For my Qigong instructor certification through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, I was required to submit a paper, and my topic was "The Mental Barriers to Practicing Qigong." I picked that topic because it is usually our minds that get in the way, and our attitudes are often our biggest challenge. So, for the next several blog entries, I am going to share what I perceive as the common mental constructs that we keep us from practicing and benefiting from qigong.

Fear of Exercise Classes. Many of us who could benefit from qigong are afraid to try it because we automatically assume that qigong is an exercise class that will be physically demanding. If we have been sedentary for a long time, the idea of joining a group to “exercise” is frightening. We may have given up hope of ever changing our habits and may even feel that it is too late to make positive changes to our physical condition. Exercise in the popular culture is admired in its more extreme forms such as marathons, the P90X workout regimen, CrossFit, ironman, etc. The only type of movement classes many of us are likely familiar with are those that are way beyond our ability and may end up giving us a painful injury. Also, our culture glamorizes youthful, beautiful bodies, and our own body may be far from this ideal. We may hold a lot of shame about our body, and joining a class that has anything to do with movement may generate anxiety and fear.

Mind Change. It is never too late for you to enjoy qigong and feel better from it. Qigong can even be done in a hospital bed or in a wheelchair, so as long as you can breathe, you are capable of doing qigong. Of course, it is better not to wait too long, and it is easier to maintain health than it is to recover it – There is a Chinese saying that it is better not to dig a well when you are thirsty. But know that a qigong practice will improve your well-being and that this is your own personal journey with no place for judgment, either by others or by yourself.