Qigong Class Schedule: Feb. 9 - 15, 2026

Lose Stress, Lose Weight

A little chubby but fit enough to fly!

Years ago, my teacher Lee Holden created the highest-rated program Weight Watchers had ever offered. His Qigong based approach focused on stress management, particularly learning to slow down, notice, and enjoy food, rather than using it to mindlessly (and temporarily) stuff stress under a pile of cookies.

 The slow-paced, mindful approach to weight management is sensible and effective. Still, open a magazine or watch TV and you’ll be bombarded by the supposed “quick” solution: GLP-1 meds which artificially remove appetite for rapid weight loss. They may sound tempting, but here’s what Jordan D. Metzel, sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery says: “Rapid, medication-driven weight loss can carry hidden costs, including loss of muscle. Muscle is central to mobility, glucose control and healthy longevity. Losing muscle while getting lighter may improve the scale but leaves people less resilient…. That is why my advice often surprises patients. I would rather see someone mildly overweight and physically active than thin and inactive.” (From today’s Washington Post “Want to lose weight? Here’s why exercise probably won’t help.”)

So where does that leave us mostly middle-aged folks who want to be healthy, relaxed, and slim enough to fit into our favorite jeans? Easy! Do Qigong.  When we practice Qigong, we learn to create vitality, balance, flow, and strength through less effort and more noticing. We can easily apply those same principles to our eating habits.  Goodbye to what I’ve learned is called “Zombie eating”: mindlessly gobbling food to suppress stress. Instead, slow down enough to notice, savor, and enjoy your food, just as we learn to slow down, savor and enjoy every nuance of the beautiful, enlivening movements of Qigong.

If you’re currently struggling with your eating habits, practice whichever stress-reducing methods you find most helpful and easy to do, such as paced breathing, shaking out stress, or stretching. In addition, this week I’ll teach you a simple, pleasant, and tremendously effective stress-purging routine that incorporates them all and only takes about 3 minutes!  Join me and learn the Five Healing Sounds. It’s my Valentine’s Day present to you. 

Schedule News and Updates for February:

Next Millbrook Library Free In-person/Zoom Qigong: Friday 20th, 10 - 11am. Please register for this class by contacting Millbrooklibrary.org. The library will send you a reminder a few days ahead of time.

“Qigong for Winter” at Hotchkiss Library, Sharon CT. Saturday, Feb. 21, 10:30-12. Register for this free workshop by calling the library (860) 364-5041. Space is limited!

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Zoom Qigong Classes
Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 9:30 am EST

https://zoom.us/j/411186166

If you are joining us for the first time, please subscribe to my website:
www.criscaivano.com

There is no commitment, single classes may be taken whenever you like