Exercise in pain relief

10:38am Monday 22nd May 2006

MORE than 5,000 years of Chinese medicine and meditation has come to help relieve arthritis pain.

Qi Gong instructor Graham Pritchard took a group of students through the movements of the ancient Chinese exercise at a class at Christ Church Leisure Centre on Saturday.

Mr Pritchard, who became a student of Qi Gong in 1991 and a teacher in 1996, said that the practice helped mind, body and soul.

"It's an ancient Chinese exercise," he said. "Some of the movements can be dated back 5,000 years."

He took the leisure centre students through the more modern Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong variety of exercise.

"It's for people who want to do a gentle exercise," he said.

"The benefits are numerous.

"People find it tends to help with arthritis.

"It works for body, mind and spirit."

Mr Pritchard holds beginners and advanced classes regularly around Swindon.

He said that he came to Qi Gong after years of studying martial arts.

"I was always interested in martial arts," he said. "It was a natural progression."

For more information phone 07855 977 904.

Remember When...