Living Qigong 

Below is a selection of stories written by people who have Experienced wonderful Change in their lives through the ongoing Practice of Qigong.

These stories have appeared in our Newsletters. Go to Home on this Website then click on free Newsletters if you wish to read the Newsletters which contain further information and some background theory on Qigong.

Scroll down to read:

• Happy Mind, Happy Family by (13 year old) Danni
• Paula's Food Story and Qigong
• Reflections from Melissa
• My Life with Qigong and Children - Iin Gratitude by Kellie
• Jacky's story (written after living through the Black Saturday bushfires)
• Putting my Qigong into Practice by Elle present at the birth of her niece
• How Qigong has changed my Life ... by Sara - Chinese herbalist

Happy Mind, Happy Family

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been yelled and screamed at by my Mum. Dad died when I was four, and she never got over it. She was sad, angry and mostly stressed. She also worried financially. She was a single Mum with two kids. I was used to Mum constantly yelling at me and storming around the house. She would ignore me and my little brother, Joe. When I was seven, I spilled a glass of juice at dinner, and Mum yelled at me, “Liv! You stupid, clumsy child! Clean it up!” The next day Joe, who was three, ripped my drawing up. So I screamed at him too. Some days at school none of the kids wanted to play with me because I screamed at them, or hit them. I was jealous of how they said they would play with their parents, and at home Mum wouldn’t even read us a story. It was never ending stress, worry and yelling. That was my life; we needed help.

A couple of years passed, and Mum’s friend Becky started coming over a lot – sometimes twice a week. She always looked at Mum with worry. One Saturday, Joe and I went to Nana’s house for the day so Becky could take Mum out somewhere. I’ll never forget the afternoon when Mum came home. She took Joe and me into her arms and hugged us. That night she read us a story. She read the next night and the next night, for a lot of nights. That week she smiled more. I wondered where she had gone that day when we were at Nana’s. Whenever she felt a bit stressed she would go to her room for fifteen minutes and come back more relaxed. In the next few months Mum kept going out for a day and coming back acting more caring and more loving. The one time she yelled at me she actually apologised for it afterwards. 

One Saturday morning, she took Joe and me to see a ‘magic lady.’ “Her name is Bec James,” says Mum, “When I go away on those days I come to see Bec. She is a very nice lady and I want you kids to meet her so she can help you too. You can tell her about your feelings or any physical injury, and she can tell you why it happens. It is very interesting, and most things occur because of your organs. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” Mum was smiling the whole drive; she was like a kid at Christmas. We finally arrived at a big, welcoming clinic. Mum rang the doorbell. A lady opened the door. I knew this was Bec James. She had soft, understanding eyes and wore a smile that lit up her whole face. “Come in, Come in!” she exclaimed, “Hi, Jane, it’s so nice to see you again. And you must be Liv, and Little Joe! It’s wonderful to meet you all.” We were in a small waiting room. “Would you like to come through first, Liv?”  Bec asked. Not wanting to be rude I nodded, and she took me through to the next room. It was beautiful. There were photos of flowers and oceans on white-washed walls. Faint, gentle music was playing. A tall amethyst cave stood at the back of the room, and the walls were lined with shelves holding up beautiful vases and exquisite ornaments, like lotus flowers. In the centre there were two cosy chairs next to a patient’s bed. There was a feeling of peace in the air.

Bec sat in a chair and I followed suit. Bec said, “Mum’s been coming to see me for a few months now, have you noticed many changes in her?” “Oh, yes!” I said. Where to begin? I told her how Mum walked around smiling now, instead of frowning, and she was loving and how we made cookies and did things together.  Bec smiled, “now Liv, I think you have some things we need to talk about and work on, too.” She was right. First I told her about how Mum used to act and how it made me feel when she was mean and angry. I told her about how Mum had yelled at me and how I treated Joe and the kids at school. Bec was so understanding and sympathetic, I just kept on talking; I practically told her my whole life story!  But it felt good to get it all out. Bec then asked me to lie on the bed so she could treat me; she put energy and good feelings into my body: happiness, joy love, peace, and got all the bad things out: sadness, anger, jealousy. As I lay on the bed with Bec standing near me, a tear trickled down my cheek. Then, I burst into tears. “What’s wrong, Liv?” asked Bec with worry. “I don’t know,” I replied. I laughed as the tears came spilling out, I wasn’t upset, I was just crying. “I think coming out of you now is all the emotion you’ve held in,” said Bec, “There were so many emotions held in, you couldn’t hold any more and they just exploded out of you,” laughed Bec. She put her hand on my chest to help the energy flow through me. I lay there, smiling.

