by Jocelyn Watkin | Jul 5, 2022 | Information |
Are you wanting to boost your overall health and well-being? If you feel a little lost, flat or frustrated with not knowing what steps to take or if you’re keen to know more about self-healing, please join me to learn one of the secrets of qigong. (Pronounced chee-gong.)
Login for a free, online 30-minute session with me (on Zoom) on Thursday evening, 14 July 2022 at 6.30pm, so you can learn a simple, natural and instinctive qigong practice to help you with healing and to boost your health. Beginners are welcome.
Afterwards, you’ll be able to do this qigong exercise at any time, any place to feel calmer, reduce discomfort and pain and to help you to sleep.
Please contact me no later than Wednesday 13 July to receive the Zoom link to attend. You can get in touch using the contact form on my website or phone/text me on 027 493 9851.
Who is the instructor? Jocelyn Watkin is the founder, director and lead instructor of Kia Ora Tai Chi. She has trained and qualified in taiji, tai chi and qigong since 2003. You can find out more about her here: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/about-us/
What is the secret of qigong?
For thousands of years the Chinese have had a secret. A secret that helps to increase longevity, a secret that assists the body to heal from injury, illness and trauma.
That secret is qigong, a deep meditative breathing exercise that connects the mind to the body.
One of the main reasons people want to learn qigong is that it helps with overall well-being and healing. Fortunately, those of us in Western counties now have access to this secret.
How does qigong help your body to heal from injury, pain or illness? A number of clinical trials have confirmed that qigong is proven to increase blood oxygen saturation in your body. That alone is excellent for healing.
(Clinical trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8328418/#:~:text=This%20preliminary%20study%20of%20Qigong,may%20have%20useful%20therapeutic%20value. )
There are many different aspects to assist the body and mind to heal, such as:
- Medical treatments and interventions
- Sleep and rest
- A healthy diet
- Moderate exercise
- Reducing stress.
Qigong can help and support the body with all of the above.
Qigong’s deep, meditative breathing supports your parasympathetic nervous system (also called the ‘rest and digest’ system). The movements, when co-ordinated with your breath and awareness of energy can help you to slow down, relax and to release tensions in your body.
If your body needs energy to repair and heal from injury or illness, qigong breathing can help to increase oxygen level and flow (energy) right down to your smallest cell.
Qigong exercises will massage and stimulate internal organs, which can also help with healing.
Qigong is about releasing stress, not suppressing it.
To reduce inflammation, you need to reduce the damaging effect that constant stress has on your body. Qigong breathing can help you to let go of stress so you can settle your mind and body.
Healing is multi-faceted and we need a number of different things to help us to heal our minds and bodies and to recover from illness, injury and trauma. Qigong can support this process.
If you’d like to learn one of the secrets of qigong, I’d like to teach you online on Thursday 14 July at 6.30pm in a free, 30-minute session. You will learn a simple, natural and instinctive qigong practice to help you with healing, to release stress and to boost your health.
Please get in touch no later than Wednesday 13 July to receive the Zoom link to attend by using the contact form on my website or phone/text me on 027 493 9851. Beginners are welcome.
Are you looking for more in-depth qigong? All welcome to attend my self-healing qigong retreat on Great Barrier Island, November 2022. It is called, “Discover your power to live well”: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/gt-barrier-island-retreat/
This is a retreat to rebalance and rejuvenate your body, soul and strength with sensory, sacred qigong and restorative journaling.
This retreat is for anyone aged 18+ who is seeking ways to improve their own health, self-healing and well-being and/or wants to de-stress and have a better life/work balance. Find out more: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/gt-barrier-island-retreat/
by Jocelyn Watkin | Dec 12, 2021 | Information |
Latest evidence suggests that both tai chi and qigong have a positive impact on immune system functioning and inflammatory responses.
The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic has driven more research into medical interventions and options that improve immunity and recovery.
The quest has been wide-ranging and has included the effect that tai chi and qigong have on our immune responses.
During 2020, a group of medical specialists and researchers from hospitals in Sydney and Seoul and also from the Harvard, Stamford and Sydney Medical Schools collaborated on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 full-text randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for tai chi and qigong. These 19 RCTs involved 1,686 participants in total.
The conclusion: Current evidence indicates that practising tai chi and qigong has a positive impact on immune system functioning and inflammatory responses. Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/7/7/39/htm
Please bear in mind that these RCTs required people to practice tai chi or qigong at least twice per week and for at least several weeks. The positive effect on your health and wellbeing from tai chi and qigong can’t happen if you only try it once or twice and then stop. You need to practice regularly. There are very few things in this world that work with just one dose.
