How did qigong suddenly become a cool workout for young people?
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How did qigong suddenly become a absurd conditioning for young people?
Yeah, it'southward no longer just for seniors or confined to Chinese clans and wushu associations. The supposedly old-fashioned practice is now embraced by those in their 30s and 20s (even David Beckham gave it a go).
(Photo: iStock/Image Source)
25 Oct 2022 07:07AM (Updated: 25 Oct 2022 07:07AM)
Mention "qigong" and images of grey-haired seniors in loose-fitted samfu (traditional Chinese garb) come up to listen for virtually people.
For me, it's a reminder of the times watching folks circling their arms in rhythm to pre-recorded instructions playing on a portable cassette role player at the neighbourhood basketball court. This was in the 80s when morning qigong sessions got aunties and uncles as excited as Marker Lee in a Shopee commercial.
Fast-forward a few decades after and of a sudden, qigong is "in" again. Or at least David Beckham-approved. The football game star, who is AIA's health and wellness ambassador, recently tried taichi (which I was told, tin exist considered qigong in martial art grade) with the guidance of the mysteriously named grand master Tsu.
Over in Singapore, qigong and taichi classes have evolved outside of Chinese clans or wushu associations. Fitness First has a 75-minute taichi form, for instance, while at that place are private practitioners who offer metaphysical sessions. If information technology's a community y'all're later, at that place are qigong groups on Facebook to join.
Nosotros didn't have access to grand primary Tsu, who appeared with Beckham in a video call. Only we got a hold of a local full-time qigong and taichi teacher, Edwin Tan, who led a session every bit part of AIA Live 2021's virtual wellness and wellness events.
And in case you call back Tan is a argent-maned, 70-twelvemonth-old retiree with bushy brows to friction match, he's actually a 35-twelvemonth-old father of ii. You're more than likely to detect him in a dry-fit T-shirt and sweatpants than a Mandarin-collared superlative and satin trousers. He is also a qualified personal trainer with a background in judo and Brazilian jujitsu, among other martial art forms.
SAMFU AND Aura Non NEEDED
"That's the thing nigh qigong masters, isn't information technology?" said Tan when asked how people react to his appearance and being a qigong teacher at his age.
"They expect the teacher to stand with a certain aura and behave in a certain style and speak fluent Standard mandarin. But I exercise whatsoever is suitable or necessary to help the students empathize what the form or session is nigh."
Tan has been practising qigong for 7 years and teaching it for five years. Then is he the youngest qigong and taichi teacher in Singapore?
"When I was practising taichi with a renowned master in his 70s in Toa Payoh, he wanted to laissez passer his knowledge to a young person. But the bulk of the people he was instruction were from his age group. The youngest was probably in his late 50s".
Not that Tan's students are every bit sometime. They range from ages 30s to 50s, and from his stints at Google and LinkedIn, they include those in their 20s every bit well.
Information technology might seem ironic for this Asian practice to regain popularity here only afterwards it'due south seen as "cool" through the western lens. What does Tan think about it? "Some of my students told me that they went 1 big round of trying Zumba, yoga et cetera before finally getting to qigong. That'southward i way to encounter it."
For others, they only start to see the value of qigong after they've been injured. "Nigh people are externally driven. As long as the body feels okay, they keep hammering it, let'southward do more, let's get more out of the body," said Tan.
"It's only afterwards getting injured or burned out that they first to seek remedy at a deeper level. For some people, they need to go through that approach before they start to see the fit or necessity to have intendance of the body and heed at a deeper level."
NO, YOU CAN'T EXPLODE WALLS BUT…
It was time to unlock the mysticism behind those slow (oh, so slow) movements. What do qigong practitioners know that nosotros don't?
The movements in qigong may appear slow but information technology's to train your awareness of the different parts of your trunk, according to Tan. "For example, the feet have to move first, followed by the legs, hips, waist, shoulders, elbows and wrists. If you don't practise it slowly, yous're not in touch with the move and it just becomes aerobics or the Dandy Singapore Workout," he laughed.
Neither is qigong about a specific technique or movement – or acquiring some fantastical prowess. "It's not about exerting a force and the wall behind you explodes. I always joke with my students in the beginning grade that you don't expect annihilation to explode," he said.
Okay, no explosions and so. What nigh those awe-inspiring feats such as driving a auto over a qigong practitioner's body without crushing him? Or formidable Shaolin monks who can concord a handstand with simply their index fingers? Surely, they're more existent than Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
They are legit all right and are, in fact, practising a form of martial fine art qigong known equally difficult qigong. Martial art qigong likewise encompasses taichi and Shaolin qigong, said Tan.
