The new year is a great time to set intentions for the future. It’s an opportunity to reflect, learn, and establish clarity for the coming year. While there are many areas of life to think about, none are more important than your health and well-being.
Qi Gong is based on the understanding that each of us plays a critical role in our health and wellness. In other words, our habits, behaviors, and decisions have a direct impact on our energy and vitality. If we make positive choices that elevate our energy, the benefits seep into all aspects of our lives.
In this article, you’ll learn five ways to elevate your health and well-being in 2022. You can commit to doing these on your own, or ask your partner or a loved one to do them with you.
1. Start a Conscious Breathing Practice
Everyone knows that we need to breathe in order to stay alive. However, many of us don’t realize that how we breathe is also important for health and well-being.
In Qi Gong, breath is our most immediate source of energy (Qi). Therefore, breathing is the quickest and most accessible way to shift your mind, emotions, and even your physical state. By working consciously with our breath, we can release stress and cultivate greater internal peace.
Although we can’t teach everything about breathwork here, we can share some simple, guiding principles for getting started.
Each day, spend a few minutes breathing slowly and deeply. When you inhale, let your lower abdomen fill with air, then your ribs, and then your chest. When you exhale, release the air from your chest and ribs, and then from your lower abdomen. Try to breathe through your nose as much as possible.
On your inhale, imagine that you’re taking in fresh, vital energy. When you exhale, visualize yourself letting go of any old, stagnant energy that you may be holding. This is called “Wave Breathing.” Lee often teaches this technique at the beginning of Qi Gong classes.
Even just doing a few minutes of conscious breathing can help you start your days feeling relaxed and clear. Also, when you encounter stress throughout your day, you can turn to this quick practice to cleanse your energy and return to your center.
2. Engage in Physical Activities Every Day
There is an old saying in Qi Gong, “The hinges of an active door don’t get rusty.”
Moving your body is one of the best things you can do to prevent many common health ailments. Physical activities naturally strengthen the muscles and circulate blood throughout the body. Stretching movements can help you stay flexible and loose. Additionally, physical exercise helps clear the mind of stress and anxiety.
When choosing exercises, it’s a good idea to choose activities that you enjoy. This not only makes it easier to stay disciplined, but it also provides the emotional benefits of enjoyment. Walking, running, hiking, and dancing are all great choices!
If possible, try to make physical activities part of your daily routine. Each person’s exercise needs are different, but generally, twenty minutes a day is a good number to shoot for.
3. Eat Slower
Everyone loves to talk about what you should eat. After all, your diet is certainly important for your health and well-being.
In addition to your food choices, the way in which you eat is also important.
To maximize the energetic nourishment from your food, try to take smaller bites and chew your food more slowly. Instead of scarfing your meal while thinking about other things, try to be as intentional as possible at mealtime. With each bite, try to pay attention to the rich flavors that your food offers.
If you’re eating with others, you can still enjoy good conversations. However, try to also stay present with the food you’re consuming. This will become easier over time as it becomes more of a habit.
4. Improve Your Sleep
When you sleep well, it’s easier to feel alive and inspired during the day. Unfortunately, many of us don’t always experience the deep and restful sleep that we need.
There are a few simple steps you can take to improve your sleep:
Turn Off Technology Devices an Hour Before Bed
Computers and cell phones have some positive uses, but they can also prevent you from fully relaxing your nervous system. With their bright screens and sensory stimulation, they have a tendency to activate your internal energy, making it difficult to sleep.
When preparing for sleep, it can be helpful to turn off your cell phone and computer an hour before bed. This allows you to avoid unwanted stimulation while also filling your time with more calming activities.
Relax and Unwind
To prepare for a restful night of sleep, spend some time relaxing and unwinding before bed.
For some people, stretching is a great way to release tension and prepare for bedtime. Others enjoy taking a hot bath while reading a good book. Just think about activities that cultivate relaxation and calmness within your mind and body. If you choose a soothing ‘pre-bedtime’ routine, it will be easier to quickly fall asleep when your head hits the pillow.
Additionally, make sure that your sleeping environment is dark and quiet. If there’s a limit to how dark and quiet you can make your bedroom, perhaps consider using earplugs or an eye mask. Removing sensory stimuli can greatly aid the quality of your sleep.
5. Grow Your Qi Gong Practice to Boost Your Health and Well-Being
Qi Gong is a powerful practice for elevating your health and well-being! Whether you’re seeking to increase your energy, reduce stress, or feel better in your body, Qi Gong can empower you to take positive steps in every aspect of your life.
Like all healthy activities, Qi Gong becomes more and more rewarding the deeper you go.
Perhaps, you’re new to Qi Gong but have already felt its transformative potential. Or, maybe you’ve been practicing for a bit and are actively seeking to grow your practice. In either case, the Holden QiGong Teacher Training Program can help you gain more of the positive benefits that the practice offers.
Holden QiGong Teacher Training Program
At Holden QiGong, we’ve put together an in-depth, comprehensive Online Qi Gong Teacher Training Program. All of the lessons are taught by master teacher Lee Holden and can be practiced from the comfort of your own home.
Lee’s Teacher Training covers two of the foundational forms of Qi Gong: the Five Elements and the Three Treasures. Together, these practices help you explore all of the unique energies within you, giving you more internal power for health, emotional balance, and personal growth. Not to mention, becoming a Holden QiGong Certified Teacher allows you to start guiding others to discover the many benefits of the practice.
Click on the banner below to discover why over 1,000 students have chosen to enroll in the Holden QiGong Teacher Training Program.