Chi Kung for Stress Management
I work for Haven Hospice as their dietitian and this year the employees were asked to contribute their strategies for keeping stress under control for the company newsletter. The following is my reply.
My biggest aid in stress management is exercise. All forms of physical activity work to release tension, elevate mood, and increase feelings of self efficacy, but some forms are easier and more effective than others. The fastest, simplest, and most powerful form of stress relief I’ve found is Chi Kung (pronounced chee-gong’).
You can find books, videos, and DVD’s on these ancient Chinese exercises, but it’s easiest to learn from a good teacher. I learned from Anthony Korahais (www.FlowingZen.com) who teaches at the Gainesville Wellness Center. I recommend his teaching highly; he has a free class every month so that people can see what it’s like.
When our family moved to Gainesville in 1992, I began taking yoga classes regularly. The release of tension and increase in energy I received was profound and I’ve been a practitioner ever since. However, yoga takes considerable time and it’s not considered particularly easy or fun. It generally requires 45 minutes to an hour of stretching to reach the stress-free zone.
On the other hand, Chi Kung is amazingly simple while incredibly powerful at the same time. After mastering the techniques, you can be totally relieved and refreshed in just 15 minutes. Formerly, I often asked my children to massage my back, but now I find just doing a few chi exercises to be more effective. I quickly get all the kinks out and my feeling of well being is restored.
I’m very grateful I’ve found something that gives such immediate and lasting relief. Yoga changed my life for the better 17 years ago and Chi Kung has taken it to a new level this past year. I hope that someday we’ll commonly witness individuals practicing Chi Kung outdoors in this country as it’s seen in the parks throughout China.
