UK SHAOLIN WELLBEING

Meditation | Qigong | Mindfulness

The UK Shaolin Wellbeing activities are dedicated to exploring the many forms of wellbeing including mental and social health, physical wellness, and education. The UK Shaolin Wellbeing classes, activities, talks, and initiatives look into all these facets of wellbeing. The UK Shaolin Wellbeing activities aim to broaden our understanding of wellbeing, and help the community achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle by incorporating these insights into their daily lives.

UK SHAOLIN WELLBEING CLASSES

Our UK Shaolin Wellbeing classes are open to all people to join. The classes will involve a practical guide to meditation and Qi Gong. These methods will also assist in reducing stress, anxiety, isolation, and other negative states of mind. Instead, you will learn how to become peaceful, relaxed, and cultivate patience through various meditation and mindfulness techniques.

You do not need to have any previous experience with meditation. What’s more is that our meditation and Qi Gong sessions are inclusive – welcoming all people, of any age, sex, gender, sexuality and persons of any faith, or no faith. We will give you a simple, down-to-earth guide to meditation that can help you relieve stress, take stock, and find new meanings to life.

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Meditation is a practice that trains your mind to exercise more focus, or allows you to expand your consciousness. Meditation involves a broad array of practices, including breathing, attention exercises, and concentration techniques. The design of these activities promote relaxation, strengthen internal energy (Qi or Chi), or strengthen of life’s vitality, creating an a state of internal calmness, and promoting a interconnectedness between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

Mindfulness is a practice for the purpose of being fully aware in the present moment. This implies being aware of your breathing, your body, your feelings, your emotions, your thoughts, your body posture, your movements, and your senses. It also implies being attentive to everything that surrounds you, to listen to and feel fully with awareness. Most importantly, mindfulness teaches that awareness should take place and with the exclusion of judgements.

Mindfulness is a western therapeutic practice that is derived from meditative practices. It is striped away of spiritual, philosophical and religious beliefs systems; leaving behind only therapeutic, and healthy benefits. The benefits of Mindfulness includes relieving stress, tension, anxiety, depression, and increasing the capacity for relaxation, attention and concentration.

Sunset Mindfulness
Meditation class

MEDITATION CLASSES

Our meditation classes are open to all people to join. The classes will involve a practical guide to meditation. These methods will also assist in reducing stress, anxiety, isolation, and other negative states of mind. Instead, you will learn how to become peaceful, relaxed, and cultivate patience through various meditation and mindfulness techniques.

You do not need to have any previous experience with meditation. What’s more is that our meditation sessions are inclusive – welcoming all people, of any age, sex, gender, sexuality and persons of any faith, or no faith. We will give you a simple, down-to-earth guide to meditation that can help you relieve stress, take stock, and find new meanings to life.

CHAN MEDITATION

You might already have some familiarity of Chan Buddhism without realising it. Chan Buddhism is also Zen Buddhism in Japanese. The word Chan roughly translates to ‘not phased’. As a result, this term refers to a state of indifference. This is indifferent in terms of not being affected by temptation and destructive forces. The goal and central ethos of Chan is to realise our true nature, which is free from the influences of destructive forces such as greed, selfishness and attachment. Chan also teaches that we should live in harmony with the world we inhabit and with all beings that share it. The reason for this inclusive and interconnected worldview is because Chan teaches that we are indistinguishable from everything else including beings and non-beings. The central practice of Chan Buddhism is meditation as a means to discover your true nature.

During meditation, your mind should be peaceful and empty, your heart should be relaxed and calm, and you should not feel annoyance or allow yourself to be distracted by anything internal or external.

Meditation is a vital practice in this study of Chan’s path of self-realisation. It highlights an awareness and receptivity to our nature and what we are individually capable of. However Chan meditation goes beyond sitting down and facing a wall every day for, there are many ways to train yourself to realise your true nature. Sitting meditation is just one of many methods. Once you gain enough proficiency in meditation, eating, walking, sitting quietly, sleeping, and all physical activities, can be a form of Chan meditation. By extension, if we try to approach our daily life mindfully, with moderation and with intention, your whole way of life can become a pursuit of Chan.

Qigong

Qi Gong allows you to explore your internal and external energy. Students will learn Qi Gong exercises which involve a combination of stretching and breathing techniques in set routines. These sessions are suited to everyone but they are particularly beneficial for people looking to improve their mental and emotional health, mobility and strength. You will find that Qi Gong may help your circulatory system and reduce stress.
Qi Gong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation. It is founded on a whole life outlook, which is related to the law of nature. When you practice it, you take the initiative to practice awareness. This is achieved by three adjustments: to calm your mind, to condition your body to the best condition and to balance your breathing. If you keep training regularly with determination, the function of many parts of your body will be greatly enhanced. This practice will be able to improve your quality of life and, this will naturally transform and develop an awareness of your subtle energies.

 

Qi Gong has many types. The common Qi Gong is split into 3 types: Soft Qi Gong, Hard Qi Gong (Ying Qi Gong) and Light Qi Gong (Qing Gong). Qi Gong masters normally combine all types of Qi Gong together.

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