Let Me Teach You Health Qigong - The First World Health Qigong Day
Health Qigong is a Chinese wellbeing system, which incorporates specific movements, breathing, intent and in some cases sounds to stimulate qi. The Chinese Health Qigong Association (CHQA) has researched and refined a series of forms to help people enjoy the benefits of Health Qigong. The International Health Qigong Federation (IHQF) was founded with the remit of sharing this Chinese treasure with the international community. The British Health Qigong Association (BHQA) is a member of the IHQF and the official training centre recognised by the IHQF for the UK and Northern Ireland.
The BHQA joined Health Qigong practitioners from all over the world in celebrating the IHQF’s first World Health Qigong day on August 13th. This global event was the direct result of a proposal from Master Faye Yip, Chief Instructor of the BHQA. With the theme of "Let me teach you Health Qigong" enthusiasts from all over the globe practiced throughout the day, and Britain was no different with plenty of events being organised in communities across Britain by BHQA instructors on or around August 13th. Over 50 BHQA Instructors organised formal events or individual practices, joining in with people all over the world by participating in the first World Health Qigong Day.
BHQA teachers certainly selected some spectacular and surprising locations for their World Health Qigong Day practices. The historic National Trust site, the Mosely Old Hall in Wolverhampton, hosted Nicola Day’s event. She was joined by Masters Faye and Tary Yip, as well as Lau Gar Kung Fu Guardian and BHQA Instructor Pete Hornby and over 40 enthusiasts as they practice various forms including the Taiji Stick.
Continuing the theme of historical settings, Abundant Energy's Rhonda Bailey led 25 students in the practice of Daoyin Yang Sheng Gong 12 and Wu Qin Xi in the grounds of a Tudor House built in 1537. Whilst Vicky Ahern-Hardiman of The Chi Clinic, Surrey held a host of several events exploring the Ba Duan Jin and the Daoyin 12. She taught all across Surrey including at a social day centre class, as well as using Qigong as a warm up for a Chi-Do Martial Arts class. Cindy Cressey and Tim Edwards held three events in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire teaching the Daoyin 12 and Taiji Stick to 32 people. Yi Jin Jing was taught outside by Steve Kennedy in Wrexham, Wales who was joined by 40 participants and the Ma Wang Dui form was featured at Hull Deyin Taijiquan’s event by instructor Shaun Foulds.
Gill Walshe of Brightmoon Tai Chi opted to teach the graceful Mawangdui outisde in a beautiful garden in Deal and Qigong Matter’s Penny Youssef headed to the Mind Body Soul Exhibition ‘Art for Wellbeing’ in Swanage to spread Health Qigong to the festival attendees. The BHQA’s very own Liverpudlian fab five, Angela Howarth, Barbara Shields, Jane Carlton, Maureen Peacock, and Dong Barraclough, hosted a very successful event in Liverpool which saw more than 30 people enjoy Qigong in the Park. Lynette and Doug Bowler from Tai Chi for Health in Cheshire organised a celebration of World Health Qigong Day where 18 participants practiced Shibashi, Ba Duan Jin and Wu Qin Xi in the glorious weather.
Master Faye Yip continued momentum by introducing Health Qigong to the University of Wolverhampton in Telford. Shoppers also got more than they bargained for at their local supermarket in Blandford, Dorset, as a Health Qigong session was held by James Flemming in store. Other Instructors also joined in by undertaking personal Qigong practice in fantastic locations including Vienna, the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Peak District National Park and Birr Castle, Ireland.
In the spirit of World Health Qigong Day some BHQA teachers opted to organise sessions for charity and good causes. Keith Sharp organised a free session in Southampton with an optional donation to the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre that hosted the event. In excess of £80 was raised for a local Parkinson’s Support Group by the Derby Group Instructors; Carol Gascoyne, Jan Jackson, Lisa Dengate, John Collinson and Min Beeharry. Their event which explored Taiji Stick and Wu Qin Xi was held in the exquisite Elvaston Castle Country Park, and attracted plenty of participants as well as many onlookers.
Tao Heart’s Steve Goodeve raised over £150 in donations for the local food bank by hosting two taster sessions, one taking place outside at the beautiful Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, the other at Inner Space, Newlyn. Helena Legg organised a number sessions in various locations including Princess Risborough, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and an outside session with Arthur Leong at the Roxheath Recreation Ground, where the participants of the events £50 donated to the Human Values Project and £35 to the Little Princess Trust. In Dublin, Ireland €50 was given to charity by Debbie Harvey's group.
In total, almost 50 World Health Qigong Day sessions took place in locations all over Britain including Cheshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Kent, Wales, Liverpool, Cornwall and Shropshire. BHQA Health Qigong instructor course graduates are indeed based all over the United Kingdom, however the quality of teaching on the instructor course also attracts trainees from all over the world.
The BHQA was especially pleased to hear of instructor course graduates running special World Health Qigong Day classes abroad. Debbie Harvey organised a fantastic charity session in Dublin, Ireland. Finland's Natalya Tamal organised a Ba Duan Jin session attended by 15 on the Matinkyla beach in Espoo. Norway's Inger Joanne Vesje hosted a well attended outdoor event. Portugal's event was taught by Susana Carneiro and Canada's Nathalie Berger expects over 200 participants at her Quebec gathering. Two sessions have been organised in France, one in St Étienne du Vauvray by Joëlle Stempfel which will take place on the 26th, whilst the other took place at St Laurent Castle, St Cere organised by Jean Philippe Guichard.
With excellent feedback from participants, plenty money raised for good causes and Qigong spread across the British Isles and beyond, World Health Qigong Day 2017 was a huge sucess, and BHQA instructors are already planning World Health Qigong Day 2018 celebrations!
If you are interested in Health Qigong please see the British Health Qigong Association website for more information and a directory of all BHQA qualified instructors and classes available.
View More Pictures from World Health Qigong Day 2017
Google Map of the events
The BHQA extends its thanks to Rachel Davies for preparing this report, for compiling the details of all the events, and for creating the Google Map of the first ever World Health Qigong Day.