Ancient ‘secret’ Chinese healing system comes to Limerick town

AN ANCIENT Chinese healing system - thousands of years old - can now be unlocked in Kilmallock thanks to a Bulgaden lady.

Ita West, a well-known photographer for years, has been awarded a certificate to teach Qi Gong from international coach John Collins. 

It is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training.

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Ita says that although it’s been practiced for thousands of years it was kept very much a secret by families not wanting to share the secrets of their success. 

“One family decided to share the forms and sequences that make up Qi Gong and so it became public knowledge. Qi  is energy and moves with the breath as does Prana in Yoga.

"Both disciplines are inter- related. Yoga has many forms, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Astanga to name just three, in Qi Gong there are many, many  forms and variations but my own interest lies in health Qi Gong and that’s what I will be offering a six week course in,” said Ita, of Bulgaden.

She gives the example of a person saying “my energy is low today” with regard to their health.

“We can increase the energy in the body, mostly by removing blockages of the energy and that is done by movement that also includes working with the meridians and some of the acupuncture points in the body. Meridians are channels of energy within the body which can be blocked by stress, worry, disappointment, fear and other negative emotions,” said Ita.

She said Qi Gong is for everyone, regardless of age, level of fitness or co-ordination skills. It can be taught sitting, standing or lying down.

Ita qualified as a health and fitness professional over thirty years ago. After teaching step aerobics and aerobic dance for years, she discovered yoga, which in turn brought her to Qi Gong. She still practices and teaches yoga alongside Qi Gong and feels that they complement each other.

Ita says there are a number of benefits from Qi Gong.

 “In life now so many of us 'are living in our heads' instead of living in the moment. A  client described Qi Gong as taking you out of your head. Qi Gong also has many physical benefits; it strengthens the legs, improves posture, creates grace and lightness of movement,” said Ita.

 She is running a six part course from Wednesday, July 2 in the Deebert House Hotel in Kilmallock.

 For more information, email itawest1971@gmail.com