Mirko Lorenz

Mirko is head of Keep Moving; he is also the person who developed this system of training in the first place. He is a certified DDQT teacher (the German parent organization of taiji and qigong teachers) and licensed as a prevention course instructor by Germany’s statutory health insurance companies. He has studied taiji, qigong and meditation, looking back upon 17 years of training in martial arts and techniques of self-awareness. His methods of teaching ensure that every person attending his classes, from beginners to experienced students, will gain new insights and come one step closer to grasping the principles of taiji. For the last four years the main focus of his work has been on therapeutic training sessions with persons suffering from movement disorders or Parkinson’s disease. His training system Keep Moving is based on these experiences and on his close cooperation with the Parkinson Clinic at Beelitz-Heilstätten.

Mirko Lorenz spent one year in China, moving from karate training to classes at the Northern Chinese Martial Arts Academy and finally to the Wudang Mountains in the province of Hubei, where he practiced Taijiquan ( TaiChi ), Qigong and Meditation eight hours per day. Back in Germany he first studied Chen style taijiquan as taught by Master Chen Xiaowang, but later adopted the taiji style and teaching system of Master Chen Ziqiang. He is the only person teaching this style of taijiquan in Germany.

Some years ago a physician studying taiji with Mirko Lorenz came upon scientific studies proving the beneficial effects of taiji on persons with Parkinson’s disease and suggested to Mirko to present his training methods at the Parkinson Clinic Beelitz-Heilstätten. Mirko has been working with Parkinson patients ever since, passing on his profound knowledge of taiji in training sessions at the Beelitz-Heilstätten clinic and elsewhere.

While working with Parkinson patients during these first classes Mirko took great care to adapt his taiji training methods to the special requirements and abilities of his students. This lead to a simplified but highly efficient system of movements suitable for persons suffering from Parkinson syndrome of low to medium severity.

The slow and gentle movements practiced during a Keep Moving session induce tranquility and promote concentration. Walking exercises teach a more precise way of moving, thus reducing the risk of falling and improving balance and sureness of stance. Smooth and fluid movement sequences enhance co-ordination and agility and bestow greater self-assurance when coping with everyday life.