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| Qi Gong |
What is Qigong?
I have found Qigong to be a tremendous way to improve health,
both body and mind, that few people seem to be aware of. And if they have heard the word, there is
only a vague understanding of what it is.
Although this has slowly been changing over the last few years. Qi
(pronounced chee) is often translated as vital energy or life force; gong (pronounced gung) is accomplishment
or a skill cultivated through practice, therefore Qigong can be translated as the cultivation of vital energy. This ancient form of health improvement and
self-healing exercises is based on the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). However the “medicine” is in the actual exercise itself not the normal
understanding of medication! (And if you
supplement Qigong exercises with proper diet you can get even better results.) A more lengthy definition can be
found on the National Qigong Association website.
How does it work?
The effectiveness of Qigong is based on the alignment of
just three things; breath, posture and intent.
Although it sounds relatively simple it will require practice, but the
benefit potential will be worth the effort.
Often it is good to have a qualified teacher (where one is available) to
help bring it all together.
Which Qigong exercise works for me?
There are literally thousands of Qigong exercises. Although many
are beneficial there will be some exercises which resonate more with an
individual than others. The degree to
which an exercise will “feel right” is usually related to the condition of Qi
(life-force energy) in that person’s body.
Qi may be excessive, deficient, or even stagnant in a particular
organ. Or Qi may even be blocked in certain
energy pathways. Finding the Qigong
exercises that work best for the individual is important and may require
guidance from an experienced practitioner.
Luckily there are Qigong exercises which should prove beneficial to just
about everyone. Probably the most
popular is “Ba Daunn Jin” often translated as the Eight Pieces of Brocade. This is the first full form I learned, and I
still practice it close to twenty years later.
In future blogs I will go into the detail of Qigong
exercises such as the Eight Pieces of Brocade including the particular form
that I practice, along with specific organs and conditions it directly impacts. I will also include tips to get the most out
of Qigong practice.
But first we have to make sure you are breathing. Yes, I know everyone breaths, but there is a
difference in how most people breathe and correct Qigong breathing. This will be the topic of my next blog.
