Deniz Paradot provides Qigong classes and one on one Qigong therapy.  Here he describes his inspirational journey that led him to Qigong, and how it could help you too.  To find out about class times and details, please go to our Qigong classes page.  Or you can read Deniz’ latest blog post here – How to Breathe.

Deniz Paradot:  One of Norfolk’s Finest Qigong Teachers

My inspiration for becoming a Qigong teacher starts from a very personal journey.

In 1995 I underwent major spinal surgery; I was diagnosed with a medical condition called ‘Spondylolisthesis’ which in layman’s terms means a vertebra in my lower spine had shifted forward, displacing the whole of the spinal column. The diagnosis took well over 5 years and meanwhile resulted in chronic back and leg pain, to the extent that I had to use a wheelchair just prior to my operation.

Recovery was long and hard. I was an energetic and sporty young man and I found myself struggling to do the most basic and unconscious of tasks, such as picking things up and going up and down stairs. I continued to spend the next few years ‘managing’, with regular visits to pain clinics and physiotherapists and taking prescribed concoctions of pain killers, which the latter just masked my continuous pain.

Although my spine had been rectified and repaired, my body seemedto not want to work. Years of poor over compensating posture, carrying myself awkwardly and sleepless nights resulted in a general lack of mobility and muscle degeneration.  Admittedly I used to think ” I am in too much pain I can’t do anything ” so I didn’t, for a while. All these factors started playing havoc with my mind.  I felt low, depressed, and unable to fit in and lead a ‘normal’ life.  So the only way forward I thought was to help myself and I went looking for a complementary treatment.

I researched acupuncture and thought that something so old, which stands the test of time, must have ‘something good about it’. After a few months of treatments, I felt my pain easing combined with clarity of mind. Unfortunately, due to finances I couldn’t continue with my treatments so I tried the more readily available exercise of Yoga.  Although very enjoyable, I found it too strenuous for my body.

My Discovery of Qigong

By complete chance I was speaking to a friend who mentioned Qigong, a low impact
Chinese Internal Health Art which used the same principles of acupuncture (without the needles) through purposeful exercise.

Years later I have not only surpassed my surgeon’s expectations… I no longer take any medication for pain relief and my mobility is that of a normal healthy young man (even if I say so myself!).

This relatively uncommon (in the West) art of Qigong helped me so much that I wanted to delve deeper and find out more.

The roots and origins of traditional and authentic Qigong derive from the Taoists and Buddhists. So I started by spending some time at Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Not only did I practice daily Qigong and silent meditation I also became conscious of mindful living, a way of life that urges people to find calm by connecting with the present moment.

I’ve never had any desire to become a monk, but over the years silence has become increasingly vital to me. I know many people are fearful of it. As monks and nuns know only too well, you can’t hide from yourself in silence and it’s not always a pretty sight.

But there’s much more to silence than facing the truth about ourselves: I soon realised that Qigong wasn’t just a set of moves to help our flexibility and mobility. It was a physical practice of intention to repair, restore and revive our body, mind and soul.

So whilst I stand in the quiet of my garden in Norfolk I become totally absorbed practising Qigong, so much so I have to set the alarm so I don’t forget to pick up the children from school. During these times I am totally unselfconscious there is no me watching what I am doing or worrying about the past or future. In fact, I am unaware of me as distinct from anything else. Completely caught up in the present moment, I have no sense of time until I come to myself when the alarm goes off. These moments have, for want of a better word, the quality of timelessness about them. They leave me feeling wonderfully alive.

I’ve had the same experiences in quiet woods and in the noise of the city. For others it comes when they’re making things, gardening, cooking, or being close with another person. Qigong has been deeply restorative for me, holding me through difficult times so that I feel completely wrapped up in it.

When practising Qigong we find a space where we’re fully alive and fully present in the moment and there’s a great sense of all-enfolding presence, not absence. In today’s stress-filled world there’s a real need for such spaces, and you can create them anywhere, even in the noisiest of places.

Discovering the countless benefits of Qigong for my own health and fitness, I instantly knew I wanted to share Qigong with as many people as I could. This compelled me to train and study in the teachings of Qigong, Meditation, Myofascial Meridians, Taoism and Buddhism.

Deniz’ formal Qigong Training

I have trained extensively and gained teaching qualifications from Master Christopher Ray Chappell (lineage holder and formal disciple to Master Ma Bao Guo) from the London College of Contemporary Qigong and School of Real Taoism and continually train with both him and other experienced teachers.

I have trained extensively and gained teaching qualifications from Master Christopher Ray Chappell (lineage holder and formal disciple to Master Ma Bao Guo) from the London College of Contemporary Qigong and School of Real Taoism and continually train with both him and other experienced teachers.

So, to share my fondness of this beautiful ancient art, I invite you to enjoy your time of Qigong and silence with me at be”

becalm. bepresent. behealthy.

Deniz

To find out more about Deniz Paradot’s Qigong classes in Norfolk and one on one Qigong therapy, please contact us on 01603 631900 or go to our contact page.