Qigong (pronounced Chee kung) has been around for centuries but lately, it is becoming a hot trend in fitness, relaxation and wellness.

So what does this have to do with Vegas? Did you think this was about a new way to win at blackjack? Sorry, it is vagus  I am talking about here, in specific, the vagus nerve. So we are not going to Vegas... but why should we be concerned with our vagus and our emotional state?

For starters, a 20 year study done by a London university showed people who had unmanaged negative emotions were more likely to develop one of the biggest killers: cancer and/or heart disease than the people who smoked tobacco and ate high cholesterol foods. The emotional risk factor was greater than the physical ones: people died faster from built-up negative emotions. Source: Science Proves Feeling Good Grows on You (by John Starman, M.A.)

Ok, we know that storing up toxic emotions is no good. Yet how do we send a message into the brain at just the right place to release all that bad stuff? Science has found a direct line into the brain: the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a set of cranial nerves. This pair of nerves comes right out of the brain and goes down each side of the neck into the chest and abdomen, connecting to the organs. These are large nerves, and can carry messages each way, both to the body and the brain. Even though the vagus is not part of the voluntary nervous system, researchers have found they could communicate right inside the brain using the vagus nerve. These messages returning to the brain go right into the so-called "limbic system" deep inside the brain where they are processed in the emotional centers and then connected to the thinking part of the brain, the cortex.

Qigong is a series of flowing movements, proper breathing and concentration. It is a kissing cousin of Tai Chi, but so much easier to learn and can be done in as little as six minutes per day. This set of movements is known as The Eight Silken Movements. They are designed to improve your mental, emotional and spiritual well being by increasing the energy flow in the body.

Translation: spend 6 minutes doing the Eight Silken Movements and your stress level will plummet while your strength, flexibility, and immune system gets stronger via your vagus nerve! Sounds like a good use of your time right?

Here is one of the eight moves called ‘Raising the Heels to ward off Illness'. I call it ‘raising my heels so my calves look better in heels.' Either way, it's very simple, effective and can prevent sports injuries like shin splints and ankle sprains.

1. Stand erect, feet shoulder width apart.
2. Slowly inhale, while raising both heels as high as you can, then slowly exhale, lowering your heels, giving them a slight jolt on as you hit the ground.
3. Repeat at least 3 times, but up to ten times.

Some say if you do this 100 times per day, you will live as many years!

Your vagus will thank you.

Want to give it a try? Check out the links below:

Yo San
University
http://www.yosan.edu/pdf/Qigong_CEU.pdf

Tai Chi LA teacher
http://www.taichila.com/index2.html