The film, “Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century,” directed by Kapa‘a resident Francesco Garripoli, was shown recently at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. The documentary is about qigong (pronounced “chee-gung”), a 5,000-year-old Chinese healthcare modality that has
The film, “Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century,” directed by Kapa‘a resident Francesco Garripoli, was shown recently at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
The documentary is about qigong (pronounced “chee-gung”), a 5,000-year-old Chinese healthcare modality that has both endured the test of time and is making a tremendous resurgence in the early portion of the 21st century.
Literally millions practice qigong in China and around the world each day to successfully treat diseases ranging from hypertension to cancer.
The purpose of this one-hour documentary is to provide a unique look into the world where the elder masters of this medical art-form dwell.
Viewers are taken on a journey deep into the Chinese countryside, to visit monasteries, temples, schools, and homes of these masters, like the 93-year-old female bone-setting Master Lao and the spry 92-year-old Wushu Master Duan Liang.
Seeing them perform and teach their exercise and healing techniques, and hearing them speak in their original homeland settings, allows viewers to gain historic perspective.
Garripoli learned from these masters, and teaches qigong across North America and beyond. He and his wife, Daisy-Lee Garripoli, are both teachers.
While they were on O‘ahu for the film’s showing, they also conducted a mini-workshop in Kane‘ohe.
Well known for their books, DVDs, and programs on PBS-TV and Fit-TV, Francesco and Daisy Garripoli bring aloha to this ancient Chinese exercise for the body, mind and spirit.
