Course Description:
Ancient and indigenous cultures understood how to use physical movement, sound resonance and vibrational energies as a treatment modality for preventing illness, addressing physical pain, and stimulating healing in the body. Pioneering integrative social work practitioners have rediscovered ancient wellness practices and have embraced them, with some practitioners offering services rooted in energy and nature. Research indicates burgeoning rates of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes (type 1), celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others. As rates and types of chronic illnesses increase, interest in natural wellness practices to manage health and overall wellbeing is expanding. Qigong, an ancient practice rooted in physical movement is one of the 5 pillars of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is preventative and includes herbs, acupuncture, massage, feng shui, and qigong. There are hundreds of different types/styles of qigong practiced around the world, with approximately 500,000 to 2.5 million Americans practicing qigong for health reasons. During this session participants will: 1) increase awareness about the influence of implicit bias on indigenous wellness practices; 2) learn how to cultivate Qi (energy) to strengthen the body and reduce the potential for illness/disease; 3) learn how vibrational energy and sound resonance can be used to dissolve emotional and physical blockages in the body that could potentially lead to dis-ease states, inflammation, and physical pain; 4) learn how tapping on the body’s meridians can reduce anxiety and release excess stress; and 5) learn about flourishing opportunities that exist for social workers in the soon-to-be billion dollar wellness industry.
