I was proud and honored to present at this year’s End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) Annual Conference in New Orleans.
EVAWI is America’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving criminal justice responses to sexual assault and other gender-based crimes, including domestic violence and stalking. (Learn more or donate at evawintl.org.)
I presented on “Qigong and Breathwork: Ancient ‘Technology’ for Better Health and Resilience”.
Trauma, vicarious trauma, and post-traumatic stress frequently impact sexual assault survivors and those who work with survivors within the helping professions. Significant traumatic events as well as longer-term, chronic trauma or stress impact the individual mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Clinical and counseling interventions may not always succeed in helping the individual to fully process or “move past” the trauma, because they do not fully address the healing that needs to occur at all levels of the body, mind, and spirit to be successful.
Modalities that involve the body, such as Medical Qigong, can more effectively help to process, reframe, and integrate traumatic memories / cumulative trauma, increase self-awareness, and better regulate arousal and emotions.
Medical Qigong works with the energy centers and pathways, helping clear out disease, blockages, old hurts and wounds, emotional stagnation. It’s an ancient, proven “technology” that kickstarts the body’s ability to repair, heal, and improve. It also restores balance, harmony, and the free flow of energy to restore health, prevent disease (“dis-ease”), and facilitate productive change and transformation.
One thing I love about Medical Qigong is I can teach foundational exercises, intentions, and mindsets to each client, patient, or group with whom I work, enabling them to become self-sufficient. These breathwork and qigong exercises become an important component of the individual’s self-care and wellness regimen and help to build resilience and agency. They form an excellent recovery and resiliency practice in and of themselves, yet can also serve as an excellent complement to ongoing counseling or therapy and western medical care.
Then, the fun part: Sunrise Tai Chi and Qigong session.
Over the years I’ve delivered hundreds of presentations of various types, all over the US and the world, to various size audiences, on various topics. Nevertheless, I still get nervous before every presentation. At this point, I just accept it as part of “my process”!
Once I get through the presentation, I can relax a bit and enjoy speaking further with attendees who may have questions or wish to share personal storied and experiences, which I really appreciate. Then, the fun part…
Early on the last day of the conference, I led our Sunrise Tai Chi and Qigong session. Our intrepid early risers were all self-described “newbies” to Tai Chi, but they learned quickly and did a great job picking up the movements and beginning to feel the flow.
I appreciate EVAWI’s commitment to including wellness sessions as part of their conference programming. Qigong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Sound Bowl Meditation, etc., provide a wonderful “time out” opportunity for conference participants. The subject matter is difficult, heavy stuff, so having the opportunity to decompress in a healthy way is critical.
If you’d like to learn more about Medical Qigong and its applicability to processing and overcoming trauma or post-traumatic stress, visit my Mind-Body Resilience website.
If you’re interested in learning Qigong or Tai Chi, contact me through the ResilienceEdgeWellness website. I offer virtual private and small group sessions (via Zoom) as well as online courses. Whether you wish to tentatively dip your toe in the water, or you are already an experienced practitioner of these wonderful energy practices, we can customize a learning experience that fits your needs and aspirations.
You Can Do It!
Dr. Karen