Please also note that while the review confirmed tai chi and qigong have a positive impact on immune system functioning and inflammatory responses, it did NOT prove that these activities prevent you from catching Covid-19 or other diseases.
Additional activities that can help you to boost your immunity levels are:
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Keeping hydrated, especially in summer and also when exercising
- Minimising stress
If you have any concerns about Covid-19 or other health matters, please talk to your doctor and other fully-qualified medical professionals.
by Jocelyn Watkin | Oct 8, 2017 | Information |
Please note: This event has now passed.
I am delighted and honoured to be working with Breast Cancer Support to teach a very special 3-hour Tai Chi for Rehabilitation workshop.
Whether newly diagnosed, in recovery, or some years down the track, this workshop is for anyone experiencing breast cancer who wants to have a go at tai chi or wonders if this type of exercise will aid with recovery and enhance general well-being? Ideal for tai chi beginners.
The details of the workshop are:
Just two places left. Please book ASAP. (The workshop is limited to ten participants.)
Those who have visited the Mercy Spirituality Centre will know that the surroundings are perfect for a peaceful, calm, and relaxing morning of tai chi.
by Jocelyn Watkin | Sep 13, 2017 | Information |
Look forward to better health and wellbeing
There are no more places available for this workshop (on 30 September 2017). Please contact Jocelyn to register your interest for the next workshop. Ph 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form
Workshop: Saturday 30 September 2017, 9.30am – 12.45pm
Venue: Clayton Park School hall, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Auckland
Ideal for beginners as well as advanced tai chi students. Adults of any age and high school students are all welcome.
Stressed or tired? Recovering from illness, grief or an injury? Worried about exams or pressure at work? If so, this rejuvenating tai chi for rehabilitation workshop will help you to:
- Boost your energy and strength
- Relieve stress
- Refresh your body, loosen your joints and ease your tensions
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Improve your blood circulation
- Increase your mental clarity and inner peace
- Improve your balance
Feel more balanced, anywhere, anytime, night and day
At the end of the workshop, you will have learned:
- A set of tai chi movements that you can do anytime, anywhere – at work, at home, while travelling – that will help to you to reduce stress, feel stronger and more balanced.
- A breathing technique to help calm and clear your mind and improve your overall health.
- A unique mantra to say to yourself while doing your tai chi to help you move smoothly and integrate your mind and body so you can feel more at peace and sleep better.
Adults of any age and high school students are all welcome. Bookings are essential.
Almost anyone can learn Tai Chi for Rehabilitation and Rejuvenation (TCR) as it can be done while standing, seated or lying down. TCR is a low impact exercise, gentle on your joints and is suitable for all adults and fitness levels. You do not need special shoes, clothing or equipment.
More details about the workshop:
- When: Saturday 30 September, 9.30am – 12.45pm. Please arrive between 9.15 – 9.25am
- Where: Clayton Park School hall, Cr Coxhead and Wattle Farm Roads, Wattle Downs, Manurewa, Map
- What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes like sneakers. Bring a bottle of water and a snack. If you’d like to try TCR while lying down please bring your own yoga mat or similar.
- Parking: Plenty of free parking. Please note: the car park entrance for the school hall is off Wattle Farm Road
- Price: $67 per person. Current Kia Ora Tai Chi students @ $47 per person
- Optional extra: Buy the TCR practice DVD @ $30 to further assist you after the workshop.
Venue for the workshop: Clayton Park School hall
Ideal for beginners as well as advanced tai chi students. Places are limited to a maximum of 12.
TCR has been especially designed by a medical doctor (Dr Paul Lam) to improve health and wellness, especially when recovering from exhaustion and stressful situations, including illness, grief and accidents. The instructor for this workshop, Jocelyn Watkin, has been trained by Dr Lam and is qualified to teach TCR by the Tai Chi for Health Institute.
This workshop will help you to invest in your future health. Bookings are essential.
Your future health is in your hands
by Jocelyn Watkin | Aug 13, 2016 | Information |
This is a post from August 2016.
Contact us to find out about current tai chi classes
Say hello to better health with these new Kia Ora Tai Chi for Health classes starting on Monday 15 August 2016, 6.30pm in Manurewa. Ideal for beginners and suitable for adults of all ages and high school students.
Timetable for 2016: Six weeks of classes for beginners, as follows::
- 1st week: Monday 15 and Wednesday 17 August
- 2nd week: Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 August
- No tai chi: Monday 29 and Wednesday 31 August
- 3rd week: Monday 5 September (no class on Wednesday 7 September)
- 4th week: Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 September
- 5th week: Monday 19 and Wednesday 21 September
- 6th week: Monday 26 and Wednesday 28 September
Find out more:
