Qigong Introduction (1 of 4)

Introduction

Hi, my name is Julie and I'm a veteran and a clinician at a VA Headache Center of Excellence.

More than half of the US adult population have had a headache in the past year, and 30% have had migraines.

Over 50,000 Veterans receive migraine care annually In the VA. Health care costs to treat headaches have skyrocketed to over $500 billion dollars annually In the United States.

Traditionally, headaches have been treated with pharmaceuticals or injections, some of which may have adverse side effects.

Many Veterans are now requesting non- pharmacological options to their health care.

Veterans Health Care

The Veterans Healthcare Administration is meeting this challenge with new and transformative approaches to Veteran health care.

Innovative VA programs like Whole Health, Headache Centers of Excellence, and Pain Rehab programs are now offering more integrative approaches to migraine and headache care.

One of these new approaches is Qi Gong, which is listed as an approved healing modality and is available at many VA hospitals throughout the country.

What is Qigong

So what is Qi Gong? Qi Gong is a mind-body practice that originated in China approximately 5000 years ago.

Qi Gong is part of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture.

Qi means energy and Gong means work. Through slow, gentle, mindful and flowing movements that are coordinated with the breath, We can cultivate and circulate Qi, or life force energy, throughout our body for healing and improved vitality.

Through continued practice, we can realize improved health and harmony of body, mind and spirit.

Health Benefits

This healing modality has many health benefits when practiced regularly, such as reduced stress, blood pressure regulation, decreased physical tension, improved balance and mood, and much much more.

Through slow and focused movements, Qi Gong can release stuck or stagnant energy and shift the body to a relaxed state of renewal and vitality.

For centuries, Qi Gong has been a highly effective approach toward the treatment of chronic pain symptoms.

And now, we are offering this practice as a component to help manage headaches and chronic pain.

Qigong Videos

We would like to now direct you to three short videos of Qi Gong practices that can help activate the Three Treasures of Qi Gong, supporting our vitality and well being.

Video Number one focuses on Qi Gong practices for our first treasure, Jing, or the physical body.

Video Number two focuses on Qi Gong practices to cultivate and circulate our Qi, which is our second treasure.

Video Number three focuses on the third treasure of Qi Gong, which is our spirit or Shen.

Please take a look at these three short videos of Qi Gong practice.

The links for these videos are found in this same web page, and consider giving these gentle practices a try.

They are relatively easy to do and can be adapted for those with limited mobility.

Also, we recommend that you check at your local VA for additional instruction and training.

Practiced regularly, Qi Gong offers a wide variety of health benefits for body, mind and spirit, and who can't use that?

Thank you.