In Creative Life, one of the areas of the Light-Community  Figueira, Thursday mornings begin with energetic, precise, contemplative and healing movements. It's Qi Gong class day. Since April, the practice of Qi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan has been part of the Light-Community's routine. Currently, Qi Gong sessions are held weekly in each of the areas: Sacred Heart Center, Creative Life and Light Area, Light on the Hill House, Sisterhood Lands, Figueira 2 and Figueira 3. The activity takes place in the Light-Community together with many other practices aimed at raising consciousness, such as music, prayer and service.

“The practice of Qi Gong was like a revelation for the members of the Light-Community. We realized that through this ancient practice, which is very simple, it is possible to achieve an internal state of peace and balance. As a meditative practice, it helps to connect us with an internal state of harmony in a very simple way, and this becomes an important tool when dealing with challenges that may arise in everyday life”, shares Sister Maria del Calvário, nun of the Grace Mercy Order, who focuses on the activity.

The practice was introduced at Figueira by Alexandre Bastos, therapist and teacher of Eastern Body Arts and Integrative Therapies, who between the 18th and 21st of April, taught an immersion in Eastern Body Arts for members of the Light-Community.

The course aimed to show that everyone can know and practice simple Qi Gong techniques to balance and harmonize the circulation of energy in the body:
“I understand that the importance of this activity for the Light-Community is to equip its members with theoretical and practical knowledge of self-applicable therapeutic techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine to make them more independent and responsible for their own health care processes, disease prevention and healing processes for imbalances they may be experiencing”, says Alexandre Bastos.

Qi Gong is a tool for cultivating and balancing vital energy, known as "Qi", within the body. This not only promotes physical health, but also calms the mind, and therefore creates an overall feeling of well-being. In daily tasks, practicing Qi Gong can help develop greater mindfulness and focus, in addition to improving the perception of physical postures and body movements in everyday life.

The Light-Community  Figueira and Health and Healing Sector encourages everyone to find their own rhythm of daily practice, in addition to the days of collective activity, so that they can have a personal experience and delve into its benefits.