Qigong Healing Center Michigan Gary W. Abersold

 On this page is where recent Interviews and articles of interest of Gary Abersold are featured. Gary has done Tv Interviews, Radio shows & PBS spots for Qigong Healing, Meditation & White Crane Martial Arts.  

December 2007

Recently in December  I did a interview for Feeling Good Jackson Magazine, about Qigong.

                  For wellness, turn East

                   

Unlike the intensity of Western competitiveness, the Eastern activities explored here emphasize a quiet mind, steady breath, balance and overall relaxation -- a whole other kind of healthfulness than max squats and wind sprints. Beyond those New Age-sounding benefits, t'ai chi and qigong strengthen coordination, posture and can even -- according to Johns Hopkins University -- help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. We don't have space to delve into the rich history and philosophy entwined in each, but here's the gist on some exercises less well-known than yoga.

Qigong (pronounced CHI GONG and sometimes known as Chi-Kung or neigong) builds from the Chinese idea that breath is the most important life-giving force. Qigong, which is derived from chi (air or life force) and gong (work), is more than 3,000 years old. It works by combining different types of breathing to teach our bodies to breathe more deeply and restoratively on its own. Gary Abersold started studying qigong in his teens, and is now a master teacher based in Sterling Heights. He says qigong encompasses a broad range of practices that range from meditation to martial arts. The most well-known system, and where Abersold recommends starting, is with the meditative system that involves standing and breathing naturally.

"It does what I call outer and inner dissolving of tension and stress and resistance." Outer dissolving means from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, you relax the body piece by piece.

It's very similar to a yoga approach, Abersold explains, except that qigong never stretches the body to a position that is uncomfortable. The process works from the inside out while focusing on relaxed, natural breathing. "You're just bringing your awareness to the forefront," Abersold says. He recognizes that for us Westerners, it's particularly challenging to do the nothing that qigong centers on. It's that very nothing -- no visualization, no reaching for higher consciousness -- that resonates with those practicing.

Benefits: Abersold says the crux of qigong is rebalancing the body, which can translate into a boost of the immune system, lowered blood pressure and stress reduction. He's even seen his students discontinue cholesterol meds after months of qigong. "At any level, it will do a world of good for someone," Abersold says. "You can feel something in 21 minutes that can carry you for two days."

Get started: Although Abersold says he's seen the quality of DVDs improve immensely over time, mastering qigong requires a qualified instructor.

Visit Qigong Healing Center for further information.

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