Briefly, he explained that qigong can be categorised into the aforementioned martial art qigong as well as health qigong, medical qigong (used in traditional Chinese medicine settings) and oesoteric qigong (for spiritual practices).
If you discover an elderly group practising their moves in the park or open space, it is most probable health qigong that they're practising, said Tan. And like martial art qigong, health qigong tin be further sub-categorised into diverse degrees of understanding, just like yoga, he said.
QIGONG CAN COMPLEMENT GYM TRAINING
The lean-bodied Tan teaches a mix of health and martial art qigong because of his interest in martial arts as well as his groundwork as a fitness trainer. "I'1000 bringing qigong in a more than grounded way through my background in concrete beefcake," he said.
"Qigong is near body sensation and if y'all pay attention to using the right muscles you're supposed to be using when doing demote presses, for case, yous'll naturally build those muscles up," he said. "And let's be realistic, people want to work on certain muscles because they want to look good in a certain mode."
Practising being present is another key component in qigong and that practice, when extended to your gym conditioning, can also help with injury prevention. "A lot of people who do weight-lifting experience strain in the dorsum. That ways they're not focusing on lifting through with their legs. Or y'all're jogging but all you feel is the slamming of your feet and the Airpods in your ears."
The power to strop mental focus aside, you lot've got to admit: Qigong doesn't quite entice the younger crowd considering it looks too easy. "Many people remember that qigong is all airy fairy, and it's just waving your arms around," said Tan.
Just try holding a position for iii to 5 minutes. Y'all might be wobbling, teetering or feeling the strain in certain muscles.
But for the qigong practitioner who has the right grade and feels perfectly counterbalanced, holding the position is non a problem for any extended duration, he said. "You lot're stable and non constantly adjusting and asking 'where's my eye of gravity, where is my left or right leg?' It just feels comfy and you're naturally resting your weight on the ground."
In fact, the older you are when you take up qigong, the fewer benefits y'all can enjoy because you're express by what you can do physically, said Tan. "When y'all're much older, like in your 60s or 70s, what I offer has to exist very much watered down."
"When someone in his 30s picks up qigong and continues practising into his 60s, his movements are going to exist very different from someone who started in his 50s. The person who started early will also walk more sure-footedly and look more alert than the average lx-year-former".
Attempt QIGONG YOUSELF
Tan suggests these iii moves that you can try without the presence of a teacher. "They can be done in 10 minutes, with each motion taking about three minutes," he said.
The moves aren't meant to be a workout per se just more than to refresh yourself after a stressful mean solar day, so you lot can spend time with your family, head for the gym or go for a run in a non-so-agitated state, he said.
1. Pushing the sky
This motility stretches and opens up the muscles and tissues in the front end of the body that get bunched upwards from a mean solar day of sitting.
To perform: With your arms fairly straight, interlock your fingers below the belly button and slightly curve your knees. Inhale as y'all straighten your knees and stand up tall, lifting your arms and flipping your palms overhead. Exhale and bring your arms down in an arc from the sides as you bend your knees. Perform 10 repetitions.
2. Squatting and rising
This move works the legs and opens the hips, and is bully for when you've been sitting all day. It helps to redistribute energy from the head to the legs.
To perform: Stand up with anxiety wider than shoulder-width apart and feet pointed to the front. Straighten and raise your artillery to the sides in line with your shoulders. Exhale as yous squat downwards and inhale as you stand up upwards. Squat only to the depth your knees allow you and continue your arms up to the sides for the duration of this motion. Perform 10 repetitions.
3. Gathering the qi
This is an of import closing move afterwards a qigong session. Information technology helps to gather your energy back into your torso and brand it experience refreshed. This move tin can too be performed after sporting activities or stressful encounters.
To perform: Stand with your knees slightly bent and arms touching the side of your thighs. Inhale and heighten your arms to the sides in a big arc overhead. Exhale and lower your hands downwards the front of the trunk. Perform 10 to fifteen repetitions or every bit long equally you lot need to cool downwardly.
Alternatively, you can discover Tan through SgFitFam, a fitness service provider, for ane-on-one sessions (from S$100). Or you tin join his weekly one-hour classes (S$25 per person) which he conducts at a sheltered HDB common space in Tampines in groups of no more than than 15. You can likewise bring together him at home via his Zoom sessions.
"I adopt to teach outdoors. In qigong, nosotros're trying to build this vital energy in the torso. When training in nature, you get the support of nature's qi, which can help one'southward practice to develop faster and as well enjoy more health benefits."
And might nosotros add, you don't have to dress similar Shang-Chi to do qigong.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/qigong-young-people-exercise-workout-285247
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