Regimen provides mind, body wellness

Stressed out? No energy? Not productive? Maybe a little Yan Xin Qigong can help. About 25 students and community members attended an introductory seminar in Stiteler Hall on Wednesday night to learn more about this ancient Chinese system of mind-body training and to find out what the Penn Yan Xin Qigong Club's introductory classes will entail. With a history of more than 3,000 years, Yan Xin Qigong represents one of the many schools of Qigong, a form of mental and physical training. Some of the benefits of the technique include stress reduction, insomnia relief, improved concentration, physical strength, illness prevention and healing, wisdom development and an overall improved attitude. Sponsored by Student Health Services, the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life and the Yan Xin Qigong Club, the five-week introductory class on Yan Xin Qigong will begin on November 10. Judy Xu, a second-year graduate student studying health care and a member of the Yan Xin Qigong Club, explained that the goal of Penn's program is to "improve the quality of life" of the students. The class will meet once a week for an hour and a half, in addition to practice review sessions. According to Patrick Pudga, an employee of the U.S. Social Security Administration and a practitioner of Yan Xin Qigong, members sit or stand still and follow audio tapes of Yan Xin, the master of the ancient system. Pudga said "it works," though he does not know how, and that "most of the activity takes place on the inside." He said that after practicing Yan Xin Qigong he has a feeling of "serenity" and it takes less effort to get through personal obstacles. Third-year Bioengineering graduate student Yu Chen, coordinator of the Yan Xi Qigong Club at Penn, explained that 30 percent of the system is concentrated practice, while 70 percent involves daily cultivation. He added that it assists people in reaching harmony in the universe. Xu also raved about the positive effects of Yan Xin Qigong. In fact, she said, after practicing for a year, she reduced her back pain and stress level. She also noted that "[her] personality changed" -- she is "more patient and considerate." Most of the people who attended the introductory seminar were familiar with Qigong and wanted to know more about its effects. Second-year Arts and Sciences graduate student Eli Alberts heard about it during a year he spent in China and is interested in gaining "more energy" and "more concentration." MarJeanne Collins, director of Student Health, looks at Yan Xi Qigong as a "wellness program" that provides "total body wellness and health," and she said she expects the program to be offered again in the spring.