Two hours later we were driving back home. Bec had treated all of us. I could feel why Mum smiled so much now, I myself was grinning from ear to ear. “Did you like her?” Mum asked, “She was amazing!” I replied. “I think she is magic, Mummy,” said Joe. That afternoon, we all took our bikes to the park and went riding together. It was fun. I’d never seen Mum ride before. It was about the sixth time I’d ever ridden, too.

I’m very excited. It’s the start of May, a new month, so that means we are going to see Bec this week. Ever since the first time we went, Mum said we would go to see her in the first week of every month. I really want to talk to her again. I can’t wait for this car trip to end; we’re driving to Bec’s. When we pull up in the driveway, I jump out the car and run to the door. Bec answers; with her ever-smiling face. I got to see her first. I tell her what’s been going on since my last visit. “Now, today Liv, I want to teach you about Qigong. (Say: chi-goong). “Qi-what?” I ask. “Qigong is an Ancient Chinese Healing method. A program of physical training, philosophy, spiritual development and preventative health care. Qi is the energy in the world.” “Okay,” I say uncertainly, but I trust Bec, so I’ll do whatever she says. “Don’t worry,” she laughs, “There are simple Qigong exercises that relax you and release stress. I’ve shown Mum some of these. We’re going to do one called the ‘Open Heart’…” It was very relaxing doing this exercise, focussing on the energy in the world. After we finished Bec said this exercise opens and strengthens the heart, releases stored emotions and increases happiness. I felt really happy.

On the drive home I said, “Mum, Bec taught me about Qigong today.” “Oh, which exercise did you do?” She asked. (I love how she is interested in my life now.) “We did the ‘Open Heart’,” I said. “I love that one,” said Mum, “When I go to my room for a while I’m always doing Qigong.” She said. “I’ll teach you another exercise sometime.” The next day, Joe was at a friend’s house. Mum said she would teach me another Qigong exercise. “This one is called the ‘Lotus Flower’.” What we had to do was sit down and imagine a pink lotus flower bud was in front of our face. With each slow breath, a petal would open until at last we had a beautiful imaginary flower. When we finished I said, “That was a really nice one, what does it do?” Mum smiled, “It’s my favourite exercise. It stimulates blood flow to the brain and increases clarity, focus, awareness and intelligence.” It was great fun to do Qigong with Mum. I love spending the quality time together. It soon became a part of our morning routine to Qigong every morning together, we would get up early. Mum taught me all the exercises she knew: ‘Inner Smile’, ‘Heart and Lungs’, ‘Qigong Sleeps’, ‘Rock the Baby’ and ‘The Form’.

Qigong Sleeps became my favourite. They cleared my mind beautifully. I lay down on the floor, and for ten minutes just focused on my breathing. Bec said it was the most therapeutic of them all because it relaxes you and releases stress. We still have our monthly visits with Bec. She feels like family now and I share everything with her. I remember my very first visit when I was only ten. When I lie on the bed I still sometimes cry. This month I am turning thirteen. Mum is letting me have a big party here at home on Saturday night. I can’t wait. I sit at my desk and think about the uncaring family we used to be, and how Bec and Qigong made us the wonderful family we are today. At our last visit Bec showed me another Qigong exercise called ‘Being a Tree.’

