Qigong and Tai Chi Classes
Research and Resources
"If you want to be healthy and live to 100, do Qigong"
Dr. Mehmut Oz
Healer Within Foundation
Annette Franks Qigong Video
Boosting Our Immune ~ Optimizing Our Health
Mind-Body-Health Practices in Columbus
"Qigong & Tai Chi: Enhancing Our Health & Vtality"
Mind-Body Practices Enhancing Our Health and Vitality
and Empowering Proactive Participation
in Our Own Healthcare
Qigong~Tai Chi Classes
Columbus, Ohio
Contact Lori Candon at 614-263-4459
or email Lori at InnerNatureYoga@gmail.com
for Updated Qigong ~ Tai Chi Classes in Columbus.
Lori Candon - IIQTC Integral Qigong Ten Phases Demo Video
Qigong~Tai Chi ClassesPunta Gorda, Florida
Contact Peace River Tai Chi in Punta Gorda, Florida
PeaceRiverTaiChi.com
Follow the Research links below to see the many
Mind-Body Health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi.
Qigong and Tai Chi have been clinically shown to:
Boost the Immune System
Improve Balance and Coordination
Help Mobility and Range of Motion
Reduce Anxiety and Depression
Lower High Blood Pressure
Increase Breathing Capacity
Increase Lymph System Circulation
Alleviate Stress Responses
Reduce Asthma and Allergy Reactions
Provide Low Impact Weight-Bearing Exercise
Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi
Qigong and Tai Chi Research:
Exploring the Benefits of Mind Body Practice
http://www.instituteofintegralqigongandtaichi.org/qigong_tai_chi_research/
Groundbreaking Review of the Evidence Base for Qigong and Tai Chi: The Most Comprehensive Review of the Health Benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong Published
August 31, 2010
http://www.feeltheqi.com/press/press-release/evidencebase-qigong.html
"The Health Benefits of Tai Chi" Article
Harvard's Women Health Watch May 2009
Harvard Health Publications Harvard Medical School
"This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life.
Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion," but it might well be called "medication in motion." There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren't in top shape or the best of health."
For More Research on the
Health Benefits
of Qigong and Tai Chi
also visit the Qigong Institute
www.QigongInstitute.org
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
"THE HEALER WITHIN" by Roger Jahnke, OMD
Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine *Movement *Massage *Meditation *Breathing
With today's emphasis on bottom-line managed care, self-care has never been more important. And with ever-increasing evidence of their efficacy, ancient mind-body healing practices once deemed "alternative" have never been more popular. The author Roger Jahnke is a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and prescribes an easy-to-implement program of gentle movement, self-applied massage, breathing exercises and relaxation or meditation.
"THE HEALING PROMISE OF QI"
by Roger Jahnke, OMD
Creating Extraordinary Wellness through Qigong and Tai Chi
The Healing Promise of Qi unlocks the secrets of one of the most powerful of Chinese healing arts. Developed over millennia in China, qigong (literally, life force + mastery, or refinement) is a set of techniques used to increase your vitality, longevity as well as achieve and maintain optimal health and inner peace. In the groundbreaking The Healing Promise of Qi, Dr. Roger Jahnke, internationally respected doctor of Chinese medicine and author of the bestselling The Healer Within, clearly and simply explains the concepts of qigong in practical terms. With the help of 125 superbly rendered illustrations, he describes a multitude of simple qigong tools, practices, and techniques for accessing and utilizing the incredible power of qi. Rather than focus on a particular form of qigong, Dr. Jahnke presents concise, easy-to-follow techniques from among the more than 25 traditional and modern forms that he has mastered and taught to thousands of people across the United States and Canada.
Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi
"ELEMENTAL MOVES:
Simple Yoga and Qigong Practices Inspired by Nature"
Book and DVD by Lori Furbush
EnerQi Healing Arts Center
Life Enrichment Retreats in Costa Rica
with Annette Franks
Certified Tai Chi Teacher and Certified Qigong Teacher
Annette currently leads week long Life Enrichment Retreats open to the public on
"Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit" at Pura Vida Spa in Costa Rica and in the past at Maya Tulum Resort in Mexico. The Life Enrichment Retreats utilize Annette's Extensive Background in the Fields of Psychology and Energy Medicine and Mind-Body Health Practices including evidence-based Medical Qigong and Tai Chi Practices. Annette is a Certified Tai Chi Teacher and a Certified Qigong Teacher from the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC). She is also Certified as an Integral Energetics Practitioner from the IIQTC in Santa Barbara, California.
Visit www.AnnetteFranks.com for complete Retreat Schedule and Details.
