If your blood pressure is high, your doctor may prescribe medication.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
But medication isn’t the only thing that can affect blood pressure.
Movement can.
Breathing can.
Stress can.
Sleep can.
And something we’ve been practicing at RiversZen for years may belong in that conversation too.
Qigong Is Pretty Interesting
A recent clinical trial looked at Baduanjin, an ancient Chinese practice involving eight gentle movements coordinated with breathing.
People with high blood pressure practiced it regularly, and their blood pressure improved.
I love studies like this because I’ve spent years watching what happens when people slow down, move deliberately and breathe.
We call a lot of what we do Qigong.
Sometimes it barely looks like exercise.
Nobody is grunting.
Nobody is trying to beat yesterday’s personal record.
You’re moving. Breathing. Paying attention.
And when we’re finished, people frequently tell me some version of the same thing:
“I feel different.”
Calmer.
Looser.
…
