Pavel Yakovlev


What I like most about practicing qigong and “Tree” exercise is self-observation.
During first lessons I was told that I had tight and raised up shoulders. I was taught to relax them and to lower them down. I also learned to breathe with my belly. Before that I breathed only with my chest. I used only a part of my lungs like an idling engine.Observing my belly breathing I felt tension in my vocal cords and loosened them to give a free exhale.
Qigong training and “Tree” exercise taught me to relax every muscle of my body. Regular practice gives me joy, energy and clear consciousness in everyday life.
Before practicing qigong I had periodical headaches and took aspirin to get rid of them. Now I don’t need painkillers anymore, as “Tree” practice, relaxation and spinal “opening” made my headaches disappear. It’s been 2 years since my last pill.
Set of exercises Taijiqigong was difficult for me at first. I couldn’t get arm movements and squatting. Especially difficult for me was to combine movement with breathing. But regular practice helped me to understand details. Now I see that arm movements are not random. It’s not waving, it’s a free flow from the lower back. After stretching and relaxing my ligaments, now I am able to squat easily.

About me:
I was born in November 1984. In 1989 I was diagnosed with hypoplasia of the right lung. I had a resection of mid inferior lobe of the right lung. In 1992 I was diagnosed with scoliosis. As a result I studied for 4 years in residential school № 76 based in Moscow. I had to lie down on my belly during the lessons. They used beds with wedge-shaped stands. I passed through physical therapy and slept on my back without a pillow.
