PE/A 101 - Qi-Gong/Meditation/Self Healing Techniques

Taught by: Mario Messina-Azekri

Content: This course is an introduction to qi-gong, an ancient Chinese practice of gathering, circulating and storing energy, or qi. Practice of qi-gong in class will involve concentration, breathing exercises, certain body postures, and movement. Meditation and self-healing techniques.

Course goals:

1) To integrate Body, Mind, and Spirit through stretching, slow movement, meditation and discussion.

2) To promote calming the body and mind.

3) To promote resilience, so that one has additional tools to use to handle stress.

Class Structure: Each class will include approximately: 20-30 minutes of warm up exercises, 30 minutes of stretching techniques, 30-45 minutes of qi-gong practice, and 30-40 minutes of meditation (various forms of meditation will be introduced to students during the term, e.g. guided meditation, silent meditation, mindfulness meditation, and breath concentration meditation). The remaining time will be spent on self-healing techniques such as acupressure, self-massage, Breema techniques, Bowenwork techniques, Qi-Gong healing techniques and breathing exercises.

Course Instructor: Mario Messina-Azekri is a licensed massage therapist and certified Bowenwork practitioner with a B.A. degree in Pre-Medicine and Spanish Literature. He has been in private practice for 15 years in both Portland and Rhododendron, Oregon. He also holds black belts in Tai-Chi and Judo, and has studied other styles of martial arts. He has coached soccer for 22 years at all levels and held the highest coaching license offered in the USA. He has studied yoga, meditation, and chanting for the last 20 years. He has been to India seven times, where he learned more about chanting and some forms of prayer and meditation.

Generic Catalog Description for PE/A 101: Focus on principles of physical fitness such as safe techniques, conditioning activities, principles of movement, importance of lifetime fitness. Student participation and attendance emphasized. Credit-no credit. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite: None.

Semester Credits: 1

Meeting Times: MW 11:10-1:10 p.m., F 11:10-12:10 p.m.

Contact:

mmessinaazekri@lclark.edu