I stand up in my room to do it now. I plant my feet in the ground and imagine I am a weak, small, brittle tree that is feeble, scrawny and pathetic. My arms, which are my branches, are limp by my sides, I can’t even stand up properly – like the person I used to be. Suddenly, from the ground through my feet, which are my roots, golden flowing energy comes flowing into my trunk and branches. The energy fills me up, flowing through me, I stand tall and straight, my branches rising up high, my trunk becoming strong and proud. Imaginary wind howls around me, but nothing can move me because I am strong and full of energy. An imaginary tornado comes and pulls up other trees and houses, but it can’t move me, I am too strong and energy continues to flow through me. I stand tall and proud for a few more seconds. Then I breathe deeply, open my eyes and come back to myself. Being a Tree releases inner emotions.

Mum is sitting in the kitchen helping Joe with his homework. I go to start making invitations for my party. I used to have barely any friends, but now I’m like a magnet to making friends. Before I start writing out my invitations I have to write something else; a special letter for a special person:

‘Dear Bec,

You are an amazing human being. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have done for our family. We weren’t nice people, I see that now. We were bitter and cold, but then you came into our lives like a ray of sunlight, no, a shining beacon with your kind eyes, understanding voice and knowledge of Qigong. You have moved us in the right direction and brought us closer together as a family. Now we are happy, loving people who care for each other, and I want you to know how grateful I am. I wonder where we would be now if we had never met you………………………..

……………………………..Love always, Liv Thomas     xx

And wondering where the Thomas family would be without Bec gave Liv something to ponder on or the rest of the afternoon.

By Danni T

Paula' Food Story and Qigong

I first developed food intolerances about 16 years ago when I was 22. I experienced severe abdominal pain most evenings and overnight, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea for about a week every 2 to 3 weeks. A doctor suggested I had an allergy to wheat and some other foods and I avoided those foods for many years, but my symptoms didn‘t improve. A doctor gave me antispasmodic medication to take as needed and this helped a little.
I came to Australia from Scotland in 2002, met Rick and decided to stay! During that year I also experienced bleeding from the bowel a couple of times but despite two colonoscopies was no clearer as to the cause. I was unable to obtain my medication in Australia and also I decided I didn‘t want to take medication long term, so I looked for alternatives, meanwhile taking painkillers
occasionally.
I had muscle testing for different allergies and attended a naturopath. I stopped having any dairy products and some other proteins. Despite this my symptoms continued and now I also experienced extreme saliva especially when hungry. I also developed red, angry, itchy rashes all over my body. Interestingly whilst pregnant with my daughter Jessica in 2006, I was able to eat almost
anything I wanted without symptoms! However, 2 months after she was born, the severe abdominal cramps started again.
Acting on advice from various sources, over the next year or so I also reduced sugars, then fruits and later salycitates – a huge group of foods including many vegetables as well as fruits. 

Eventually all I ate for about a year was bread, nuts, sugar and chicken.
In 2008 I visited home (Scotland). I had lost so much weight many people didn‘t recognize me. I was completely desperate by this time. While in Scotland I had 15 sessions with an acupuncturist who also Practised Qigong. Just before I left I had started to feel quite a lot better, so when I got home I Googled for an acupuncturist who also Practised Qigong and found Andy.
Andy strongly recommended that I do the Open Sky Qigong Program. I had tried Qigong for a while before and thought it had helped but had found it hard to keep up my Practice because I was so ill.
I started Open Sky Qigong in July 2009 and fairly quickly I started to have longer periods without the abdominal pain. I still found it difficult to keep up my Practice, but having the Classes and going to the whole weekend Workshops helped. Also it was really supportive to meet a group of likeminded people who were always willing and interested to listen to me without judgment.
I experienced a huge shift at the 5 day Retreat in early November last year. Since then I have been able to eat most foods in moderation – fruits, vegetables, spicy foods etc. 

