Qigong event in Chicago promotes individual health and community spirit

For many in Wheaton, experience with Eastern philosophy, healing arts and martial arts may be limited to Jackie Chan films or tai chi lessons through the Park District. While these can be rewarding or entertaining, they don’t reveal the scope of tools available from Asian culture – some of which have been practiced since the beginning of written history.

Qigong [pronounced “chee-gong”] is among the oldest of these systems, and is enjoying increased awareness. “The essence of Qigong as a Chinese healing art is about bringing yourself back to your natural, whole, well-balanced state,” says Jocelyn Brock, who is coordinating the Qi Revolution event to be held at McCormick Place from September 24-27, 2011. Last year’s gathering hosted approximately 900 participants, including regular practitioners, registered nurses and massage therapists seeking continuing education credits, and interested newcomers.

“It’s accessible to everyone,” says Brock. “It wasn’t that long ago that most people didn’t know what yoga was. Qigong is moving toward that type of awareness. People will often say they’re not flexible enough to do yoga. The basic forms of Qigong are more attainable for the average person.”

Lead vocalist Cy Curnin of classic alternative rockers the Fixx has become an avid practitioner, and has lent musical support to Qi Revolution events. He remembers his first experience practicing Qigong with a group, and his initial skepticism toward what some associate with the New Age movement. “At first I was thinking, ‘I’m smelling a lot of patchouli in the room,’” laughs Curnin. “As I started to weave my way around, I realized that most of these people were just normal, day-to-day people doing their breathing exercises and moving around as one. It’s time for Qigong to move from the New Age to the main page.”

“With five thousand years of written legacy, it’s not new at all,” Brock says.

Brock works with a Florida-based organization called the Supreme Science Qigong Foundation. She describes the Foundation’s focus beyond large-scale events. “It’s also about bringing Qigong into hospitals, nursing homes, schools and community centers,” she says. The Foundation has produced events in the Central African nation of Ghana, and taught Qigong to American inner-city school children during an event affiliated with the DVD release of Avatar.

Fundamental Qigong techniques include controlled breathing, with a basic goal of focusing energy within the body and harnessing energy around it. “The breath empowerment technique is a matter of over-oxygenating the body so it’s never behind the eight ball,” Curnin explains. “Blood platelets are naturally grouped together because of our diet and generally sedentary lifestyle. During over-oxygenation, the platelets separate, increasing the surface area and total oxygen absorption capacity.” Curnin recalls learning how the body’s cells begin to function more efficiently. As a result, electrical processes within the central nervous system become capable of responding to electromagnetic energy outside of the body.

“Humans are more powerful electromagnetic beings than any iPhone,” says Brock. “When we have all of the people together at McCormick Place operating on that same frequency, it will be powerful. You can do Qigong at home by yourself, and it’s an extraordinarily beneficial practice. When done in groups, the energy compounds.”

“It’s a collision of ancient philosophies and physical practicalities,” says Curnin. “Added to that is a pretty intensive food regime. It includes smoothies with a lot of live, raw foods. They talk about ridding the body of toxins, and encouraging new energy levels through food.”

“You’re charging the body and mind’s battery,” Curnin continues. “After about a week, most people who have gone through the process will feel their hands getting warm. Qigong helps your body’s electrical system to run more efficiently. You sense that electrical force within you.”

“Put your palm against Cy’s,” says Brock. “It’s burning. The heat that comes from his hands is unbelievable. If you’ve seen him in concert, you know that his hands are always in motion. He’s sending that energy through his hands and voice.”

Curnin describes benefits he has personally experienced since beginning Qigong. “I flicked my last cigarette away, drank my last cup of coffee, and stopped drinking beer. I haven’t had a craving since,” he says. “My ability to listen to music and get into the soul of the performer has improved.” Curnin recalls singing after his first Qi Revolution. “I felt like I was firing on all cylinders, and pulling from somewhere I hadn’t sung in a long time. I felt more in tune with the emotional content. The sound of my voice and the sense of ease were wonderful.”

Curnin is also a longtime advocate of the Love Hope Strength Foundation, supporting cancer survivors. He describes how this cause has integrates with his interest in Qigong. “James Chippendale is one of the founders of Love Hope Strength. He did Qigong every day to prepare his body to accept chemotherapy for leukemia. He wanted to open his body and have it function as best he could, to accept the treatment efficiently. So, there’s a marriage of East and West. He trusted in the white coat doctors, who did a great job. He was also able to open his body like a vessel. James firmly believes that Qigong should be part of a national program. Cancer loves anything to do with sugar or fermentation foods in the body. Oxygen is the enemy of cancer. Anything you can do to correct the diet and get more oxygen into the body will help.”

Curnin has observed different ways that people respond to the meditation practiced during Qigong activity. “There is that spiritual side, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re an atheist or a firm believer,” he says. “Some people there were devout Christians, and they were calling the experience an act of God. Others were calling it science working in its truest form.”

Brock concurs. “It’s non-denominational,” she says. “It’s not tied into anything dogmatic. Even in the Bible Belt, people will come out.” Brock recalls one attendee in Texas. “He looked like he was being dragged on a dog collar by his wife,” she laughs. “On the last day, he came over and said, ‘I’m diabetic. On the morning of the first day, I checked my blood sugar level and it was elevated like it usually is.’ By the end of that day, it was below his normal level and stayed lower for all four days. He said, ‘I still don’t know what this is all about, but I’m going to continue doing it.’”

Participants who pay $99 for Qi Revolution may attend all four days, or complete a “Level One” program over the weekend. For more information, visit www.QiRevolution.com.