QIGONG PRACTICES FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Photo credit: Oncology Nursing Society

Let’s do this!

Qigong is a new experience for many (most?) people. 

Being new, people have questions. 

Cancer patients have very specific questions, possible hesitations, and actual physical concerns. 

• Will it help me?
• Do I have to be fit?
• Am I going to have to stretch or move in ways that are uncomfortable? 
• Is Qigong safe for cancers patients?
• Are there contraindications?
• Is Qigong a religious or spiritual practice? 
• I’ve tried meditation, no luck. 
• Sounds goofy. 

During practice, we’ll answer any and all questions and address any concerns. Ask away. 

I’ve created links to other pages on this blog that may address some of your questions. 

My intention: introduce easy, enjoyable self-care movements that can be practiced at home. 

DISCLAIMER: 
While Qigong is considered one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong is not a substitute for seeking appropriate medical advice and treatment from your medical treatment team. 

Participants acknowledge that Qigong practices may include physical, mental activity. Emotions may surface. It is up to the student-practitioner to set boundaries and modify activities during practices as they wish. 

While Brian is a Certified Qigong Instructor and Licensed Massage Therapist, he cannot and will not offer advice about medical treatment or determine the effect of any specific exercise on a medical condition. 

 
If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain, or shortness of breath, or discomfort at any time while exercising, you should stop immediately.

Photo Credit: Red Tread Institute 

We'll start with some concepts and terms. Then practice. We won't do all of the forms listed below. I think big and then reel it in. 

• Qi, what is it? Why is it not pronounced Kwee? 
• Gong = cultivation. Why? How?
• Meridians and Channels = the subway system carrying Qi throughout the body.
• I'll introduce the Dan Tian, the elixir field of Qi. Grand Central Station. 
• At the crown of the head we have the Bai Hui. Lifting from this point lengthens our entire spine, offers support and an air of confidence.  
• I'll introduce the LaoGong points on the palms. They’re important. 
• Fun fact: depending on the inflection, the Mandarin word LaoGong can mean “palace of toil” or “husband.” Just saying. 

A good starting place? Emptiness. 

• Wuji = emptiness stance. An open circle, limitless possibilities, potential, the beginning. 

WUJI: EMPTINESS, POTENTIAL

Practicing mindfully.

• Safety and confidence building: don't think your "forms" (movements) need to look like anybody else's. I'll help you adapt movements so you'll feel safe, and not worried about pain or fatigue. 
• Even watching without actual movement is beneficial. You'll find yourself breathing deeply as you sense the movements internally. When I feel paralyzed by fatigue, I simply imagine the forms in my mind. 
• Breathe. Qigong forms lend themselves to focused breathing.
• Warm up time. Move and open those joints. Silk Reeling.  
• A simple purge to let go of what we don't need. We'll make room.  
• We'll play with Taiji rulers to feel those aforementioned LaoGong points. 
• We'll put the rulers down and see if we can start to feel the Qi between the palms. 
• Next, some very nurturing brushing of the meridians. Like a bubble bath. 
• Let's do some nice foundational forms from Ji Ben Qigong. Not all of them, but I like to over prepare:
• Compress Pearl
• Flying Hands
• Opening the Chest
• Upholding the Moon
• Swimming Dragon
• Diagonal Flying
• Cow Turns its Head
• Drawing the Heavenly bow

• Cloud hands
• Then there are forms from the Five Celestial Beings that I like: Green Dragon Breathes Clouds and one called simply Green Dragon Form, which oddly enough conjures images of how my own T-Cells are combatting cancer cells. 
• Then we'll close our practice. Shao Gong. Bows.

I'll be creating some practice videos of various lengths. Enjoy five minutes of practice, or follow one video with another for longer practices. I'll post them here.

During my cancer journey I've found resonance in four words:
Heal, Restore, Strengthen, Enliven.

May you find peace throughout your journey. 

