Finding martial arts and discovering inner peace
Mahesh with one of his many awards
Mahesh Pathirana’s love for martial arts is what led him to leave the corporate sector and eventually discover the arts of Qi Gong and Tai Chi, he tells us.
Raised in Deniyaya, Master Mahesh practised martial arts as a 15-year old and was a gold medalist for ‘wushu’ at that age. However, his love for martial arts was gradual and was eventually the reason in deciding to pursue it over a demanding 9-5 job in a top notch company.
Known by many as Master Mahesh he describes himself as a strong willed person with a passionate mindset.
“I started practising health Qi Gong in 2009 after realising that my Wushu skills were not what they use to be. With aging it’s very hard to keep your flexibility and strength. Afterwards I started practicing by devoting my time to learn and practice this precious art. It improves my flexibility, Strength and more importantly mental stability. Through the health Qi Gong practice I developed calmness, peace of mind and became more healthier physically and mentally. Thereafter, Master Mahesh began competing in “International Health Qi Gong games” and won gold medals from 2015 -2018 consecutively.
Today, Master Mahesh is an international Qigong and Tai Chi referee and coach who has won multiple international and national championships.
It is at this point he tells us he decided to switch careers and chose to coach Qi Gong and Tai Chi in 2017. He is now a 4th Duan Instructor in Health Qi Gong.
“I never forgot to study further as I learned Energy healing and became a Energy healing therapist and obtained a degree in Bachelor of Therapeutic Counseling (BCT),” he said.
“Qi Gong” is a form of gentle exercise composed by movements that are repeated a number of times, often stretching the body, increasing fluid movement, building awareness of how the body moves through space, we are told. These internal movements or flows in Chinese are called nei gong or “internal power”. These internal nei gong movements make qi gong a superior health and wellness practice according to Master Mahesh.
Tai Chi is a body and mind fitness regime guided by ancient Chinese wisdom. It originated as a Martial Art and has been practiced since the 17th century. The slow, continuous movements are designed to impart powerful physical skills and to stimulate the flow of energy within the body, with the ultimate goal of improved mind-body connection, and increased longevity. 
The movements in the Qi Gong and Tai Chi exercises mainly feature gentle, slow, smooth, continuous, movements with moderate tension, well-balanced between stillness and motion, well-coordinated between spirit and form, and well-combined with Qi.
“Through the bending, stretching, stooping, and pintching movements of the limbs and trunk all tendons and muscles of the body can be stretched and extended and the channels can be unblocked to achieve “straight bones, lithe tendons, and smooth blood and Qi circulation,” Master Mahesh tells us.
To him of all the benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong, its ability to create a peaceful and grounded mind is its most precious aspect of the sport. “The inner peace healing is the most precious jewel you could add to your body,” explains Mahesh addding that the sport does not require special equipment.
Not only does it calm the mind , “It will keep you healthy,” he tells us adding that however, a good teacher is important to master the techniques.
As transferring knowledge is what matters the most he says. He also adds that age or gender is no barrier to practising the art of Qi Gong and Tai Chi. Master Mahesh offers coaching lessons at Prana Lounge, Colombo 07 and Global Academy, Nugegoda.
For more information contact Mahesh via email at maheshvp@yahoo.com