Wednesday, January 21, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Qigong specialist offers classes
By diane Goble
Correspondent
It’s a new year and a good
time for renewal by detoxing
your body and building your
qi through learning the prac-
tice of qigong (qi = energy,
gong = work). Qigong is
similar to tai chi and shares
aspects of other energy
work like yoga and reiki,
but it is based on Chinese
medicine theories (similar to
acupuncture).
Joyce Brown, who has
been teaching qigong for
10 years at Central Oregon
Community College, Sisters
Athletic Club, Sisters Park
& Recreation District and
privately, will be offering a
series of three classes intro-
ducing the healing routine
beginning on January 24
at Green Ridge Physical
Therapy and Wellness.
In the first two-hour ses-
sion, Brown teaches the
basics of Chinese medicine.
The second class focuses
on detoxing the body with
an inner cleanse and the
third class teaches how to
gather your qi. Each class
stands alone and if you have
taken the course before, you
can take any one class as a
refresher.
Brown describes qigong
as “slow, focused movements
to help you feel and direct
your body’s energy into
balance,” which provides
relaxation and other health
benefits to people of all ages
(over 14).
Following each class for
photo by diane Goble
Joyce Brown demonstrates Qigong.
those interested in deepening
their practice, Brown will
offer an hour of a full form of
energy work called “Soaring
Crane Qigong.” This form
came directly from China
by Master Chen, who certi-
fied her as a teacher of this
practice. People are invited
to observe and join in if they
wish.
“The beauty of qigong,”
Brown says, “is that it can
be done sitting if you can’t
stand, and uses such slow,
gentle movements that most
people find they can do it
easily.”
It is recommended by
wellness expert Dr. Andrew
Weil (drweilselfhealing.
com) to maintain flexibility,
balance and general vitality
as we age. Research suggests
that practicing qigong regu-
larly can lower blood pres-
sure, reduce arthritis pain,
clear blockages and even
enhance immunity.
Preregistration is required.
Classes are $20 each, $10 for
review students. Discounts
apply for multiple classes:
2 for $36, 3 for $48. First
class will be held at Green
Ridge Physical Therapy and
Wellness, 325 N. Locust St.,
on Saturday, January 24,
9:15 to 11:15 a.m. followed
by Soaring Crane from 11:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The sec-
ond class will be on February
21 at the same times. Third
class is tentatively set for
March 21 but date, time, and
place will be announced.
Contact Joyce Brown for
information at 541-420-5875.
19
Habitat presentation
set at Sisters library
Community members are
invited to a kickoff luncheon
hosted by Sisters Habitat for
Humanity to hear about its
latest home-building proj-
ect for David Spain and his
family.
The presentation takes
place Thursday, January
29 at noon in the Sisters
Library Community Room.
Participants will meet David
Spain, see the house plans,
learn about the project and
the various volunteer oppor-
tunities with the build. Lunch
will be served. Those wishing
to attend are asked to RSVP
to Marie Clasen at the Habitat
office at 541-549-1193 or
marie@sistershabitat.org.
Spain and his two chil-
dren, Brock and Marie, broke
ground at the property located
at 920 E. Cascade Ave. in
October. Weather permit-
ting, the Habitat crew and
volunteers hope to pour the
foundation in February. Tony
Cosby’s construction class at
Sisters High School will build
the walls to the home.
A group of students
from Eastern Washington
University will spend their
spring break, March 22-29,
working on the home. In May,
women from around the area
will volunteer their time at the
job site for Habitat’s Annual
Women Build.
Habitat’s Construction
Manager Shawn O’Hern and
his crew will work on the
home Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays.
Before moving into a
Habitat home, family mem-
bers put in up to 500 hours
of sweat equity. That time is
often spent helping at the job
site, volunteering at Habitat’s
Thrift Store or ReStore
or helping with Habitat
mailings.
David Spain has lived and
worked in Sisters for more
than 30 years, and currently
works as a custodian for
the Sisters School District.
Marie is a junior at Sisters
High School and Brock is in
eighth grade at Sisters Middle
School.