Brian

QIGONG FOR CANCER PATIENTSS

You know what they say; "when life gives you lemons..."

I have cancer. Well, truth be told, I have a history of three cancers: Stage 0 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (still have it, but it's on the back burner), Melanoma in Situ (resolved), and Stage 3b Merkel Cell Carcinoma (acute, in treatment). 

I'm being very well cared for by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers.

I have amazingly supportive friends and family who look out after me, many are cancer survivors. And, I'm taking care of myself: diet, walks, naps (a lot of naps), sunshine (sunscreen PF 50 at least), paddle boarding and bicycling when I can (not enough), and Qigong. 

Yes, there are days when I'm incapacitated by fatigue. And yes, I have my "sad panda" days and think "this is too hard." 

A very dear Oncology Social Worker named Brendan called me out of the blue one day. We talked, he invited me to join a cancer patient support group. Game changer. 

The first meeting I attended, we all were given a sheet of paper with scribbly lines and a set of water colors to share with our neighbor. We started on our art project. I noticed a shift with other group members who had come in with bad news, or unexplained aches and pains. Having cancer, any new sensation, bodily function, a pimple can set off the red alert button. It seemed to me that two people in the group were having "sad panda" days. 

As we carried on painting, I saw "sad pandas" begin to interact freely, smile, laugh. Their eyes began to shine. Their voices began to sing. 

This "sad panda" went to my next meeting yesterday. I was fatigued and foggy headed because of treatments. I mentioned my observations of painting day. We had all changed our focus from our aches, pains, pimples, new diagnoses, to our paintings. Black scribbly lines turned into stained glass windows, the sun shining brightly through the panes. 

Yesterday Brendan gave us handouts to read about coping with cancer. "Taking care of your emotional well-being." 

• Keep your mind active.
• Have some quiet time. 
• Get physical.
• Stay connected. 
• Get some fresh air.
• Write in a journal. 
• Start a new hobby. 
• Speak with a professional. 

These sound familiar. I practice these ideas with, wait for it, Qigong. 

I had told Brendan that I practice Qigong for my own well-being and also with friends in parks. It didn't take any convincing that perhaps we should see if the group is interested on practicing some Qigong. Turns out they are. So here we go. 

Let's start from the beginning. I've excerpted this from an oncology nursing journal:

Qigong is a mind-body practice that originated in China nearly five millennia ago. It integrates movement, meditation, and breath regulation to improve physical and emotional health. The actions are slow, gentle, flowing, repetitious, and weight-bearing and can be adapted or practiced while sitting, standing, or walking. Qigong styles and forms vary widely, depending on the school of thought and philosophy.

Researchers conducting other systematic reviews involving patients with a range of cancers found improvements in fatigue and overall quality of life as well as positive effects on immune function, cortisol levels, and cancer-specific quality of life.

Developing strategies to improve fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, balance, and mood is critical to support the estimated 20 million U.S. cancer survivors expected by 2026. Based on current evidence, qigong appears to be a safe, noninvasive, and promising supportive approach for symptom management and enhanced quality of life. In contrast to other movement practices, the slow, controlled, and upright practice of qigong makes the modality accessible and safe to a wide range of performance levels. Because it is typically practiced in groups, qigong also provides psychosocial support.

Oncology Nursing Society, July 20, 2020

https://www.ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/07-2020/what-evidence-says-about-qigong-patients-cancer

I’ve attached a link to another blog post:  Qigong Practices for Cancer Patients which paints a picture of what a practice may look like. Practice videos will be attached to that page. 

During my cancer journey I've found resonance in four words: 

Heal, Restore, Strengthen, Enliven. 

• I look to the sun, the moon, the planets and the stars to heal. 
• I look to the tree tops and clouds to dream and restore. 
• I look to the earth and metals to ground and strengthen.
• I look to the mysterious depths, and to the movement of water to enliven. 

Peace and good health to you. Let's make lemonade.