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Do you or someone you know have Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease with many symptoms.   It makes you feel tired and sore all the time.  You don’t sleep well and you may also suffer from headaches, food allergies and irritable bowel.  In addition, you may have fibro-fog a symptom that affects your ability to think. The research is mounting to support practicing qigong to relieve symptoms and two people have been cured by practicing qigong.  Several studies were examined in this review.  Here are the findings from the studies: Practicing Qigong can improve: pain sleep fatigue physical and mental function These improvements were achieved in many of the studies – even though the studies were very different.  The time spent practicing and type of qigong practiced was different in the studies.  The authors of this research focus on 4 random controlled trials (considered the gold standard for research) to make recommendations.  They highlight that practicing qigong 30-45 minutes daily for 6 to 8 weeks consistently produces results.  These benefits were constant after 4 to 6 weeks.  In addition, study participants continue to practice Qigong! It is interesting to note that it does not matter what kind of qigong you practice.  This validates what many of my teachers have said, bad qigong is better than no qigong.  What is important is that you do it, and you do it every day.  I teach some of the qigong that was mentioned in the studies.  I have introduced qigong to my fibromyalgia clients who take an aqua-fitness class with me.    The class is 60 minutes long.  The first 10 minutes is range of motion exercises followed by 20 minutes of gentle cardio.  We then practice qigong for 30 minutes.  The ladies love the class, [...]

By |May 24th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Do you or someone you know have Fibromyalgia?
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6 REASONS TO LEARN QIGONG FROM MONICA MARQUIS

  1. I practice daily! This is a feat in of itself. Half of the population in Canada is not active enough for health. In addition to my Qigong practice I swim, walk, hike, inline skate, cycle and I teach aquafitness. 2. I am passionate about movement and I believe movement is medicine, taken daily you can ward off most ailments including aging. 3. I am a fitness and physical activity specialist.   I have worked in the fitness industry for 25 years. I have many certifications including: aquafit( instructor, trainer, therapist), Bone fit certified, Watsu 1,11,111, Ahi chi, Tai chi, Yoga, and Qigong teacher training. 4. I am a health promotion specialist who worked in public health promoting physical activity and chronic disease prevention.  If you live in Halton, you may remember me as the coordinator for Active Halton, a group of government and private organizations dedicated to increasing the physical activity levels of Halton residents.  We did some amazing work that still influences decision making of local governments.  I coordinated the Mississauga Halton Fall Prevention Initiative and promoted the Home Support Exercise Program to  Mississauga and Halton residents. I ended my career in the health sector (public health, and the Mississauga Halton LHIN) after spending 18 months with a non government organization - Osteoporosis Canada. While there,  I encouraged health care professionals (surgeons and physicians) to implement best practices in Osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment.   I assisted with best practice implementation at 3 hospitals in York Region - all three implemented the best practice guidelines and received awards. 5.  I know chronic illness, if there is something I don’t know I am good at finding out causes, treatment and best practices. In addition, [...]

By |February 14th, 2018|Categories: Blog, Qi Gong|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments
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Frequently asked questions about Qigong

Is Qigong difficult to do? Most qigong is very easy to do.   The forms I teach are not physically demanding.  The movements are simple and easy to learn.  In fact, the form is not the most important part of the practice.  So,  you can butcher the movement.  I won't correct you, or tell you you are doing it wrong.    Everyone is encouraged to move within their personal comfort zone.  The most important part of Qigong practice is learning how to relax, followed by learning how to breathe.  Yes, relaxing and breathing.   Practicing qigong is training your body to enter the relaxation response quickly and effortlessly.  Only then can the body heal.   Being relaxed allows the energy in the body to move freely.  This movement facilitates healing.   The dynamic & static postures enhance the movement of qi through the energy meridians.   Practicing regularly helps you to discover and feel the qi.  Once you are at this stage you become very in tune with your physical body and learn how to move the energy to your benefit. Do I need a yoga mat? You do not need a mat or any special equipment. Do I have to sit on the floor? All the qigong movements I teach are in a standing position.   You will never have to sit on the floor.  If you learn a meditation from me, you will be standing or sitting in a chair.  It is very important to have your feet on the floor for all qigong movements and meditations. What do I wear? Wear comfortable clothing and non slip indoor shoes.  Loose clothing that is not restrictive.  What ever you are comfortable in.   I usually teach at yoga studios and they [...]

By |February 11th, 2018|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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The Five Yin Organ Routine

  The five organ routine is a very powerful set of Qigong movements that move energy through the kidneys, lungs, heart, liver and spleen.  These are very important organs that work in harmony to sustain life.   When one of these organs is not functioning optimally it will affect the others.   The five yin organ routine is designed to disperse/release toxic Qi and collect/send healing energizing Qi to the five yin organs. Why do we want to ensure energy is flowing freely through these 5 organs? According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the five are connected and when there is an energy block or disturbance in one, there can be a domino affect. Energy disturbances can occur from external sources and from unprocessed emotions. To read more about these 5 organs from a TCM perspective click here The five yin organs are easily disrupted by the seven emotions (anger, joy, worry, grief, sadness, fear, and shock) than are the Yang organs. The emotions are said to be the primal force behind energy transformation; however, each person will have different reaction to emotional changes, based on his or her dominant elemental pattern. Each organ has an element associated with it, and each person has a dominant element. Below are the seven emotions, the corresponding organ, and the element. 1. Anger - Liver -Wood Symptoms of disharmony include, blurred vision, headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia. 2. Joy - Heart - Fire Symptoms of disharmony include anxiety, insomnia, elbow problems, obsessive compulsive disorders 3. Worry - Spleen - Earth Symptoms of disharmony include, nausea, weight loss, belching and easy bruising. 4. Grief and Sorrow - Lungs - Metal Symptoms of disharmony often appear on the skin in the [...]

By |August 28th, 2017|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments
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Five Reasons to Try Qigong

Carrying Mountains one of the 18 Luohan Hands   Movement is medicine! Did you know that the single most important thing you can do for your health is move more everyday!  I believe that movement is medicine, taken daily you can ward off most ailments including aging.  I love to move, and want to share one of my favourite movement medicines Qigong to all who are interested. Easy to do and restores health: Half of the population in Canada is not active enough for health.  People claim they don’t have time. Qigong can be practiced anywhere, anytime, for any length of time - inside or out, and no props are required…just YOU!  For best results aim for 30 minutes a day. Endorsed by research!  The Harvard School of Medicine has endorsed Qigong.  In a recent review, Harvard researchers cited the following improvements from practicing Tai Chi and Qigong. Some of my students have seen improvements, like less pain, lower blood pressure, increased sex drive, and no more heart burn, in as little as 2 weeks. Manage stress: Qigong is a form of dynamic meditation where you calm the mind, breathe into the poses and follow the flow of energy through your body.   When you practice Qigong, your internal chemistry, and energy function optimally. Qigong builds mental and emotional strength while teaching the body to react in a positive way to stress. Treat, manage or prevent disease! Qigong is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Qigong movements are a form of medicine each movement encourages the flow of Qi, the circulating life force (or energy) that circulates via meridians throughout your body.   According to Chinese medicine when the meridians are blocked or if the energy is [...]

By |March 16th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Qi Gong|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments
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