Combatting stress and illness through Qigong

This article by Randa Sultan was originally published in Golden This Week in May 2016.

What if I told you that you could learn a simple, yet powerful, practice of gentle moving meditation that you could do to heal yourself of any ailment? Well, its true. It takes some time and dedication, but the practice of Qigong is one of the most powerful self-healing practices ever developed.

What is Qigong?

First of all, let’s break down the Chinese word itself. “Qigong” (pronounced “chee gung”) is made up of two words “Qi” and “gong”. Qi means vitality or life force energy. Gong means accomplishment or skill cultivated through practice. So when you put the two together, Qigong means ‘cultivating energy’. It is the practice of moving energy through the body to promote health, healing and increase vitality. 

Qigong was initially developed over 5,000 years ago in China, and is the origin of Tai Chi. The practice of Tai Chi is based more on martial arts, whereas Qigong is based on healing. There are thousands of different styles of Qigong and millions of people all over the world practice Qigong daily. They practice it for these simple reasons: they want to feel good and live a balanced and healthy life.

Qigong is a highly effective health care practice, and is becoming more widely known in the western world as an important form of alternative complementary medicine. 

Qigong is one of the cornerstones of traditional Chinese medicine. It is based on the same principals of acupuncture, but you can do it yourself! The idea behind it is to balance the energy in the body. When energy in the body is out of balance, that is when we get ill.

Qigong involves breathing techniques, visualization, gentle body movements and sound.

In essence, it is a moving meditation practice, focused on moving and balancing the Qi in the body. The movements are gentle, and the wonderful thing about it is that they can be easily adapted to anyone, no matter physical ability or age. While some Qigong styles and movements can be complex and difficult to learn, I have found the style of Spring Forest Qigong to be very simple to learn and yet very powerful.

Spring Forest Qigong is a powerful and easy to learn practice that works on healing the whole body.

A friend of mine introduced me to Spring Forest Qigong two years ago in Calgary after I had suffered a severe concussion. I was, at that time, spending my time in dark and quiet rooms, and unable to leave the house without severe symptoms. I tried all sorts of medical intervention to try to heal, but progress was excruciatingly slow. Through the practice of Qigong and meditation, I saw significant accelerated recovery from the brain injury. Amazing! Even the medical specialists and practitioners who were skeptical of me practicing Qigong have come back to report that they are amazed with the success I have had in healing myself, when their methodologies were not working.

I have continued my practice and training with Spring Forest Qigong, because it works! It works to heal and prevent health issues from developing in the first place: anxiety, pain, digestive issues, depression, reproductive issues, sleep, chronic conditions, illness, disease… you name it. I have also been trained to use Qigong methods to target specific health issues in treating others and have seen incredible results.

So, how does one get started?

You may choose any type of practice that works for you. There are self study books and videos available, or you may join a class to learn. In Golden, I lead Qigong classes every Monday from 6-7pm, based on the Spring Forest Qigong style (at Golden Lotus Yoga Studio, 802 Park Drive, 2 nd floor above Element Therapeutics). I also provide one-on- one sessions to teach you the basics, get a more in-depth practice, or develop an at-home practice that works for you.

Medical Qigong Treatments

In addition to the Qigong practice, trained Qigong practitioners and healers can help to balance energy in others and guide them along their healing path. This form of medical Qigong can be very powerful in removing the underlying causes of the health issues and promote healing. Contact me for a Qigong assessment and treatment session to get you started on your healing path!

For the month of May, come to a Qigong class and receive a $10 discount on any one-on-one qigong or energy healing service booked with Randa - OR with any one-one-one service booked with Randa, receive a coupon for a free Qigong class. Book through www.nourishclinic.ca or contact Randa through www.sacredprana.com.

Spring Is In The Air

This article by Randa Sultan was originally published in Golden This Week on March 31, 2016.

As April arrives, we enter into the energetic transition from winter to spring. Spring is the season of renewal, regeneration and rebirth. It is also the time where, after the dormant period of winter, plants and trees are being uncovered from the blanket of snow. They are waking up and ready for new growth and new life to emerge. Internally, our bodies are working on rebuilding and cleansing of various organs and systems, most importantly of which is the liver. The liver is responsible for cleansing toxins and impurities of the blood and internal organs.

Energetically speaking, spring is the time for transformation; cleansing out the old and making space for the new. This is where the term “Spring Cleaning” comes from. Not only can we clean out the space around us, but it is the time to clear and cleanse our mind, body and soul. It is the time to reconnect with the Earth and strengthen our systems. The following are the steps you can take to do this:

Clear and Cleanse - your personal space

Clear out your space both physically and energetically. Feng Shui is a technique for creating an environment of balanced energy in your personal space. Clean the areas of your home that don’t get much traffic. Literally, clear out the cobwebs, remove the dust. Clean your windows and open them to allow the older stagnant air move out and be replaced by fresh air.

Purge items from your home that you do not use, will not use or are not serving any good purpose. Give these away to someone who will gain benefit from them. The act of giving itself will transform your energy. Once you have physically cleared the clutter and cleaned your home, it is time to clear the energy of that space. Space clearing can be done in many ways including traditional burning rituals which may include sage, smudging or incense.

