London Tai Chi Instructors.

Chi Kung (qigong) means "breath work". I like to start my mornings with a bit of chi kung in the garden, then picking the blackberries straight off the  bramble to  savour, mmm :)

Since Chi Kung means working with the breathing, the first thing you learn is how to breath deeply. In modern life, most people are shallow breathers, only breathing in and out from the top of the lungs. This means that the air at the bottom of the lungs doesn't get changed often and can be very stale. It's better to breathe using the whole lung - but not beside a road!

Chi Kung involves doing slow exercise in time with the breaths, so is suitable for all, including those who don't do much exercise normally. I've had people do it seated on the floor, on a chair, in a wheelchair, with those who could standing. All is good, it's the breathing we're developing. (*)

You don't realise how much of a workout you're getting, because you're doing it so slowly. It's only after you stop that you realise your muscles are feeling they've done a whole lot. This makes it much easier to sustain, that going in for boot camp style workouts. You get the benefits, without stressing your body, which has to be good.

You also feel more energised after a session, not exhausted as with other forms of exercise and people are often surprised by this. We have been conditioned to think that exercise should be exhausting but chi kung is uplifting instead!

(*) If you do have problems standing, try doing so for a few minutes at a time, holding something for support. If you get into the habit of not standing, your muscles will waste away, so you eventually won't be able to stand at all. Use it or lose it!