Learn The Power Of Slow Movement With Qi Gong Master Lee Holden In His Upcoming Book

“Go Slow, Enter The Flow,” says Lee Holden, Founder of Holden QiGong, a statement not typically associated with Western society. Holden’s upcoming book, Ready, Set, Slow, uncovers the superpower of slow movement—and the very real effect it has on the body.

Many people who have played sports throughout their lives often find that, in their youth, working out was more or less manageable, but as they get older, their muscles and joints are not as equipped to “bounce back” as they once were.

Tight hips and stiff muscles have become the norm for many individuals. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 1 in 4 people experience long-lasting muscle pain and stiffness. The number of people who fall into this category raises the question, “Can something be done to change this stark reality?”

As an athlete, Qi Gong Master Lee Holden explains that certain “exercises” done before a performance, such as stretching, shaking, slapping/massaging muscles, etc., which are all forms of Qi Gong. By being more intentional with these movements, the more the power of Qi is felt.

Lee Holden, author of 7 Minutes of Magic and host of the PBS show Your Fountain of Youth, has devoted his career to helping others learn the powerful principles of Qi Gong for over 25 years. Through Holden QiGong, he’s helped many students through this ancient Chinese practice that has existed for more than 4,000 years.

“Qi Gong is all about slowing down,” says Holden, and part of slowing down involves slow, intentional movements that can be done by everyone, at any age and fitness level. “Just as the wind blows gracefully across a meadow and water flows gently through a stream, we too can harness the movements of nature to enjoy fluidity and ease in our bodies and minds.”

In his upcoming book Ready, Set, Slow, Holden shares the story of one of his students, Julia, who suffered from chronic fatigue and pain in many areas of her body. She was skeptical, as many are, before beginning one of Holden’s programs. For Julia, after five years of no relief despite seeking help from various therapies and other movement programs, she was desperate for relief. But what she experienced was far greater than anything she could have anticipated.

“One evening, as I taught the class a slow-flowing movement called ‘Wave Hands Like Clouds,’ Julia started to cry,” Holden describes. “She continued the movement with tears pouring down her face. Her eyes were closed, her body soft and moving with graceful ease, and she had a subtle smile playing around the corners of her mouth. I could almost see the healing was happening, her body was letting go, and she was in the process of rebalancing.”

Today, Julia’s chronic fatigue diagnosis is cleared, and has more energy and relaxation than she had when she was 25. The practice of Qi Gong uses the power of slow movement which cultivates Qi, or life force energy—an inner state of being that each and every person has access to. Like a gentle breeze or a serene stream, this fluidity is natural and “happens whenever you relax, get out of your own way, and allow power to move through you,” says Holden.

To experience the transformative qualities of Qi Gong yourself, try this slow movement exercise:

• Standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms at your sides, inhale and slowly lift your hands upward as if a puppeteer were pulling on strings attached to your wrists. Now exhale and allow your arms to float back down. Repeat this again, slowly. Make sure your neck and shoulders are relaxed, and each time, slow the movement while slowing the breath. Try this exercise for 1–2 minutes.

“As we drop into these flows and these meditative movements, it truly is about gradually letting the energy move the body instead of doing it through any effort at all,” Holden says, describing the practices as effortless, and after, feeling refreshed, in the present moment.

Take one of Holden’s students for example:

“I signed up for the Video Class Subscription, and I’ve not missed a day of practice since. At 61, this might be the most flexible or easily moving my body has ever been.” — Laird Cossar.

Stay tuned for the release of Lee Holden’s book Ready, Set, Slow by following his Instagram. To learn more about the practice of Qi Gong, visit his website today and begin your healing journey.