People have recovered, yet the medical community still keeps repeating this diagnosis. "You have Parkinson's Disease, there is no cure, you will grow progressively worse and eventually die a miserable death." Thanks, but I don't accept that. Why? Because of people like Bianca Molle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCyxlgLqmE&t=82s
And there are others who have found their own path to recovery. I may too, or I hope to. Like Bianca I am doing qigong, and though I have just begun to make it a regular practice, I already feel hopeful.
I attended the National Qigong Association 22nd Annual Conference this past weekend and took two workshops. Afterwards I went to a concert and stayed out late, dancing much of the time, and feeling good, with no symptoms. I had taken an extra carbidopa levidopa, but still, I usually conk out before 12:00 a.m. which was when I got home. I was still energized.
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I have taken a few classes in qigong, and exercise along with DVDs occasionally with my friend Wilma. So I was interested when she shared the information with me about a qigong conference in Newark.
I took the train, and walked from the station to the hotel where it was taking place. I attended a two hour morning workshop called "Qi Meets Prana," with Francesco Garripoli and his lovely partner, Ambikha Devi. She lead us in standing yoga breathing and asanas, while Francesco guided us through more breathing and qigong exercises.
In the afternoon Joyce Virani lead a "Female Essence Qigong" workshop. She has had, and maybe still does have a modeling career, but is now "passionate about healing women and teaching them to care for themselves." She brought a lot of that passion on Saturday, as we let ourselves open and express ourselves with scents, self massage, movement and sound.
At the center of the room was a display of stones, cards, candles and other objects that we women sat around in a circle. I sat in front of the word, "gentle," simply at random. Joyce said however, that the word in front of us was NOT a coincidence.
These were workshops to bring you in touch with your body, mind and emotions, and perhaps a spiritual feeling, too. Talking with other students and teachers of qigong at lunch was stimulating, and they were awfully nice. Bianca Molle was there leading a workshop, and I saw that she is doing well, and now maybe I too am ready to try what she did. I am starting on the path.
It isn't an easy one - it will take a lot of my time. I'm starting slow. Practice three times a day is my intention, using YouTube and DVD's. I will also look for a teacher or a class. I'm ready.
