Here's a personal message from the instructor

In this first lecture you can meet the course tutor and designer, Andy Wright. You'll see and hear about his life and work, with testimonials from real people/students (he teaches classes daily as well as on line). His work encompasses teaching in NHS hospitals as well as Sport Centres and for charitable organisations such as Parkinson Society and MS Society.

In 2014 he had major back surgery that did not go right, and subsequently could not WALK and working was nearly impossible. But his recovery was entirely due to diligent practise of qigong daily and now, 2 years later, he is able to ditch the rollators and wheelchairs for a single stick. The prognosis is not good, because it is likely that he now requires another operation due to loosening screws causing pain.

In this lecture you will learn about the causes and symptoms of diabetes, a debilitating illness that, for type 2, can be partially prevented and also cured with simple lifestyle changes and the practice of Qigong.

Western approach to the diagnosis of diabetes

Screening Guidelines for diagnosis

Some information regarding the prevention of Diabetes.

The eastern view of this condition

Basics of the five elements theory

Basics of Yin and Yang

Movement One:

Start in wuji stance.  Relax your body and mind.  Feel the feet connect to the Earth.  Keep your head up, as if supported by a string attached to the crown.

Let the hips twist, and the arms will follow.  Do not consciously move the arms; they will move anyway.

As your hips rotate from side to side more rapidly, allow the arms to swing higher so that one arm will strike the lower back area and the other will strike the shoulder or chest.

Throughout the movement, breathe in and out using abdominal breathing.

After 6-12 swings, or more if it feels right, gently slow the movement down until eventually you come to a stop.

Movement 2

Movement Three:

The next move is a side stretch.  The distance you lean sideways is irrelevant and unimportant.  The main point of this move is the stretch along the side of the body on one side, and the compression on the other.

Lift your right arm over your head,and slide the left hand down the corresponding leg.  Lean left as far as you feel able. Relax your right arm.  Try not to bend your neck, but instead keep it neutral.

Take a few breaths, then return the arm to the side.

Repeat using the other arm, leaning the other way.

Complete an equal number of repetitions for each side.

Movement Four:

This next move activates the bladder and indirectly the kidney meridians.   These are water element organs and have an overall effect in combating the diabetes symptoms, improving their efficiency in cleansing the systems of the toxins that will build up.

Bring your hands to hold a small ball.   Step to the 10 o'clock position with the left leg, but keep the weight back and the knee bent on the right leg.  Your left leg will be 99% straight, thereby helping to activate the bladder meridian running along the back of the leg. Imagine if you will, the old-fashioned type of ladies' tights that had a line running top to bottom down the leg.  This is the position of the meridian.

Lower the ball held in the hands, down the leg slightly towards the inside aspect, until it reaches the ankle.  Lift the toes if not already up.  Imagine then, lifting the ball off the foot, circling up and back into the chest area.

At the same time, retrieve your left leg.  Continue by stepping to 2 o'clock with the right leg, keeping the weight back and the knee bent on the left leg.

Movement Five:

This movement is called shooting arrows and is effectively improving the lung meridian energy.  It has a TCM action of improving the transfer of oxygen into the bloodstream, which in turn helps with the removal of toxins.  The lung meridian runs down the arm from the chest to the thumb.  The paired organ is the large intestine, which runs from the first finger.

Make the first finger and thumb stick out, loosely fold the remaining fingers.

Cross the arms at chest height, with the outer arm being your left.  Step into a wide stance with your right leg.  As you circle the left arm out to the side, sink down into the stance by bending both knees.

Make sure the outstretched arm is at shoulder height with the wrist bent and the first finger pointing upwards.

While you are moving the left arm, draw the right hand back towards the corresponding shoulder and lightly place your thumb on the chest.  This position is a point on the lung meridian.

The right-hand palm will face downwards.

Feel the stretch in the chest.  Push the shoulder blades together.   Breathe in here,  and then breathe out.  Draw the right hand around and return the right leg back into wuji stance width.  At the same time, bring the left down and around so the arms cross at chest height.  The right will be in front of the left.

Repeat the move on the right side.  Remember to step left with the left leg prior to firing the arrow.

Movement Six:

This movement focuses on the kidney and bladder meridians by drawing energy into the kidneys, located in the lower back.  Then, just as with the natural processes of the body, the movement shifts the negative energy downward through the bladder channel and into the Earth.  The movement is completed by drawing energy up the kidney meridian, located on the inside aspect of the legs.

Start in wuji, hands at waist height, palms up.  Rocking slightly forward so the balls of the feet are engaged with the floor, push both hands forward. At the arm's maximum limit with elbows still slightly bent, rotate the hands so the palms face outwards.  Draw the arms towards the lower back and place the palms onto the kidneys.  Massage them with the fingers and palms.

When you feel ready, draw the palms down the very back aspect of the legs, as explained in movement four.

Upon reaching the ankles, circle the palms around the feet and toes and draw them up the inside leg towards the starting position, waist height, palms turned upwards.

Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions.

Movement Seven:

This movement focuses upon the Earth element organs of the spleen and stomach. Both are considerably affected by diabetes, and as a general rule, their energies are in need of a boost.

Starting in wuji or fractionally wider, bring the hands to the stomach with palms facing inwards.  Shift your weight over to the right leg by bending the knee.  The left leg is 99% straight.  Focus your attention to the inside and front aspects of the left leg, and with the palms facing downwards, imagine pushing a force down the leg until both hands reach the foot or floor; which ever you can reach.

Once at the bottom, imagine scooping or gathering something with the hands.  Draw that force back up the leg towards the stomach (and spleen located towards the upper left side of the tummy area).  The palms will be face up, finger tips facing each other.

When the hands reach the stomach, switch the weight over from the right leg to the left.  Push the hands down the right leg, as you did just now.  Then, draw energy up.

Keep repeating the movements until you have done the desired number of repetitions.

Movement Eight:

This is known as BEAR RUBBING TUMMY, and aptly describes the actions.   It is working on the main intestinal organs, bladder, stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, gallbladder, etcetera.  It is extremely effective for IBS and also controlling constipation and diarrhoea, depending upon the direction you move your hands.

If you have any medical condition related to any of the organs located here, or indeed are pregnant, then refrain from performing this movement.

It is essential you traverse the correct direction, because the opposite direction, while useful for helping constipation, actually goes against the natural flow.

So bring the hands to the solar plexus, the point at the top where the ribs meet and sternum ends. Place one palm on the back of the other hand so the two mid-points of each hand line up.

Using the heel of the bottom hand on the downward journey of the circle, and the bent claw like fingers on the return, press into the tummy area with as much force as you can cope with, but not in an excessive way.

From the top, move the hands towards your left hip, then downwards towards the groin, then around and upwards towards the right hip, and around to the start position.

Breathe in and out for the whole cycle.  If it is painful you should stop.  If it is unconfortable, adjust the pressure.

Movement Nine:

This is the closing move of our set.  Standing in wuji, draw both hands to the sides, palms turned out and up.

Breathe in.  Bring the hands up and around, at head height, turn the palms to face down over the crown of the head.  The fingertips will face each other.

Breathe out as you draw the hands down the front aspect of the body, passing the forehead, throat, heart, solar plexus, navel and around.

Continue the move for the desired number of repetitions.

End with the hands at the navel, reflecting upon your practice and how you feel now.

This is a complete demonstration with music but no commentary to show the entire routine. You can follow along.

A big thank you from the course tutor and creator, in a rare appearance in a "talking head" video.

Maybe consider an online class?