Earth & Sky
Qigong Classes
Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing practice that combines controlled breathing, gentle movement, and meditation to promote optimal mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Qigong originated in China around 2146 B.C. and was heavily influenced by Daoist philosophy, particularly the concept that harmony with nature is of the utmost importance. The first physical manifestation of Qigong began as a series of exercises that imitated the movements of animals. These exercises connected people to their environment, honoured the natural world, and helped ease an aching body after a long day of work.
Chelsea’s classes are structured in a way that she will guide the students in the foundational forms and give time and space to practice each one deeply.
From here, as the students master each form individually, the next stage is to flow the forms together in a personal movement meditation.
There’s no question why Heaven and Earth is a favourite amongst both beginning and dedicated students alike.
Heaven and Earth takes the baton from Dragon and Tiger and Energy Gates foundational Qigong sets and not only contains everything within them, but also builds on them by gently opening, stretching and further releasing tight and stuck places in the body’s soft tissues, while progressively tuning the practitioner into the subtleties of qi.
Qigong Vs Tai Chi (What’s the difference?)
Qigong is the precursor to Tai Chi and can be seen as the great-grandmother of all other practices that work with cultivating qi, or lifeforce energy. Tai Chi is included under the larger umbrella of Qigong because it mixes traditional energy control techniques with martial arts. More recently, Tai Chi is less about defensive skills and more of a fluid movement practice that develops flexibility, balance, stamina, and control in the pursuit of better health. Qigong is often more static than Tai Chi in the sense that the exercises don’t necessarily flow into a sequence of repetitive movements. But the largest difference lies in the original purpose: While Tai Chi is traditionally structured as a protective martial art, Qigong does not emphasise combat.
What You Will Learn:
- Alignments
- Correct bending-and-stretching & twisting
- Wrapping
- Open-and-closing (a.k.a. pulsing)
- Lengthening (yin-yang flows)
- Breathing
- Techniques for working with the etheric field
- Feeling, moving and transforming internal energies
- Macrocosmic and microcosmic orbits
- Outer Dissolving
- Techniques for working with the left and right channels of energy
- Techniques for working with the central channel of energy
- Techniques for working with the internal organs
- Techniques for working with the lower tantien.
Health Benefits of Qigong:
- Reduced stress, anxiety and depression
- Improved sleep duration and efficiency
- Improved motor symptoms: walking ability, and balance of people with Parkinson’s when compared with a control group of Parkinson’s patients who did not partake in Qigong.
- Reduced pain in muscles, neck, back and joints
- Improved balance and co-ordination
- Improved cardiovascular health (including reduced hypertension)
- Immune stimulation
- Reduces inflammation
ABOUT YOUR PRACTITIONER
Chelsea 🌸
Chelsea first encountered the practice of Qigong when she lived in China around 15 years ago. The significance of Earth and Sky being the Daoist phrase – Tian Ren He Yi – Heaven and Human together as One – which is the spiritual purpose of the Qigong/ Neigong practice.
After returning to Australia and Teaching Yoga for some time, in 2015 she met her teacher Master Zhen Hua Yang, became deeply connected to Qigong and has been a student of the Calligraphy Health System ever since.
Calligraphy Health Qigong practices focus on three pillars of health – Blood Circulation, Nervous System Support, and Digestive System Support. Moving from the Dan-tian (lower energy center) supporting your organs and your cells is the aim of each form and movement.
Having experienced skin conditions since she was a child Chelsea turned to Qigong to support her body, mind and spirit to find balance. Through the practice of supporting her organs and renewing her cells all her psoriasis and eczema disappeared and she can now eat foods that previously would cause an instant rash.
Now a student of Chinese Medicine, Chelsea is passionate about facilitating Qigong classes that connect her students to themselves and their cells through the moving meditation and release stress to support their self healing.
