The New Year is here and us Mama's and Papa's need to ground and energise ourselves for the year ahead, which is filled with hope and promise.
The Nutribullet is back on the attack which means that breakfast is healthy, and puts a big smile on my face for my walk to work across Bristol each morning.
Last night before bed, Sam and I started practicing Qigong. It's something that I've wanted to do for years. I tried to learn from a book about 10 years ago but found it difficult to work out the postures from pictures. Of course with the joy of the internet there are lots of videos on Youtube. The chap in this video offers different length sessions, and goes through each movement so it's really handy for beginners.
After practicing Qigong last night I had the most vivid, crazy dreams. At one point it was almost a nightmare, but I woke up to Eve, who was also it seems, having a bad dream. I stroked her head and she fell back to sleep. I went back to bed, fell back into the same dream which then turned positive. I always wonder if Eve and I are connected in our sleep, it's funny isn't it the feelings that you have as a Mum?
We enjoyed Qigong so much last night that Daddy got up with me and Eve at 6.30am to practice this morning before work. Eve ate her cereal whilst we were energising our minds and bodies. She then came in to the lounge and did a couple of yoga moves with Dad whilst I was in the shower. When I came downstairs she had one knee on a cushion doing yoga moves whilst watching tv which was cute. I love Eve being involved with everything that we do.
I've always thought that it's the coolest thing that throughout China and Japan, the countries people, including school children, office and construction workers (basically everybody) all practice methods like Qigong and Tai Chi first thing in the morning; no matter where they are or what they are doing. They even have dedicated radio stations for this. It's such a shame that in the west, as nations we are 'too busy' to partake.
After just two practices, I'm already a massive fan, and about to get fully addicted. I did yoga, almost religiously, every day for years, this changed when Eve arrived. It feels good to get on board with a new approach for this New Year; the year of change, the year of light.
National Qigong Association:
What is Qigong?
The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. Qi is pronounced chee and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe.
The second word, Gong, pronounced gung, means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated through steady practice. Together, Qigong (Chi Kung) means cultivating energy, it is a system practiced for health maintenance, healing and increasing vitality.
Qigong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the Qi; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be practiced by all age groups.
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