Clear and Cleanse - mind, body and soul

Old stagnant energy, thought patterns, and stress can build up in the body and block important energy pathways in the body causing illness and disease over time. It is always a good idea to work on clearing out old energy that is stored in the mind, body and soul; but in springtime it is especially important to take the time to do so. This means spending some time focusing inward and connecting with the Earth. As most things come from the Earth and return to the Earth, we can use the Earth’s grounding and healing energy to help to clear out stagnant energy patterns in the body. Energy clearing techniques can include breath work, grounding exercises, meditation, qigong, physically connecting with the earth, and removal of energy blockages via energy healing or qigong healing treatments.

This is also a good time to pay attention to your eating habits. Eat seasonally, locally and organic where possible. Focus on foods that will help to cleanse your liver. If you are doing a liver cleanse, gradually introduce this to your system if you have never done one before.

Strengthen

Get outside and exercise! In order to balance the liver’s strong energy at this time of year, we need to strengthen the lungs. Do enough exercise (whether inside or outside) to break a sweat. This helps with detoxification as well as lung strengthening, as the skin is part of the breathing system.

Connect with the Earth/Grounding

The Earth’s energy is very powerful. It is very healing, can help to calm emotions, clear out old energy, it is important in helping to build up energy, and for grounding. Find time to be outside, to physically connect with the Earth, get your hands into the soil, do some gardening, and spend some time barefoot (inside or outside). Take in a deep breath to inhale the smells of spring as things start to grow anew.

Massage the Bubbling Spring energy point (kidney point 1) on the bottom of your feet. This point is located on the sole of the foot, between the 2 nd and 3 rd toes, at the depression about 1/3 of the way down your foot. This point helps move water through the body which helps with detoxification.

A powerful grounding exercise can also be found on my blog (sacredprana.com/blog). To help you get started with your Spring Energy Clearing, Randa is offering discounts on all services for the month of April. Randa specializes in Energy Healing, Qigong and Space Clearing at the Nourish Clinic. Please visit www.sacredprana.com for more information or to book an appointment with Randa.

Q&A with Randa Sultan

This interview with Randa Sultan was originally published in Golden This Week in February 2016.

Q. What sort of treatments do you offer at Nourish Clinic?

A. I treat all forms of physical, mental and emotional ailments, as the underlying principle is the same. Energy imbalances in the body, mind and spirit cause illness; remove the imbalance and you remove the cause of the illness. In addition, there is a strong connection between emotional, mental and physical ailments. An issue that started off as an emotional basis, can turn into a physical ailment, and vice versa.

I specialize in balancing and enhancing energy in the body, mind and spirit through holistic energy healing and qigong; combining techniques I have studied over the last 20 years. Energy healing and qigong are used to treat issues such as pain, trauma, headaches, stress, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, grief/loss, addictions, sleep issues, self-esteem, joint issues, reproductive issues, chronic conditions and diseases.

I also offer personalized qigong instruction for those who have specific concerns (ailment, illness, emotional issues). With the one-on- one qigong instruction, I develop a personalized qigong exercise program for the client to continue the self-healing process at home. The qigong-focused healing treatments can provide a better option to achieving targeted results. With all of these methods, my goal is to return the client to their optimal health and wellness. I then put the healing power back in their hands by teaching how to maintain energy balance within the body.

Q. Can you explain a bit more about Energy Healing and how it works?

A. Like logs can block a stream, stress and negative experiences over time can block your internal energy flow. If our energy system is disrupted for long periods of time, this will lead to ill health. In other words, illness, pain, mental and emotional distress are the body’s way of telling us that our energy system is out of balance. By paying attention to the underlying energy imbalances and treating the cause of the symptoms, we can stop the illness from progressing.

Q. What exactly is Qigong, and how do you pronounce it?

A. My training is in Medical Qigong (pronounced “chee gong”) which is the oldest therapeutic modality of Chinese medicine. It is based on the principals of enhancing the flow of energy in the body and bringing it back to balance to promote healing. There is a strong self-healing component, which is an active meditation practice. Qigong is also used to heal others, by using powerful techniques to remove energy blockages from the client’s body to restore health and wellness.

I lead weekly group qigong classes through Golden Lotus Yoga (above Element Therapeutics). I am also offering two empowering workshops for Spring Rejuvenation (April 3 and April 17) combining qigong, meditation and traditional burning rituals.

Q. What makes you so passionate about the work that you do?

A. My personal journey to holistic health began over 20 years ago, seeking out help with a series of physical and emotional issues. Most treatments focused on the symptoms, and relief was only temporary. Through the intense study of Spiritual Energy Healing and Qigong, the focus shifted to the underlying energy imbalances. This energy work has changed my life, and I have seen others also have powerful shifts in their bodies and their lives. It constantly amazes me how effective these simple and gentle techniques are! My desire is to share this knowledge with others and help them along their healing path.

Q. Tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to Golden?

A. I am originally from Toronto, and yet found myself constantly wandering off to find places of peace, which inevitably would be in nature. I came to the mountains 15 years ago with a love for the outdoors, a desire to belong to a community, and looking for the place I could call home. With my strong wanderlust tendencies, I have travelled all over, and yet I found myself returning to Golden as often as possible. I am ecstatic to be able to call this home for the last 7 years!

Q. Any final words?

A. I am overjoyed at this endeavour with the wonderful crew at Nourish Clinic! Such a warm atmosphere and genuine desire from all of us to help you reach your optimal health and wellness. I look forward to meeting and continuing to have a positive impact on the lives of those who are ready to take that step on their healing path. I strongly believe we all have the innate ability to be fully and completed healed; sometimes we just need a little help!

Please visit www.sacredprana.com for more information or to book an appointment with Randa.