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Moving Meditations
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Yoga
Yoga is a type of meditation that aims to better connect ourselves with our minds and bodies. Yoga originated in India more than 2,000 years ago, and similar practices have also been adopted in Buddhism as well. Yoga also has a spiritual background, which aims to create a union between ourselves and the world around us. Yoga can be both a guided and unguided meditation. It is better known as being a guided meditation due to the popularity of yoga classes. However, yoga can be completed alone and is considered a very effective type of meditation. Click below for some examples of beginners yoga and links to other sources.
Qigong
Qigong is a form of moving meditation that helps us stay in the present moment. The pronunciation of Qigong is “Chee Gong”, and it has its origins in China more that 3,000 years ago. The foundations of Qigong believe that our “Qi” is every person’s ‘subtle breath’ and ‘vital energy’, and “Gong” refers to a skill learned in practice. The objective of Qigong is to focus upon the Qi energy within our bodies, whilst also paying attention to our minds, movements and postures. Qigong can be either a guided or unguided meditation. Guided classes are popular and can help a beginner when starting out the activity. It can also be completed alone, and there are many different movements, along with various breathing exercises as well. See below for more information regarding Qi Gong and some guided examples.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a form of meditation that has its roots within Qigong. It is an offshoot of Qigong and originated as a form of martial arts within Chinese culture. The term ‘Tai Chi’ originated from a martial artist Wang Zonyue in the 1700s. He wrote the book ‘I Ching’, which described the importance of having the unification of Ying and Yang forces. These opposing forces are an important part of Chinese culture, and are said to make up the world around us.
Tai Chi most often includes slow body movements with a circular pattern. There is also a focus upon deep breathing, which helps to create a sense of mindfulness.
Pilates
Pilates is a form of moving meditation that focuses upon certain areas of the body such as the core and limbs. It originated in the early 20th century as a way for dancers to recover from injuries. Since then it has become a popular activity for many people aiming to improve both physical and mental health. The aim of pilates is to start with easy movements and then progress to more difficult ones. This improves our physical health in a number of ways such as better flexibility and resistance to injury.
Pilates also improves mental health by improving mindfulness and concentration. Pilates is most often considered as a classroom activity only, however it can also be completed at home with certain guides such as YouTube videos or other recordings. Please see below for some examples:
Move with Nicole
https://www.youtube.com/@MoveWithNicole/videos
Jessica Valant Pilates
https://www.youtube.com/@JessicaValantPilates/videos