Qigong for Wellbeing in Dementia and Aging

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First published in 2016
by Singing Dragon
an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

www.singingdragon.com

Copyright © Stephen Rath 2016 with Marcia Rath

Heng Ha exercise; Natural Healing Exercises; Animal Sounds and Movement Exercises; Ten Facial
Exercises; Twelve Sitting Exercises; Nutrition information; Meditation for Caregivers; and About the
Natural Healing Research Foundation copyright © Natural Healing Research Foundation 2016
Illustrations copyright © LauRha Frankfort 2016
Illustrations based on original photographs by LauRha Frankfort and Christine Fagan

Front cover photography by Tobias Huber, 1013 Production Studio, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84819 253 9

eISBN 978 0 85701 199 2
 Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
DISCLAIMER
PREFACE

Introduction

PART I: A NATURAL HEALING APPROACH TO DEMENTIA

1. Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspectives
on Dementia
2. Examples of the Rejuvenating Power of Natural Healing
3. Natural Healing for Emotional Wellbeing
4. Rejuvenation for the Caregiver
5. Conclusion to Part I

PART II: EXERCISES TO AWAKEN NATURAL HEALING

6. Natural Healing Exercises Using the Hands and Feet
7. Releasing Harmful Emotions through the Five Animal
Forms
8. Facial Massage Exercises to Wash Your Body with Energy
9. Twelve Sitting Exercises

PART III: FOODS TO AWAKEN NATURAL HEALING

10. Introduction to the Chinese Understanding of Nutrition
 11. Recipes for Rejuvenating Health
ABOUT THE NATURAL HEALING RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NHRF)
REFERENCES
FURTHER READING
INDEX
 Acknowledgements

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the many Asian Health practices that
shaped this book. After a hip injury, I sought out a gentle exercise and, in
1997, my wife Marcia and I taught ourselves the T’ai Chi Yang Long Form
using a video by Terry Dunn. With our interest piqued, we next took classes
from Joe Brady of the Tai Chi Project in Denver, and teachers Jason Brown
and Master Xilin Zhu. Since 1999, I have continued to study Qigong with
Master Zhu and have dedicated over 10,000 hours of practice to the
cultivation of vital energy. Through our daily practice, we have experienced
the restorative power of Qi; and, as our proficiency grew, we regaled my
mother with the forms we were learning. Little did we know that if she had
joined along in some movements with us, it might have eased her emerging
dementia.
In 2010, a friend taught Marcia two simple Qigong exercises, which
immediately healed a health issue. I had been talking about the author of the
exercises since meeting him in 2008. And now, Marcia wanted to meet this
man. She signed us up for seminars every time he came to Denver. His
exercises were so effective that, in 2012, Marcia convinced me to train with
him and his coaches, Lynn Thomas, Wade Shigemasa, Pua and Jimmy
Kekina, and Mark Siket and others. We became certified to teach many of
his exercises. Later, we were fortunate to be invited back to observe and
participate in classes taught through his Natural Healing Research
Foundation (NHRF), where a cadre of dedicated volunteers have been
teaching and educating Hawaiians, especially seniors, in the ways of natural
healing since 2006. In the Daoist tradition this humble man simply wants to