To be able to eat a variety of foods again is huge for me. To be able have friends around for dinner and to go out for a meal is life changing for me. Since the Retreat I have had no pain, no bloating and had excess saliva only once. My body now gives me a signal when I have eaten enough of anything at a meal. I just start to feel a little nauseated, then I know I have had enough of the (often new to me) food and I stop. I have been feeling great!
Sometimes I have been pushing myself and then I suddenly feel exhausted and have a little stomach pain. Again, I have received a message from my body that I have 'had enough'. I know to slow down, have some rest and I will be fine again!
Qigong – 'Qi' translates as energy or life force – 'gong' translates as awareness or practice. I have learnt how to be aware of the messages my body is giving me and I have some simple Practices that I can do to re-balance and re -charge myself again. Yay!

I am hoping others may read my story and be inspired to learn how to listen to their body and follow its messages.
Paula

Reflections from Melissa

Warmest regards from what's been an intensely deep winter to say the least. I have had to sit quite still. The thread to Qigong is still there. The realisation I now recognise is that I have been tilling the soil of my soul. Managing to find the way down to bedrock. Cracking it open, and finding that wondrous gem of self. 

I feel to write this to you as the thread pulls. Thank you for all the love and support I received from everyone at Open Sky. Having long been amazed by plants that appear to grow from rocks, at their determination and sheer will of being in the face of 'how could that be'. The quest for survival no matter how slim is the natural state of being. Moving beyond that to breaking open the rocks, tilling
the soil, letting the good earth nourish, finding the water and planting the seeds that seek the sky with roots that go down deep to the core. A very deep winter, connecting deep within and seeing that the energy once solely placed on growing through a small crevice now becomes a field of dreams.
I am well, my children are well, and well and truly my practice at the moment and it is ALL GOOD.
THANKYOU AND MUCH LOVE to the Qigong family. Hoping to bless you with my presence soon, LOVE Melissa

My Life with Qigong and Children - in Gratitude

As a Mother I can often have moments when I am in my mind worrying about everything – are the children ok, is the house clean, what are we having for tea?
When I Notice, I stop for a moment, breathe into my stomach (Lower Dan Tien) and really Ground myself – even if only for a moment – then everything slows down from being at this crazy fast pace. And when I slow down or stop, I find the children slow down as well.

Alice is nearly 4 and a half and Finn is nearly 4 months.
In the last couple of weeks, both my children have been unwell. It is amazing that I can sit with them and do my own Practice and extend it to them – and then see how much they respond to that.
Both of them have had a bronchial virus. At night I give Alice a massage and as I do so I do my Inner Smile and press her Bubbling Springs points and ask Alice's body to respond to this and in the morning there are remarkable improvements!!
One evening she had been so unwell that she was groaning and she had a temperature. I felt the fear of a Mother. I Grounded myself and then with the idea of the Inner Smile I 'worked' on Alice's Kidneys. The next morning she had so much more energy.
She was still coughing and had a bit of a cold, but she was much more herself. She was Present – and so was I!!

Even when Alice is happy and healthy, I still sit with her every night as she goes to sleep. I Feel Gratitude and talk with her about all the nice things we have done during the day and we Feel Gratitude for them together. It is such a nice way to finish the day for both of us.
With Finn who is 4 months, from the moment he was born, whenever I am feeding him and especially during the 'last' feed before he settles for the night, I always do the Inner Smile and talk with him about what I Feel Gratitude for.

In general too, I find that just being Present when I am with the children makes such a difference to all of us.
Most times I don't have time to do the Form or other longer Practices, so I fit in 'bits', like Walking and Grounding and I can even do the Lotus while I am breast feeding! It feels such an important part of my Life.
Qigong is great because you can use your creativity to work out a way to still Practise but fitting it in to your day in your own way.
We are all very Grateful for Qigong. 

