Episode #29. Qigong: Balancing energy & calm to build resilience with Annabel Deans
Many movement systems which were practised many centuries ago are still used today. To stand the test of time, they must be beneficial. One that caught my eye a few years ago, when I was looking at ways to move that would nourish my body, rather than tax it and put stress on it, was Qigong. Annabel Deans was looking for the same reasons during lockdown and now loves teaching this incredible system.
In this episode, Annabel tells us all about this transformative practice, its roots in ancient Chinese medicine and how it integrates mindful movement, breathwork, and meditation. She passionately describes how it not only enhances physical well-being but also offers deep emotional release.
If you’ve heard of Qigong, but wondered what it was all about, what you do during a session and whether it would be beneficial for you, Annabel answers all of these questions and more.
Chapters
03:23 Qigong's History and Different Practices
09:27 Managing Energy and Boundaries
13:46 Benefits of Qigong
23:56 Balance Between Calm and Energised States
28:24 Different Types of Qigong Practices
30:21 The Challenge of Slowing Down
33:32 Observing the Body and Energy
37:42 Using Qigong Techniques for Stress Reduction and Energy Shifts
39:32 Qigong for All Ages and Reasons
About this week’s guests:
Annabel Deans
Annabel is a Qigong instructor, advanced Oxygen advantage breath coach, health and mindfulness coach. She has a particular passion for combining the power of the breath with gentle, mindful movement and loves teaching the ancient wisdom of Qigong for modern times, These practices are the perfect antidote to our often fast paced lives and a chance to really connect with our internal energy and life force, build resilience and feel calm yet energised.
Connect here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewellwithannabel/
Website: https://bewellwithannabel.co.uk/
More about your host, Wendy
Wendy (49) founded Reclaim Movement after a running injury at 40 turned into 4 years of chronic pain. In her search for answers and to reclaim her own movement again she discovered natural movement. The philosophy of training real life practical movements to be able to keep using them as we age, coupled with the benefit of using strengthening and mobilising whole-body movement patterns that are underused in today’s modern world made her realise she had found a way to move for life.
Wendy’s aim is to help people embrace a movement-rich life, at any age, to improve mobility, strength and confidence to keep moving well and doing the things they love for as long as they want.
MovNat Level 1 certified & Functional Range Conditioning certified, she coaches online group classes live & by replay in the Reclaim Movement membership as well as online and in-person private coaching in Oxford.
Find out more about Reclaim Movement:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/reclaim.movement
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@reclaim.movement
Facebook: https://facebook.com/reclaim.movement
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