be known as Grandmaster, and he generously shares his knowledge so that
others may benefit from his journey.
 The rest of the story unfolds from conversations Marcia and I had with
Grandmaster in 2012 about our families’ history of dementia. We are
enormously indebted to him and to everyone at the NHRF for their
generous support, contributions to the exercises and nutrition sections, and
for sharing their collective wisdom in the true Aloha spirit; a plenitude of
thanks to Pua and Jimmy, who were available day and night to take our
phone calls and provide detailed answers to questions about the exercises;
the volunteers—Kathie Ong, Pua and Jimmy, Kathleen and JC Coelho, Joan
Stone and Gwyneth Ching—who worked tirelessly with us to ensure that
the exercise instructions were correct; and, lastly, to all of the other
volunteers who work behind the scenes, including a special and deep thanks
to Ann Yamamoto, Millannie Akaka, and, of course, Ruby.
To those who gave their time to read and offer valuable feedback to the
text through its many revisions, we single out Janet Caldwell, Ann Long,
Lynn Thomas, Joan Stone, and Emily Rath for our sincerest thanks. And,
Scott and Cindi, our deepest sympathies go out to our innermost circle of
family and friends who listened to our many “book” conversations.
We also express deep gratitude to LauRha Frankfort for bringing the
text to life with her lively, anatomically correct drawings. Moreover, her
inclusion of the ghostly images of the animals in the Five Animal Forms
was nothing short of inspired. And, we give Jimmy and Emily a standing
ovation for their spirited renditions of the animals illustrated in the Five
Animal Forms.
We are grateful to photographers Christine Fagan, Tobias Huber, Jenna
Raskin, Tatiana Timmins, and Karen Carver, as well as Cassondra Fischer
(graphic artist), who added their talents to the book. We thank Jane
Pronovost, Ashley Beck, and LauRha Frankfort for the modeling used in the
illustrations, and, we also extend our thanks to Eun Jae Lee for being in the
cover photo.
We give our greatest appreciation for the unwavering support of our
publisher, Jessica Kingsley, for her vision and wisdom in seeing the
importance of blending two seemingly distant subjects, Qigong and
dementia; Rachel Menzies, Commissioning Editor, for shepherding us with
kind regard and timely responses from our initial submission to the
manuscript’s production; and finally, Kate Mason (Production Editor
extraordinaire), Sarah Hamlin (Editorial Assistant), and their colleagues, for
their very fine work and responsiveness to our many, many revisions in
copyediting and design.
With enduring gratitude I thank my T’ai Chi Master and good friend,
Xilin Zhu. During the editing process, Zhu played an indispensable role by
translating large portions of the book into Chinese in order to bridge the
language differences of two cultures. And we offer many thanks to Dr. Shi
Cheng, who graciously confirmed our understanding of TCM.
No words can adequately express our humble appreciation for the
Grandmaster who so generously gives of himself so others can find
wellbeing. Our thanks for all to a truly remarkable man.
Lastly, the greatest contributor to this book is my loving wife and
partner in all things—Marcia. Her life and energy animate every page, from
her exhaustive research, formatting, and editing to her contributions in Part
III. I dedicate this book to her and our mothers, KG and Olive.
 Disclaimer

