Essential Energy

STIMULATION OF BODY AND MIND IS FAR FROM A DRAG:

The recent ban on smoking in public places seems set to offer a number of wide-ranging health benefits for people of all ages across England. While this may seem obvious, a less predictable by-product of the government’s new legislation is in finding people empowering and enhancing their lives by thinking more closely about other aspects of wellbeing – in both body and mind, with an end result of being better equipped to cope with the rigours of daily life.

The College of Chinese Physical Culture has been offering ways to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing for many years, and is currently embarking on a UK-wide awareness campaign in which it invites people of all ages and any fitness to revel in the tremendous benefits afforded through participation in traditional Chinese Wushu, a study and appreciation of both simple and complex dance and movement that stimulates and invigorates body and mind, with a core focus on inner strength, breathing and energy.

A registered charity, and recent recipient of funding from the highly-respected ‘V Commission’, the CCPC is inviting new members to sample this unique form of non-competitive Chinese movement and dance through a number of local classes.

There are also volunteering avenues open for willing participants, whether they boast a highly-versed knowledge of the Lishi arts, or as complete beginners wishing to learn more. Each come with the ability to achieve recognised volunteering qualifications.

Alex Boyd, the College’s Deputy Principal, explains:

“There are so many benefits that can be taken out of this kind of physical and mental exercise and approach, and by anyone, from some engrained in the workings of Daoism, right through to Premiership footballers such as Wayne Rooney.

“This isn’t a religion or anything like that, it’s just a practical way of enabling people to alleviate the stress of modern-day living. Not only can we help people build strength and power from the inside, but also enhance outward confidence, positivity and drive, not to mention respect for others, plus the ability to think with a clarity and intuition that, for all of us, can become clouded in today’s manic society.”

Holding its roots in China some 2,000 years ago, the CCPC’s variety of groups are overseen by Desmond Murray, the President of the International Daoist Society who, along with Alex, has recently begun spreading the message to people across both Europe and the United States on extensive promotional and educational tours, bringing together participants of all ages, race and background.

Alex continues: “The movement exercises that we do can be incredibly simple or hugely complex, but they enable the person to step outside of problems or concerns, and to fine-tune a mental state of mind that then helps tackle real life.

“Aside from that we have members of groups the length and breadth of the UK who have found Chinese Wushu an incredibly effective method of curing ailments, fending off or controlling everything from aches to asthma to arthritis – giving way to a revitalised way of living.”