Iron Maidens And New Leaf Linkers Benefit From Qigong

Dec 11, 2013

Good things happen when community groups and organizations link up. That has been the case over the last year with participants in New Leaf Link (NeLL), a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the community inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities. NeLL offers their students a special education program that includes functional skills and literacy, arts and crafts, and health and recreation programming in the local community.

Dr. Karin Steiner, who is the organization's founder and executive director, connected with Marilyn Picard, owner of the AMHO U Fitness gym in Sydenham over a year ago, and since then Marilyn has been running Power Fit and Qigong classes at the gym every Thursday for NeLL students.

On December 8 she and her group of senior Iron Maidens, a group of 28 women who range in age from 47 to 83 and work out regularly with Marilyn at the gym, banded together to hold a special fundraiser there for NeLL. The event included a special Qigong presentation, following which guests and participants purchased copious amounts of baked goods, all baked and donated by the senior Iron Maidens. Marilyn said that Qigong, which is an ancient martial art, is an especially great exercise for all ages. “The word Qigong literally means 'breath work' and the whole idea is to accumulate and circulate energy in the body so that people can heal,” Marilyn explained. She said that she has seen incredible changes in NeLL participants especially as a result of the Qigong classes. One NeLL participant, Amy, who entered the gym on the first day of classes with a walker, has reportedly greatly improved her balance and her confidence. Jo Lyon, a volunteer with NeLL, said that Amy now runs unassisted and shows an improved sense of balance, well being, and overall confidence. “There is definitely something about being here that makes Amy's balance so much better.”

Karin Steiner, whose son Nicholas has autism, is also a NeLL student who takes part in the gym classes. Steiner said Nicolas now is imitating people much more readily. “He watches Marilyn and the Iron Maidens and does the exercises on his own and he really enjoys it. I can feel just how happy it makes him to be part of this. “ Regarding the program at the gym Steiner said, “This is just one prong of our program, the physical exercise portion and it really helps with the whole program because physical wellness leads to wellness in other areas”. Marilyn said the practice of Qigong really calms the NeLL participants and releases stress. "You can see the change as soon as I put the Qigong music on,” she said.

Steiner said that she and her volunteers will often do the Qigong breathing exercises regularly with the students at their regular location at St. Paul's Anglican church in Sydenham. “We use the Qigong exercises as a transition tool and also when students become anxious.”

NeLL is now in its fifth year of operation and currently has eight students enrolled in the program. Steiner said that NeLL has been able to continue to evolve as a result of finding community partners like Marilyn and the Iron Maidens. Marilyn said that she is very pleased to offer her support to NeLL as a way to give back to the organization and the community. For more information visit www.newleaflink.ca