Healer Within Community
www.HealerWithin.com
Healer Within Foundation
www.HealerWithinFoundation.org
Health Action
www.HealthAction.net
Tai Chi Easy
www.TaiChiEasy.org
Feel the Qi
www.FeeltheQi.com
Qigong Institute
www.QigongInstitute.org
Click Here to View the IIQTC Channel on YouTube
Click Here to View an Informational Video on Qigong
by the National Qigong Association (NQA)
Click Here to View a Qigong Demo Video
featuring Roger Jahnke, OMD
Founder of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC)
Click Here to View Integral Tai Chi Demo Video
featuring Jessica Kolbe,
Qigong & Tai Chi Practitioner
Click Here to View Integral Tai Chi Demo Video
featuring Roger Jahnke, OMD
Founder of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi
(IIQTC)
******************************************
Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi
in the
Addiction Recovery Process
Article by Annette Franks, M.Ed., LPC
(c) 2011
www.AnnetteFranks.com
“The ‘outside’ is surface consciousness,
the ‘inside’ is the true sense of real knowledge hidden below.”
“The Secret of the Golden Flower: The Classic Chinese Book of Life”
translated by Thomas Cleary1
In his book “The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness through Qigong and Tai Chi”, Dr. Roger Jahnke states Qigong and Tai Chi are internal Chinese meditative practices which use slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques that strengthen your mind-body connection, reduce stress, promote serenity and improve circulation thereby enhancing the practitioner's overall health.2 As a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher, it is evident in my classes that the practices of Qigong and Tai Chi are indeed meditative practices promoting mind-body awareness in the present moment. Focusing on postural alignment, breathing techniques and slow graceful movements help practitioners gently focus inward, enhancing their connection to themselves and to the present moment. Qigong and Tai Chi practitioners usually report feelings of serenity, reduced stress and improved health outcomes from their ongoing practice. In my Career as a Licensed Professional Counselor, however, I continue to witness persons with active addiction struggle to be present in the moment with their own mind-body awareness and connection. Most appear to breathe shallow, numbing their emotions and possessing a pre-occupation on something external. In my opinion, active addiction actually seduces people away from being fully present in the present moment diminishing their mind-body connection. Persons with active addictions appear to be on a desperate search for wholeness outside of themselves. Feelings of serenity are seemingly rare to non-existent. While Qigong and Tai Chi practitioners tend to focus inward during their mind-body practice eliciting feelings of serenity; persons with active addiction appear to be restless, focusing outward on something external. Thus, to help persons with the brain disease of addiction, the ongoing practice of Qigong and Tai Chi may be greatly beneficial in increasing their practice of present moment awareness and mind-body focus while also serving to strengthen their mind-body connections, reduce their stress and help promote internal serenity.
In 2001, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine jointly defined addiction: “Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.” 3 Addiction is a primary, progressive, chronic and fatal brain disease that I believe affects the majority of our country either directly or indirectly. Addiction has many different forms, ranging from addiction to addictive substances and/or addictive behaviors. As addictions progress, addicted persons become more and more focused on the addictive substance and/or addictive behaviors. They lose their ability to fully live and experience a quality of life that allows them to connect fully to themselves and to the people around them in the present moment. Addicted persons slowly lose the ability to manage their emotions and their life in responsible ways. For persons with active addiction, keeping the addiction active becomes a primary focus while the people around them begin to lose their value and importance in the addicted person’s life. In essence, with their primary focus on their addictive substance and/or behaviors, persons with active addictions stop living a quality life feeling connected to themselves and to those around them and merely end up existing. 4
As we also take the time to understand more fully the neuroscience of the brain disease of addiction and the neuroplasticity of the brain, it appears the mind-body practices of Qigong and Tai Chi may be a great benefit for those persons in the addiction recovery process. In the 2010 Neuropsychopharmacology Review, researchers Koob and Volkow reported that “Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder that has been characterized by (1) compulsion to seek and take the drug, (2) loss of control in limiting intake, and (3) emergence of a negative emotional state (eg, dysphoria, anxiety, irritability) reflecting a motivational withdrawal syndrome when access to the drug is prevented.”5 Koob and Volkow go on to state in their “Neurocircuitry of Addiction” Review that all drugs of abuse activate the mesolimbic dopamine system (MDS) in the brain. The MDS main areas of the brain are the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and the frontal and prefrontal cortex.6 Further understanding of the MDS shows that these areas of the brain are responsible for many brain functions. In brief, the VTA makes up a key part of the brain’s reward system, the NAcc processes information related to motivation and reward and the prefrontal cortex is involved in planning and other higher level cognition.7 In his book, The Science of Addiction, Dr. Carlton Erickson states the current view with regard to the neurobiological theories of dependence is that addiction is a type of synaptic plasticity (neuroadaptation) that occurs within the limbic portion of the brain and especially within the mesolimbic dopamine system (MDS).8 According to Dr. Erickson, neuroscientists believe that the function of these MDS neurotransmitter systems is disrupted, due to genetic ‘miswiring,’ long-term exposure to a drug, or (more likely) a combination of genetic heritability, drug exposure, and environmental influences.9 Research theories suggest changes in the brain sensitivity to drugs occur over time (neuroadaptation) and that the long term drug exposure apparently leads to gradual dysregulation of the MDS
neurotransmitter systems while the genetics theory suggests the MDS may already be dysregulated at birth creating a genetic tendency to develop the disease.10
While both reviewing the current research on addiction and the health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi, it appears reasonable to suggest that due to the dysregulatory changes in the mesolimbic dopamine system in the brains of persons with active addiction, the continued focus and practice of Qigong and Tai Chi may be beneficial in enhancing the neuroplasticity of the brain in positive ways during the addiction recovery process. As noted earlier, research supports the ongoing practice of Qigong and Tai Chi can help reduce anxiety and stress and help to strengthen the mind-body connections and increase mental clarity and present moment awareness.
