of life. I used to practice yoga and I was very pleased with the training. But during the practice I got pain behind my left thigh. I couldn’t finish the movements the way I was used to. As time passed, I got more and more frustrated. I went to many doctors and I also had a MRI but they couldn’t find what was wrong.
A good friend of mine had earlier talked to me about Zhineng Qigong and recommended me to try Qigong to get rid of my pain. I was reluctant as I didn’t want to quit yoga but after the MRI, the next step might be an operation. Then I was ready to give Qigong a chance.
Another problem I had was migraine. I was used to get migraines about once a week. For me that was normal. As soon as I felt the headache coming I took medicine. I lived on pain killers. Also I had pain in my lower back. The yoga released the pain a little but in the most extended posture it didn’t feel good.
In September 2001, I attended my first weekend course in Zhineng Qigong. When learning body regulation I got a warm feeling in my neck and a relief in my head. It was almost as if I could feel the blood passing easier to my brain. Earlier I’ve danced classical ballet for five years. When I did Hold Qi Up it felt like dancing. It was wonderful to get that feeling again!
I practiced regularly every day after the weekend course. Two months later I attended a course in Shenxin Qigong. I got strong effects from the training. From the beginning I could feel and experience Qi. The pain in my lower back disappeared and the migraines came more and more rarely. I kept on practicing the two methods and I also took a course in Tui Na. In springtime, 2003, I didn’t have any pain at all.
When I was free from pain and also a bit lazy I quit practicing last summer. I was considering taking up training again in the winter. I’ve noticed that people around me have more and more pain and I think it’s important to prevent pain. A couple of weeks before the summer course 2006, I decide to sign in. Five years ago I was introduced to Qigong but all the time I’ve found excuses for not joining the summer course, e.g. my kids were too young or it might be boring to practice the same things for nine days.
The summer course has been fantastic in every different way, physically, mentally and concerning relations. It has been very luxurious to be in Kvänum for nine days and only focus on myself, be like a child, “play”, eat and sleep. I’ve slowed down. I’ve healed many wounds and I’ve been introduced to many challenges in my own development. When we practice together we are all the same, our sex, age or skin colour doesn’t matter and it creates a wonderful fellowship.
I want to thank everybody who has made it possible for us to be in Kvänum and have this good time, especially Kvänum municipality for letting us use the nice buildings. The time I’ve spent practising has been worth every second. I used to have pain 24 hours a day. Now I want to find a way to keep on practising in my everyday life so I don’t lose my good results.
When it comes to my mental results, I’m much calmer; I’m more and more patient and I have more compassion for other people. After practising Qigong I think I find more and more of my “right personality”.
Thereza Palm