The idea of slowing down amidst a busy schedule can feel overwhelming. However, sometimes during all the busy-ness, slowing down and taking time for ourselves to take stock on how we are doing can be beneficial.<\/p>\n
One way of slowing down can actually be through movement, especially slower mindful movement practices. Moving the body can help prevent and treat dozens of diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Some people hear about \u201cmoving the body\u201d and immediately think of intense exercise. But moving the body can be done in many ways, and essentially is any activity that uses your energy to move the large muscles in your body. Some examples include walking, swimming, dancing, playing with a child or pet, or through a mindful movement practice such as Tai Chi<\/a>, Qigong<\/a> or yoga<\/a>.<\/p>\n Qigong, often pronounced \u201cchi gong\u201d or \u201ctsee gong,\u201d is an ancient Chinese healing art, older than\u2014and similar to\u2014Tai Chi, with a focus of cultivating the body\u2019s vital energy, or \u201cqi\u201d. It involves the coordination of the breath, posture, awareness, visualization and focused movements. Qigong may either be a stationary or moving meditation. It is thought to help reduce stress and help our bodies function well. This practice can be a great way to slow down while still moving your body, ultimately helping to strengthen the mind-body connection.<\/p>\n Interested in trying it out? Follow along with this 20-minute introduction to Qigong with Mary Ann Douglas from the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System: \u00a0<\/p>\n