Spotlight on Qi Gong--Tuesday and Thursday mornings

There’s an ancient story of a woman who lived to be several hundred years old.  When asked to what she attributed her longevity, she answered, “practicing Qi-Gong daily.”

The folks that gather every Tuesday and Thursday morning for Qi Gong may not live to be 200 years old, but they are living well!  Qi Gong, teacher Deborah  Giovanella explains, involves ancient exercises to center the mind and adjust the breathing for maximum health benefits. Qi Gong is reported to help prevent cancer and to enhance cancer treatments.  It reduces depression and insomnia and supports weight loss.  Any disease, Deborah says, has a better outcome with Qi Gong practice.

Deborah loves teaching this class:  “I love seeing people come in at the start of class, feeling tired, maybe a little washed-out.  Before class has even ended, they have their colour back, and feel energized, completely different from the start of class.”

Nancy and Dan Gaulin attend the class regularly.  At first, Dan went because his wife encouraged his to try it.  Now, he says, “I go on my own.  It helps focus my mind and wake up my body.”  Nancy appreciates the pace of the class.  “We go slow enough so new people can pick things up, and fast enough to retain people who already know some Qi Gong.”

As this group practices regularly, they are building a sense of community.  Perhaps most importantly, “they laugh a lot,” Deborah says.

Deborah Giovanella teaches Qi Gong at Open Spirit on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  The first session begins at 7:45 am; if that’s too early, you can come for a second session at 9 am.  Donations are requested to support the on-going work of Open Spirit.