What is
Qigong?
The concept of
qi (or chi, pronounced chee) has been a fundamental belief in most eastern
cultures for thousands of years. "Qi" in Chinese means energy, or the
vital life force which flows through all living things. It is
scientifically observable and measurable. "Gong" means skill, exercise, or
work. So, essentially, qigong (also spelled chi kung) means "energy work."
There are thousands of qigong exercises falling into two categories:
dynamic qigong (dong gong) which is exercise, and tranquil qigong (jing
gong) which is meditation. Tai Chi is a form of dynamic qigong. Chinese
medicine includes acupuncture, herbology, massage, and qigong. Many
doctors of Chinese medicine prescribe medical qigong for their patients.
This helps them recover much more quickly. Anyone can practice qigong.
Because there is sitting, standing, moving and even lying qigong, there
are techniques suitable for every age and physical condition, and it is an
ideal exercise for the disabled.
How Does
Qigong/Tai Chi Work?
According to
Traditional Chinese Medicine, disease is the result of the weak and
sluggish flow of qi through the meridians. Fourteen main energy meridians
link all the organs and the entire physical body to the mind and emotional
systems. You can't see the meridians; you can only detect the energy that
moves through them. The slow and gentle movements of Tai Chi open up these
energy channels, and the rhythmic movements of the muscles, joints and
spine pump energy through the body, thereby flushing out the stagnated qi
and replacing it with fresh, oxygenated, "smooth" Qi.
In addition to
working with the meridian system, Tai Chi also provides a gentle massaging
of the internal organs, as well as clearing the joints of calcium
deposits. This is because the movements require the body to rotate about
95 percent of the ways it can be rotated. The next closest western
exercise to that is swimming, and it only rotates about 65 percent of the
body's potential movement. Other forms of exercise like jogging, for
example, improve circulation but do not affect internal organs.
In order to
perform Tai Chi properly the body must move as a unit. This principle of
unity in movement is one of the ways which it contrasts most basically to
western calisthenics, which use various parts of the body independently.
Research has shown that Tai Chi provides all the benefits of a rigorous
workout but because it is not strenuous it carries no potentially harmful
side effects.
The U.S. National Institute of Health's
Office of Alternative medicine (OAM) in Washington D.C. has funded in
depth Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) research projects at 12
major Universities including Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and John
Hopkins. Dozens of medical schools include CAM courses in their
basic curriculum incorporating Qigong in their teaching and research
curriculums.
Qigong is an excellent compliment to
Western treatment for lowering stress and increasing the immune system for
better health. Qigong is also a simple and fun daily exercise system of
preventive personal healthcare for body, mind and spirit.