Instructor Michael McCormack teaches healing art of qigong to seniors around Philadelphia region

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

Every Tuesday, Michael McCormack teaches a class called 'Healing Movements' at KleinLife.

"Has some Tai Chi movements in it, but also some movements from a Chinese art called qigong," says McCormack. "Qi is your energy, and gong means work or cultivation, so it's energy work."

He likens it to moving meditation, since he says the qi "has to keep moving," flowing through the body for good health.

"And it's a visualization," he says. "I tell my students there's no ceiling here. Reach all the way up to the sky."

McCormack says he started practicing more than 40 years ago for health reasons and credits it with helping him to "really feel good."

"I try to pass it on," he says.

Rhonda Hoffman is a regular at his hour-long class.

"I like it's gentle movement," says Hoffman. "And I like his pace."

She also enjoys the vibe.

"He generally has classical or New Age music, and I can relax more to that than 'I Will Survive,'" she laughs.

"I like everyone to have fun. I think you get more out of it when you have fun and you're relaxed, so I tell jokes," says McCormack.

Movements can be modified and he encourages participants to "listen to your body."

"They can stand and sit. It's very relaxed," he says. "I'll go through a lot of the same movements, so they're comfortable, but I'm always showing them something new."

He says it's helpful to get "everyone's mind working."

"And it also gives them that muscle memory," he says.

Sometimes they mimic animals, like the crane, which is a very graceful movement.

"The tiger has this power, this strength," he says.

The monkey is another movement they practice.

"It's kind of silly, you know?" he says.

And there are benefits. For students, McCormack says they get "body awareness," as well as stamina and balance.

For him, as the teacher, he says he hopes participants feel healthier.

"I love my students," he says. "We laugh. We have fun. We come away better."

This class is held weekly on Tuesdays at KleinLife, but Michael McCormack also teaches similar classes at Center on the Hill, Holy Redeemer Health and Huntington Valley Library.

For more information:

KleinLife
KleinLife
10100 Jamison Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19116