Qigong 101
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Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice that combines movement, meditation, and regulation of qi (vital energy) to support health and healing. It has only become widely known in the West in recent decades. While similar to tai chi, qigong places more emphasis on cultivating energy than martial arts skills. Regular practice has been shown to improve health and immunity, though traditional training takes years to learn properly under supervision to avoid potential imbalances.
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Qigong 101
- 1. Qigong 101 Martin Petrovic
- 2. What is Qigong? • Qi (Chi) = ENERGY • Gong (Kung) = SKILL • Qigong = The SKILL of attracting vital ENERGY • Qigong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation.
- 3. Is Qigong new? • Qigong is the most ancient of the Chinese arts • It is the foundation of Chinese medicine and the Chinese martial arts
- 4. Why have I never heard of Qigong? • Qigong was suppressed when the Communists took over China • It has only been about 15-20 years since the government has allowed the practice
- 5. Why practice Qigong? There are three main reasons why people do Qigong: 1. To gain strength, improve health or reverse a disease 2. To gain skill working with Qi so as to become a healer 3. To become more connected with "Tao, God, Source, Spirit, etc." for a more meaningful connection with nature and the universe.
- 6. Is Qigong like Tai Chi? • Tai chi is a form of external Qigong ** Tai chi has more of an emphasis on the martial arts and movement, where Qigong has its emphasis on energy and healing
- 7. Do I have to believe in Qi? Qi (Chi) means energy and is often a difficult concept for Westerners. You do not have to accept this concept to benefit from Qigong
- 8. Current Research Starting around 1980, scientists in China began extensive clinical and experimental research on medical applications of Qigong. Most of these studies were reported only at international conferences, and only a few were published because suitable scientific journals are not available in China. Today, Western research on Qigong and its effects on immunity is still limited, despite the increasing number of positive results observed in clinical practice.
- 9. Important Note Most traditional training takes many years of practice under the supervision of someone who has also learned over years, someone who can guide and prevent the student from taking an unbalanced approach to Qigong practice. The orthodox practitioners and schools warn that improperly supervised practice can cause unbalanced circulation of inner energies that can eventually lead to detrimental effects on the various systems of the body, both mental and physical.
Editor's Notes
- Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance dating back thousands of years and is believed to be the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The word Qigong contains two concepts: Qi, the vital energy of the body, and gong, the training or cultivation of the Qi. Qigong practice integrates meditation, breathing techniques and slow physical movements to promote the circulation of Qi within the human body and consequently improve spiritual, physical and mental health.
- The documented history of Qigong goes back approximately 2,500 years. However, Chinese archaeologists and historians have found references to Qigong-like techniques at least five thousand years old.With more than 10,000 styles of Qigong and 200 million people practicing, there are a variety of methods -- broadly categorized as internal and external. Internal Qigong is much like meditation, with visualizations in order to guide the energy. External Qigong includes movement accompanying the meditation. Qigong is famous in China for curing chronic disease and promoting health.
- Soaring Crane Qigong was the style that led the reemergence of Qigong in modern China.Today Qigong is encouraged in China because of the dramatic improvement in the health of those that practice it.
- Medical Qigong treatment has been officially recognized as a standard medical technique in Chinese hospitals since 1989. It has been included in the curriculum of major universities in China. After years of debate, the Chinese government decided to officially manage Qigong through government regulation in 1996 and has also listed Qigong as part of their National Health Plan.
- Tai chi has more of an emphasis on the martial arts and movement, where Qigong has its emphasis on energy and healing
- Two explanations of how Qigong work can be beneficial using accepted Western concepts: 1. The mind/body connection: We now realize that the state of your mind affects the state of your body. Stress is the clearest example -- people that cannot handle stress are more susceptible to disease. 2. Using visualization to treat disease: Cancer patients often have dramatic results when using appropriate visualizations to stimulate their immune systems.
- Beginning about 1980, extensive clinical and experimental research on medical applications of Qigong was carried out by scientists in China. Most of these studies were reported only at international conferences, and only a few were published because suitable scientific journals are not available in China. Today, Western research on Qigong and its effects on immunity is still limited, despite the the increasing number of positive results observed in clinical practice.
- Most traditional training takes many years of practice under the supervision of someone who has also learned over years, someone who can guide and prevent the student from taking an unbalanced approach to Qigong practice. The orthodox practitioners and schools warn that improperly supervised practice can cause unbalanced circulation of inner energies that can eventually lead to detrimental effects on the various systems of the body, both mental and physical.