Dr. Roger Jahnke reports some of the top reasons to practice Integral Qigong and Tai Chi are:11
- Qigong and Tai Chi initiate the “relaxation response,” which is fostered when the mind is freed from its many distractions. This decreases the sympathetic function of the autonomic nervous system, which reduces heart rate and blood pressure, dilates the blood capillaries, and optimizes the delivery of oxygen and nutrition to the tissues.
- Qigong and Tai Chi induce alpha and, in some cases, theta brain waves which reduce heart rate and blood pressure, facilitating relaxation, and mental focus; this optimizes the body’s self-regulative mechanisms by decreasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
- Qigong and Tai Chi moderate the function of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and pineal glands, as well as the cerebrospinal fluid system of the brain and spinal cord, which manages pain and mood as well as optimizing immune function.
- Qigong and Tai Chi coordinate and balance right/left brain hemisphere dominance promoting deeper sleep, reduced anxiety, and mental clarity.
In Summary, due to the changes in the mesolimbic dopamine system of the brain in persons with addiction, initiating the relaxation response, promoting deeper sleep, reducing anxiety, increasing mental clarity, focusing on breathing techniques and present moment awareness and strengthening the mind-body connections may all be extremely beneficial reasons to utilizing Qigong and Tai Chi practices as a beneficial aid in the addiction recovery process. Participating in weekly Qigong and Tai Chi classes may also serve to build an ongoing supportive community and feelings of connection for persons in the recovery process of the brain disease of addiction.
1. Cleary, Thomas. Translated. “Secret of the Golden Flower:
The Classic Chinese Book of Life. New York: Harper One, 1991.
2. Jahnke, Roger. “The Healing Promise of Qi:
Creating Extraordinary Wellness through Qigong and Tai Chi” San Francisco:
Contemporary Books, 2002.
3. The American Academy of Pain Medicine, The American Pain Society, and The
American Society of Addiction Medicine. “Definitions Related to the Use of
Opioids for the Treatment of Pain” 2001.
4. Franks, Annette. “Understanding Addiction” Article.
www.AnnetteFranks.com website, 2003.
5. Koob, George and Volkow, Nora. “Neurocircuitry of Addiction” Review.
Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews. (2010) 35, 217-238.
6.
Koob, George and Volkow, Nora. “Neurocircuitry of Addiction” Review. Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews (2010) 35, 217 -238.
7.
Carter, Rita. “The Human Brain Book” New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2009.
8.
Erickson, Carlton. “The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment"
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2007.
9.
Erickson, Carlton. “The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment”
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2007.
10.
Erickson, Carlton. “The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment”
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2007.
11.
Jahnke, Roger. Adapted From Dr. Jahnke’s “Top Seven Reasons to Practice Integral Qigong and Tai Chi” posted on the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) Website 2011. www.IIQTC.org. Dr. Jahnke is the Author of “The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness through Qigong and Tai Chi” and “The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques to Release Your Body’s Own Medicine.”
Annette Franks, M.Ed., LPC is a Certified Tai Chi and Qigong Teacher from the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC). She is a Member of the National Qigong Association and has an Extensive Background in the Fields of Psychology, Addiction, Energy Medicine and Mind-Body Practices. Annette has worked in the field of Addiction and Mental Health as a Counselor since 1979 and has taught at the Addiction Studies Institute at The Ohio State University Department of Addiction Medicine – Talbot Hall for over 20 years. Annette has a Counseling and Consulting Practice in Columbus, Ohio and also leads week long "Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit" Life Enrichment Retreats in Costa Rica at Pura Vida Spa.
Visit www.AnnetteFranks.com to view the Costa Rica Retreat Video or to download Annette’s Free Health and Wellness Materials on Addiction, Addiction and the Recovery Process, Life Balance and Health, Self Empowerment and Creating Healthy Relationships.
Annette Franks, M.Ed, LPC
136 Northwoods Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43235
614-785-1066
www.AnnetteFranks.com
AnnetteFranks@live.com
Life Enrichment Retreats & Seminars
Annette Franks, M.Ed.
Motivational Speaker/Trainer
Gestalt Psychotherapist
136 Northwoods Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43235
(614)-785-1066
www.AnnetteFranks.com
