Tai Chi Qigong (TCQ – based on MATCH research)
Intended Audience
All members including people living with cancer, family members and significant caregivers.
Program Description
Tai Chi involves a series of slow movements done in a meditative fashion to bring about mental calm and clarity. Qigong exercises typically have three components; a stationary or moving posture, breathing techniques, and mental focus to guide chi/qi through the body. TCQ incorporates simple Tai Chi element with the healing framework stemming from Qigong principals. Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) is a unique program designed originally for the MATCH Research Study, conducted by the University of Calgary and Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to compare and measure benefits of well-being for cancer survivors. Read about The Match Study.
Benefits and Impact
Tai Chi and Qigong may play an important role in the health of some people living with cancer. Tai Chi has been shown to improve numerous health-related outcomes in people living with cancer, including fatigue, stress, cognitive function, and sleep quality (Wayne et al., 2018). Recent evidence suggests that Qigong has potential to improve these outcomes as well (Myers et al., 2019; Wayne et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2019). In a recent study, researchers noted a reduction in stress in cancer patients participating in online-delivered Tai Chi programs (Trevino et al., 2020).
What to Expect at a Session
Weekly one-hour classes begin with a 20-minute Qigong warm up exercises, followed by simplified Tai Chi movements. Some time is also spent in sitting meditation. Same content is repeated each week in order to encourage enhanced benefits and the deepening of flow and inner exploration.
