Catherine explained that Qigong, which basically means ‘energy practice’, is often described as a moving meditation, or the Chinese version of yoga. It is an embodied contemplative practice with its roots in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy. The wisdom underlying the practice is that change is inevitable and the only thing we can really control is our response to change – particularly pertinent at a time when the pandemic constantly reminds us of how little control we have. 

Qigong on the beach before the lockdown
PICTURE: Mark Barwell

Qigong teaches us to connect: with ourselves, with each other and with the wonder and energy of all life, particularly important during this time of enforced isolation and separation from the familiar. The aim is to integrate body, mind and breath, often in a mindful meditation of slow, graceful movements and visualisations, which enhance the body’s natural ability to organise and heal itself. 

If, like me, you think ‘slow, graceful movements’ sounds rather like the better-known Tai Chi, it’s helpful to know that Tai Chi Chuan is one of many forms of Qigong, specifically for the martial arts.

In terms of scientific evidence of its healing powers, Qigong has good credentials. The peer-reviewed comprehensive review of the health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi published in the American Journal of Health Promotion points to improvements in bone density, balance, hypertension and immune function. Many studies have shown a significant reduction in anxiety and depression as a result of the practice. The review also highlights the accessibility and low cost of Qigong and its usefulness in offering an alternative to more vigorous forms of exercise – for those of us who’ve been trying to follow Joe Wicks’ PE for kids, this is exactly what we want to hear. 

Qigong is becoming increasingly popular and we are lucky in Hastings to have many teachers. While we are at home and struggling to stay strong in every dimension of our lives, now may be the perfect time to discover more about the mental and physical well-being that the practice can bring. A number of teachers are providing online guidance and the panel opposite shows who will be teaching what, where, and for how long.

• For more information on Qigong please go to: qigongteachertraining.co.uk  or
www.qigongteachertraining.co.uk/online-qigong-yoga-meditation

Find an online class to suit you:

MONDAYS

Qigong with Tasha Kalisher
9.30am-10.30am
tashakalisher@hotmail.co.uk

Qigong & Taiji with Matt Woods
10.00am-11.15am
mattwoods2005@yahoo.co.uk

Qigong with Sarah Kimber
11.00am-12.00pm
sarahjkimber@hotmail.com

Qigong with Nick Neter
3.00pm-4.00pm
nickneter@tiscali.co.uk

Yoga with Annie Cryar
6.00pm-7.00pm
cryar.annie@gmail.com

TUSEDAYS

Qigong with Catherine Burnett 
10.00am-11.00am
catherineburnett12@gmail.com

Qigong with Heather Logan
10.00am-11.00am
heather.shiatsu@gmail.com

Qigong with Sarah Kimber
1.30pm-2.30pm
sarahjkimber@hotmail.com

Yoga with Annie Cryar
5.30pm-6.45pm
cryar.annie@gmail.com

Qigong with Svenja Schaper
7.00pm-8.00pm
svenjashiatsu@movingtouch.co.uk

Qigong with Richard Green
7.30pm-8.30pm
richard@qigongwestsussex.co.uk

WEDNESDAYS

Qigong with Nicola Ley
10.00am-11.00am
nicola.ley@gmail.com

Qigong with Emma Money-Kyrle 
12.00pm-1.00pm
emma@bringingbalance.co.uk

Qigong with Sarah Kimber
4.00pm-5.00pm
sarahjkimber@hotmail.com

Qigong with Dominic Hill 
8.00pm-9.30pm
dominic@qipractice.com

THURSDAYS

Qigong with Nicola Ley 
10.00am-11.00am
nicola.ley@gmail.com

Qigong with Ann Barnett
11.15am-12.00pm
annb@clara.net

Qigong with Antigone Tsegeli 
4.00pm-5.00pm
antigoni@harmonize.gr

FRIDAYS

Qigong with Emma Money-Kyrle 
10.00am-11.00am
emma@bringingbalance.co.uk

Qigong & Taiji with Matt Woods 
10.00am-11.15am
mattwoods2005@yahoo.co.uk

Chair based Qigong with Nick Neter 
11.30am-12.30pm
nickneter@tiscali.co.uk

Qigong with Antigone Tsegeli 
4.00pm-5.00pm
antigoni@harmonize.gr

ANY DAY

Pre-recorded Qigong inspired Somatic Pilates with Elaine Westwick
elaine.westwick@gmail.com

• Catherine has another Qigong session to be confirmed in the coming days, please contact her for the day/time
catherineburnett12@gmail.com

• And you can find further Yoga sessions her www.stleonards.studio/timetable or contact Annie cryar.annie@gmail.com

The joy of singing
PICTURE: Christopher Platts

Roz Ziebell, a long-term member of the choir, said: “We love to sing at Sound Waves Community Choir and in our efforts to produce a wonderful sound with our voices, we also aim to improve our health – physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.” 

Roz explained that musical director, Debbie Warren, always starts their sessions with some simple relaxation exercises to get rid of tension and to aid breathing. When I went to observe the choir in action, I was press-ganged into exercising with them. As predicted, we did exercises to control our diaphragms, to increase our lung capacity, to relax our facial muscles and warm up our voices. Also as predicted, it was fun– the group are amazingly friendly, welcoming and encouraging: “if you can sing in the shower, you can sing with us.”

