Qi Gong and Taichi Instructor and Harpist

For thirty years the harp was at the centre of my universe… Then I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Because conventional treatments were ineffective, I decided to seek remedies outside the boundaries of Western medicine. In 1999, I began my journey into a life of new learning Taichi and Qigong

I experienced Qi Gong as a powerful therapy movement in which deep breathing generates gentle internal stretches. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) deep breathing relaxes nerves, balances internal organs, and when combined with gentle movements keeps limbs and joints flexible. My diligent daily practice of Qi Gong has resulted in my gradual ability to move with less pain until I had no more need for pain medication. I started walking with good posture, ease and balance and I shed the fears, negativity and doubts which were restricting my movement.

In my teaching I emphasize Qi Gong as holistic exercise with breath flowing into every tendon, muscle and fascia;the combination of good posture deep breathing and visualization facilitates harmony between mind and body.The results are : calm nervous system, relaxed muscles, dissolved tensions. This combination of positive effects promotes healing. I am delighted to share with students the learning and understanding of Qi Gong, the most powerful and effective self-healing method.

One of Vera’s students, Marina Quattrocchi, child education psychologist and yoga instructor, has written the following about her Qi Gong experience: “As a yoga teacher I’ve been incorporating a few Qi Gong movements into my classes and always wanted to learn more. I spent seven years searching for someone who could teach me the slow rhythmic style I wanted; my search finally ended when I found Vera Stern. Although I love yoga, I’ve realized it’s not a practice everyone can do, especially as we age. The beauty of Qi Gong is that anyone can practice regardless of body type, age or physical problems, to restore balance health and equilibrium. I love Qi Gong because of it’s slow, gentle pace— in our hectic world it teaches the student to slow down, relax, observe, and be aware of the subtle changes in our bodies…..Qi gong is truly meditation in motion. After just a few weeks I could feel the Qi or energy especially in my hands, and a sense of calm, peacefulness—a priceless benefit of the practice. Qi Gong is universal and secular; it does not draw from a specific religion, but for those who want a spiritual component we learn to work with the energy of the universe. Each one of Vera’s classes is completely different as she draws from the many styles of Qi Gong. With so many movements and styles I have realized it can be a life-long sustaining practice, with endless challenges and benefits.”