The exercises and recipes in this book are in no way to be considered as a

substitute for consultation with a medical practitioner, and should be used
solely at the reader’s discretion in conjunction with approved medical
treatment. The authors and the publisher are not responsible for any harm or
damage to a person, no matter how caused, as a result of following any of
the suggestions in this book.

Qi = Life Force, Energy, Breath

Gong = Exercise

Qigong (pronounced Chee Kung) is a modern word for the centuries-old

practice of using postures, exercises, breathing, and meditations to improve
one’s internal energy. The smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the
meridian channels of the body promotes health and longevity.
The practical exercises, called Gongs, in Part II of this book use
movement, sounds, proper alignment, meditation, and abdominal breathing
to promote the smooth flow of energy based on relaxation and release. They
are intended to ground the energy and bring about a sense of calm.
Many of the Qigong practices described in this book are historically
linked to original Chinese Daoist Qigong, dating back to the Jin dynasty
(265–420 CE). Daoist Qigong is considered by some to be the basis of
Chinese medicine that has been used for thousands of years.
 Preface

One summer night in New England I was practicing T’ai Chi when I
received an urgent message to visit my mother, who lived nearby. Arriving
at my mother’s house, a sensitive woman, Grace, was standing in the
driveway. She choked back tears as she described how, on her very first
night as a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, my mother had inexplicably
flown into a rage and kicked her out of the house.
We called her supervisor on my cell phone, who said casually, “Oh,
that’s no problem. Just go back in the house. She’s probably forgotten all
about it.”
Grace insisted she never wanted to work for my mother again, and she
wanted me to drive her home; but, with the combined incentives of the
mosquitoes that swarmed around us, and my reassurances, she was
persuaded to go back into the house and give Regina’s advice a try. When
we walked through the door, my mother smiled and betrayed no sign
whatsoever of her former rage. Grace worked with love and devotion for
my mother for the next five years.
I am genetically and temperamentally linked to my mother,
grandmother, and aunt. All of these grand ladies passed away from
Alzheimer’s disease. For six years I watched my mother, Karen—pianist,
environmentalist, world traveler and philanthropist—wither and die. I write
knowingly, then, about the stages of cognitive decline. And little did I know
at the time that my keen interest in T’ai Chi and the family history of
dementia would become inextricably linked.
My wife, Marcia, also knows the stages of dementia. During the period
of Grace’s employment, Marcia would invite her own mother to join us at
our cottage on the Slocum River. Even at age 83, her mother, Olive, would
make the four-hour drive from Maine to Massachusetts, skillfully wending
her way through Boston’s notorious traffic. Once she arrived, she would
make a beeline for the back porch, plop down in a rocker with a deep sigh,
and count the swans on the far shore. Then she would spend hours in the
same chair doing Sudoku, soaking up the sunlight—she had to have her
vitamin D—until we would drag her away for dinner. Arguably, this was her
favorite spot on the planet. But things changed fast. Three years later we
drove her from Maine to our cottage and, as we arrived, she asked with fear
and confusion where we were.
In the final stages of dementia, Olive lived in a private home, lovingly
cared for by Liz, Chaz, and Max. Forgotten were her productive years as a
mother and businesswoman, as well as her life as an artist and folk painting
instructor who generously shared her gift. Yet even through her late-stage
symptoms of dementia, she would tenderly hold Chaz’s hand, and once,
even asked him to dance. When she saw our faces coming through the door,
her attentiveness and “monkey laugh” of joy were priceless.
If there is anything hopeful to write from our personal story, it is that
over the years we have become certified to teach many healing Qigong
forms. After participating in a Qigong workshop in Hawaii, we were invited
back by the Daoist—who simply wants to be known as “Grandmaster”—to
observe his teachers, students, and their family members at his Qi Center in
Oahu. We learned about a natural healing program that is ideal for people
with memory loss and those at risk of it. Volunteers from his Natural
Healing Research Foundation (NHRF) demonstrated programs and shared
the invaluable knowledge they impart to people who come from near and
far on the island of Oahu. They are remarkable teachers who have worked
tirelessly with hundreds of seniors (see page 157). We pay tribute to the
success of both the volunteers and the seniors by chronicling some of their
stories here. It is no exaggeration to say that their collective efforts are the
model from which this book has sprung.
The NHRF has refined and reformatted a series of ancient Chinese
exercises to rejuvenate the entire body. Students have reported
improvements with cancers, arthritis, strokes, and AIDS, among other
health issues, using the exercise and nutrition program. The NHRF more
recently recognized that the Qigong practices also proved beneficial for
individuals experiencing dementia-related memory loss. For individuals
desiring to change their minds, literally, students do hand and feet exercises
that bring increased blood and oxygen to areas of their bodies that have
grown stagnant and weak. These gentle exercises in the NHRF Senior
Wellness Program work because of their simplicity and soft movements.
The book is also designed to help caregivers experiencing stress and
burnout. Caregiver burnout can seem as afflictive as dementia, and in fact
worry—an emotion commonly experienced by caregivers—has itself been
shown to contribute to the development of dementia (see p.53). When the
caregiver and person with dementia practice together, the methods in this
book can demonstrably provide natural healing for both.

It has been so interesting to see the very positive reactions that Marcia has in her
Qigong group…how light the mood becomes for each individual resident, as well as
collectively in the group…how well the residents participate and respond to the
exercises.
Christine Hendrick, Former Director, Clare Bridge of Highlands Ranch