I felt that they had either underestimated the dreadfulness of my Jeremy Hardy school of singing, or overestimated their ability to cover up mistakes but Debbie gave me the sheet music for ‘The Gypsy Song’ from Carmen and my photographer companion and I tucked ourselves in behind the altos. I have no idea if I’m a soprano, alto or even a bass and anyway, I thought I would probably mime – but before we knew what was happening, we were ‘tra la la la’ing along with the rest. It was a great feeling.

Debbie leads the choir
PICTURE: Christopher Platts

During the tea break I spoke to many of the singers – all of whom were keen to tell me about the benefits they had found in singing with Sound Waves. Interestingly, several had joined after the death of a partner – joining a choir is something that is easy to do on your own, no-one feels self-conscious arriving alone and the inclusiveness is almost tangible. Others told me how uplifting and energizing it is. ‘Joyful’ and ‘joyous’ were words repeated again and again. Roz elaborated: “Often on a cold winter evening I feel that I’d rather stay at home in the warm, but once I start singing I seem to find reserves of energy that I didn’t know I had. At the end of the session I feel energised and invigorated.”

Another singer told me how much her breathing had improved. Having suffered from asthma since childhood, her airways were now much clearer due to singing – a measurable improvement on a peak flow meter – how’s that for scientific evidence? 

After the break it was back to work with Verdi’s ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’ which, like ‘The Gypsy Song’, was being rehearsed for the forthcoming Night at the Opera performance. This time the photographer and I needed no encouragement: we droned along tunelessly but happily, torturing one of the finest tunes ever.

The public performances usually come at the end of a term of singing with a performance to friends and family. Sound Waves members tell me it not only boosts the self-confidence of the choir to see the pleasure that their singing gives but also raises money for good causes, so boosting self-esteem. They have given nearly £18,000 to local charities in the past ten years. 

So there we have it: singing in a choir offers companionship, invigoration, boosted self-confidence, boosted self-esteem, improved asthma and above all, joy. And… even got me singing! 

And finally, why not try it yourself? They are currently rehearsing for their next performance, “A Night at the Opera”, to be held at St Mary in the Castle on Sunday 19th April at 7:00pm, a programme of some of the best-loved arias and choruses from opera and operetta, with two professional soloists and dancers from Hastings Stage Studio and admission is free. 

• Choir sessions are held on a Tuesday evening, 7:30 – 9:30pm, in the Salvation Army Hall, St. Andrews Square in Hastings. See www.soundwaveschoir.org.uk New members are always welcome.  Although this may have changed in light of the current social distancing situation.

For ideas of how to Sing At Home click here

Hastings Contemporary
Until 22nd March 2020
Proceeds from the sale of work go to the Drawing Life charity. 

By Julia Mortimer 

The Drawing Life project has grown, almost beyond recognition. Long-term readers will remember the days when we looked at the drawings and said: “Wow, that’s amazing for someone living with dementia.” Looking at this latest exhibition displayed on the walls of Hastings Contemporary’s gorgeous new Boatyard Café, we now simply say: “Wow, these are really interesting pictures.”

Based on the premise that people living with dementia have as much right to add to cultural life as anyone else, Drawing Life takes a professional model and a practising artist to care homes in the Hastings and St Leonards area. As well as taking the team to the care homes, Drawing Life has also set up in the studios at Hastings Contemporary and The De La Warr Pavilion.

The Drawing Life show comprises 15 drawings made by people with different types and degrees of dementia. At the private view a fortnight ago today, the exhibition images were attracting a lot of attention. It was particularly uplifting to see the works being treated with equal care and attention to those in the Contemporary’s galleries downstairs and across the landing. The works produced in the Drawing Life project show a strength and intensity that calls for closer consideration. Two spectators I spoke to were intrigued by the muscularity of Edith’s work in particular. Sadly, Edith has recently died, but there is an eloquence in the ferocity of her drawing that articulates her frustration and exasperation. The result is a vivid, vibrant shout of colour that leaps out of the exhibition space, making the viewer stop and reflect.

Similarly forceful are the works of Judith, Vera and Graham which again command our attention and invite us to ask questions. Compositionally, Vera and Judith are similar, with an intense concentration of colour and shape in one corner relieved by a significant amount of white space. It’s tempting to perceive this as an allegory for the part of the brain that is still functioning in a sea of unfathomable whiteness, but it’s equally tempting to see two fine portraits that have depth and meaning and communicate powerfully with their audience.

I have seen the production of some of these pieces during Judy Parkinson’s Drawing Life classes and observed participants overcoming their initial uncertainty to find unexpected pleasure and focus in rediscovering the joys of drawing. Without exception, there is always an incredible mood of concentration and calm during the classes, which is a key benefit of the Drawing Life concept. For some people making art has been a lifelong interest, but others haven’t drawn since primary school. 

Hastings Contemporary has played a blinder in exhibiting these drawings alongside recognised artists – they remind us all that art is for everybody and that it fulfils us in many and varied ways, whether as viewer or artist, professional practitioner or talented amateur – we all have something vital to say, but some of us are more eloquent with a crayon than words.