What is Longevity Yoga?
Longevity Yoga originated in Ancient China, where a Taoist system of yoga was practiced as a way to prepare the mind and body for Taoist meditation. Longevity Yoga focuses on developing and maintaining an awareness of the flow of breath and chi in the body – with this awareness the practitioner uses simple postures and breathing techniques to release blockages and strengthen the flow of chi in the body.
Many yoga practitioners are familiar with stretching to relax – in Longevity Yoga, the focus is on relaxing in order to stretch, releasing internally before moving externally,relaxing from the inside out. The emphasis for the practitioner is on how to position herself to clearly connect and work with the flow of breath and chi in the body, rather than how far the physical body stretches.
The postures used in Longevity Yoga emphasize internal opening, and do not necessarily require a high level of flexibility. This practice is an excellent compliment to other meditation, yoga and movement arts, as it offers the opportunity to deepen and expand the felt sense of these arts. Our classes explore the sitting postures of this Taoist yoga practice and basic Longevity Breathing (Taoist breathing) techniques. These tools help practitioners to cultivate internal awareness – feeling, releasing, relaxing – deep inside the body.
This soft but powerful ancient Chinese art form translates usefully in today’s world as a method for reducing stress and physical tension, and creating a profound sense of calm and stillness in the mind and body.
What is Qigong?
Qigong (alternatively spelled chi gung or chi kung) is a form of gentle exercise composed of movements that are repeated a number of times, often stretching the body, increasing fluid movement (blood, synovial and lymph) and building awareness of how the body moves through space.
When you practice and learn a qigong exercise movement, there are both external movements and internal movements. These internal movements or flows in China are called neigong or “internal power”. These internal neigong movements make qigong a superior health and wellness practice.
Energy Gates™ Qigong
Energy Gates™ Qigong is a 3,000-year-old self-healing qigong (chi gung) system from China. This qigong practice is for those who are serious about learning tai chi, qigong or any form of energy work. This method of qigong includes the fundamentals of how to activate and harness chi, your life-force energy, to improve health, reduce stress and reverse the effects of aging
Energy Gates Qigong teaches how to maintain correct body alignments, smoothly shift weight while turning your body and Longevity Breathing. All are fundamentals necessary for developing energetic health. These fundamental qigong exercises improve chi flow, posture and balance, and loosen tension in muscles, joints, ligaments and internal organs. Energy Gates Qigong exercises and swings also maximize the circulation of all bodily fluids, including blood and lymph. The smooth flow of chi throughout your body also strengthens your immune system and reduces the effects of aging. **
** (via Energyarts.com)
Katie Keane, LMT, CZB 