By WILLIAM J. BROAD
On a cold Saturday in early 2009, Glenn Black, a yoga teacher of nearly four decades, whose devoted clientele includes a number of celebrities and prominent gurus, was giving a master class at Sankalpah Yoga in Manhattan. Black is, in many ways, a classic yogi: he studied in Pune, India, at the institute founded by the legendary B. K. S. Iyengar, and spent years in solitude and meditation.
New research adds weight to the increasingly recognized theory that trauma is a factor in the development of chronic pain.
By Jennifer Davis
Muscle Deterioration In Patients With Lung Disease Seen Connected To Heightened Carbon Dioxide Levels In The BloodScienceDaily (Apr. 23, 2009) — Muscle deterioration in patients with lung diseases might be a direct consequence of high carbon dioxide levels in their blood, an international team of researchers headed by Prof. Yosef Gruenbaum of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has found.
Pain Management Group
Pain is not the enemy. It is a tool our body uses to communicate with us. And just like a dear friend, when we ignore the good advice, we hear it again and again and often louder. This repeating pain pattern is very mentally distracting and can often be emotionally draining. Qigong combines slow, mindful movements with a deep attention to breath which allows us to “listen to” and “improve relations with”, our pain. For example, if our body says, “don't reach so high with your right arm, you are creating more damage for me to fix” Qigong teaches us to listen. We want to move but in a mindful way which improves circulation and reduces pain, both of which aid in the healing process. As the relationship improves, the pain does not have to be so loud to get our attention anymore. Learning to develop solid tools such as Qigong can help significantly in the management of chronic pain and allow you to function more effectively in your daily life.
Dating back some 5000 years, Qigong is the deepest root of the Traditional Chinese Medical System. The core philosophy behind the practice tells us that the human condition happens on three different levels – physical, mental and emotional. When there is an imbalance on one or more of these levels we experience discomfort and pain. Combining focused attention to the breath with slow, mindful movements, Qigong teaches us to relax our bodies, clear our minds and open our hearts. This relaxed, mindful focus allows us to becomes more aware of the imbalances within, thus empowering us to make the necessary changes to improve our overall health.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This group therapy program is held at a private, inpatient hospital and is not available to the general public. We are available for private Life Coaching Sessions which incorporate techniques developed for this program.
If you have a therapeutic practice and wish to incorporate this type of program in your facility, please contact Sifu Chris.
Professional Member of the National Qigong Association
Previous page: Chemical Dependency Group
Next page: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Group