During the time that Marcia and I spent in Hawaii, we interviewed dozens
of people who had a variety of ailments, including seniors experiencing
various stages of memory loss. And within two short months of returning
home, Marcia began teaching the Exercises for the Aging Brain from the
NHRF Program to residents in memory care facilities in Colorado, based
upon her experiences and wisdom gained in Hawaii. Many of the seniors
who came to class twice a week started to engage actively in the healing
sounds, sitting exercises, and hands and feet movements. Moreover, many
remembered the exercises from week to week and enjoyed doing them. The
residents even invited their caregivers and family members to join in.
Marcia exclaimed: “After several weeks a woman, who usually stayed
slumped over and unresponsive in her wheelchair, began to rock her feet
from side to side one day in an exercise called yin-yang feet—my heart
sang for her success.”
This book offers exercises from the NHRF’s Senior Wellness Program,
along with nutritional suggestions and an overview of the research that
supports why you or others would use these complementary approaches for
wellbeing. The essence of Qigong is to find the quiet within to let our
bodies use that quiet to promote wellbeing. Take the first step of doing a
few of the exercises for a few days. Know that those steps are continuing a
healing art that has been practiced for thousands of years. Feel what
happens inside of you and go from there.
Always keep in mind to check with your doctor to see if this program is
suitable for you, or someone under your care, before using the natural
healing suggestions in this book. If you are sick or weak, you need to see
your doctor because this program is not a medical treatment.
 Introduction

‘All things are difficult before they are easy.’

Chinese Proverb
What is the essence of natural healing? Where can it be found? Perhaps you
can find it in the alternative medicine aisle of your local grocer. Or, perhaps
it can be found in exercises that have been passed down for thousands of
years in China. How much time will it take? And how much will it cost?
Will you need special clothes or an exercise machine with a built-in
computer and TV screen?
The answer might surprise you: the essence of natural healing lives
within you. It is your birthright and path to wellness. The essence is as
indispensable to you as your DNA, so that everything else—the foods,
herbs, and exercises—are merely the means to unblocking and promoting
the natural healing in yourself or the person you are caring for. The essence
is known by various names: vital energy, life force, prana, or Qi
(pronounced chee ).
“That may sound all well and good,” you say to yourself, “but in
practical terms, how will natural healing help my 81-year-old mother who
has dementia? How can she do exercises when she can barely stand up and
gets feisty at the mere mention of exercise?”
Okay, let’s answer those questions by seeing how she would experience
natural healing on a daily basis. Can your mother sit? Can she clasp her
hands together and rub her palms to generate warmth? Can she stretch her
arms up or even just watch as you stretch your arms above your head? Just
from watching, she will become engaged in the activity and interact at some
level of personal connection. You say she’s feisty… Can she pretend to be a
tiger and make a GRRRR sound? Can she drink goji berry and walnut oil
tea, or eat duck soup? You would be surprised by what natural healing can
do for her—and for you.
“But wouldn’t it be easier if she just took a pill?” you wonder.
It would indeed be easier for your mother to take a pill, but the results
may not be easier to live with. Current medications can provide genuine
relief from afflictive emotions and behaviors for some, but only half of the
people using prescription medications experience a lessening of symptoms
associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia (see pages
23–4). Moreover, these medications are not cures and do not affect the
outcome of the disease. The treatment modalities have focused on palliating
or lessening the symptoms of cognitive decline, including the behaviors
associated with it, such as sundown syndrome, agitation, and wandering.
But the results are generally modest because the underlying causes have not
been addressed. In the following pages, we will explore how Qigong
addresses the root causes of memory loss by bolstering the organ energy
that supports cognitive functioning. In conjunction with Western medicine,
this marriage of approaches may achieve better results to enhance overall
health and wellbeing.
One woman who was experiencing acid reflux illustrates how Eastern
and Western approaches can be combined. She was prescribed medication
by her medical doctor and told she had to take it for he rest of her life; by
contrast, her doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recommended,
“Yes, take that medication for a while but also do exercises and take herbs
that will support your liver and kidneys. Later, we’ll see if you can wean
yourself off the prescription medication.” Both approaches addressed the
need to reduce the acid eating away at her esophagus, but the latter used the
body’s own healing power to restore health. And indeed, after several
months her medication was cut in half, thus lessening the burden on her
liver.
The method of natural healing presented here joins together three
Eastern practices from the same root, beginning with Qigong (pronounced
chee kung), a healing practice from China based on a 4,000-year-old natural
science. In this book natural healing is the umbrella under which these three