Kellie

Jacky's Story

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was life before the fires and life since the fires.
Before the fires I ran a business, rode my horse, did tai chi once a week and did qigong once a week.
My experience of Black Saturday was just a different version of every other one. I lost stuff, felt down, had frustrations rebuilding, felt worst, spiralled into depression, got angry etc,etc etc. Post traumatic stress comes in many different forms, but everyone affected by that day had, or still has some form of it.
I received help in many different forms from many different people and agencies and my heartfelt thanks and gratitude go out to all of them. But if I had to name the one thing that made the biggest difference, it would be qigong, particularly the forms taught by Open Sky. I know with absolute certainty that without it I would still be a mess and the irony is, I did most of the work myself. Open Sky just gave me the techniques and the support.
I enrolled in a level 1 workshop with Open Sky when the group I practiced with were disbanding. Qigong has several thousand different styles, I knew 5 of them really well and had played around with 10 or 15 others. The Open Sky program made an instant and profound difference to my entire way of thinking and moving. It was the start of a transformational and healing journey, not always an easy journey, but well worth the effort. I hit many difficult patches along the way and had trouble finding the motivation to practice at those times, just the times I needed it most.
Why did Open Sky make such a difference, when I was practicing qigong anyway? Open Sky provides a very supportive and safe environment by ensuring there are a large number of assistants present to hold space, both physically and energetically. Participants are given the opportunity to discuss what they are feeling and experiencing, but they don't have to if they don't want to. It goes way beyond learning some movements and performing them. I found deep trauma spontaneously erupting to the surface and leaving me. It was shocking and confronting, but it also felt very safe and right.
My case worker visited the day after that workshop and asked "what is this qigong stuff" because she could see such a difference in me.
After my own experiences I was overwhelmed by the desire to take this knowledge out to the people affected by Black Saturday and allow them to heal and move forward as I had done. I am humbled and honoured to play in integral part in offering this Toolangi workshop to anyone who needs or wants it. You may not even have personally lost anything yourself, but still be in need, you are just as welcome to attend.
And how do I see life now? Its pretty good actually. Writing this has made me realise it is almost as if that fire never affected me. At the same time I have an infinite empathy for those that are still struggling, still feeling down, broken and wounded.
I no longer do tai chi and I no longer ride. I still run a business, hang out with my horse a lot, practice qigong daily and have discovered an artistic side. I smile a lot, feel settled and at peace, I am strong like a tree, flowing like water. Well maybe not all the time, but I try.

Putting my Qigong into Practice

A few weeks ago I was present at the birth of my niece at the Mercy Family Birth Centre, and wow – what a wonderful honour to be blessed with such an experience. I feel so privileged and enriched.What a perfect way to really practice my Qigong and especially to put everything I have learnt from Assisting into a new context. To allow myself to be present to the rollercoaster of emotions that passed through everyone present. To be fully present to welcome a beautiful new soul into this world was such a pleasure. There were times during the birth when I had to trust my own intuition and it worked out well for everyone. This has really given me confidence to trust myself, to really trust my own intuition. And I know that this is my gift from the experience. Thank you so much Elissa, Luke and little Harriet for allowing my presence at this special event. Including me and allowing me to be me, an integral part of such a special occasion.
Elle Doxey, Level 3

How Qigong has Changed My Life…..

Countless experiences have contributed to my journey, of which I am still on, however, I do feel that qigong has been my rock.
It is the practice of presence and awareness in qigong that has had an incredible ripple effect to all areas of my life. I am more willing to surrender to the flow of this magical life rather than fighting against it. This includes being real and honest and practising telling the truth in whatever I say or do.
This also means practising sometimes the letting go of action and doing for a while. This is difficult for me. Given my history – give me a goal and I will achieve it. Give me something to know and I will learn it. Give me something to do and I will practise it until it is perfect. But „don‟t‟ give me any direction and I have to find it by myself? This is hard for me.
This is surrender, letting go, yielding. This is where I understand the importance of yin energy for me! Letting go of knowing, achieving and doing to build and cultivate something so beautiful and soft, an energy that can sustain all of that and allow them to come from a place of truth, presence and love.
This place of gentleness and stillness inside, where there is absolute peace and harmony, where the truth arises in every moment and where she waits patiently for him to shine down upon her lighting up her brilliance for the whole world to see.
This is where I find what‟s really calling me, this is where I hear the whisper deep within my heart and this is where I feel the ache for truth in this moment and the next, and the next…
Sara Harris is a registered Chinese Herbalist