Qigong Classes to be Held at the Lloyd Center

Join Stephen and Marcia Rath on Tuesday mornings in July for meditative walks on the wooded trails at the Lloyd Center. Walking meditations are an enjoyable way to enhance the experience of cultivating mindfulness while in a natural setting. Rather than thinking about your three o’clock dental appointment, you will learn how to develop awareness of the environment without the constant chatter of the thinking mind, or what the Chinese call “monkey brain.”

People are often surprised to learn that the practice of meditation is not restricted to sitting in the lotus position while chanting “Om.” It can be practiced while walking, lying down, standing, or even doing the dishes. We look forward to sharing this unique experience with you.

Classes will be held on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. on July 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. Participants are to meet at the Lloyd Center. Classes will be free to Lloyd Center Members, a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Pre-registration recommended. For more information or to register, call 508-990-0505 x10.

Qigong, an ancient Chinese healing system, is the practice of moving Qi energy through the meridians to maintain health and vitality. These practical exercises commonly use breath, movement, proper alignment, and meditation to improve the flow of Qi. Practitioners of medical Qigong (including doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and acupressure) also employ a technique called meridian dredging, in which they palpate channels beneath the skin in order to find areas of pain. By massaging those points along the meridian, stagnation and blockages are removed from the channels; and the flow of vital energy is restored throughout the body. With practice, individuals can experience the 24-hour cycle of energy in their own bodies and see how it correlates with occurrences such as seasons, time of day, weather, and tides, to name a few.