Qigong

WHAT IS QIGONG?

Qigong (aka Chi Kung) is a complete system of health and exercise from Ancient China. Qigong literally translates as Qi, breath or energy & Gong, exercise; when combined Qigong becomes a system of “breath & energy” exercise or the “art of developing energy for health, internal force & mind training” (Wong Kiew Kit, The Art of Chi Kung). The roots of Qigong go back 6,000 + years to the Taoist Dao Yin exercises of ancient China. There is serious debate as to how old Qigong really is, with 6,000+ years being the widely accepted age.

In China Qigong has influenced many different fields including: Medical, Martial Arts, Society, Philosophy and more.

Qigong was created for the maintenance of mind/body health and continues to be taught in hospitals throughout China. Qigong is one of the four branches of “Traditional” Chinese Medicine or TCM. According to Dr. Stephen T. Chang, in order for Traditional Chinese Medicine to be effective and authentic it must contain all four branches. The branches of TCM are: Qigong/Internal Exercises (Internal Alchemy), Tui-Na (Taoist Medical Massage), Herbs & Acupuncture. If one branch is missing then it is not TCM and will not be effective. For example, if you go to an Acupuncture Physician and they do not have a knowledge of or practice Tui-Na then no matter what they profess or promise their treatments will only be 18% effective (according to Dr. Stephen T. Chang). Same rules apply for Qigong & Herbs. So make sure they have a knowledge of all four.

In fact, according to some scholars, Qigong is the most important aspect of TCM. Wong Kiew Kit states in “The Art of Chi Kung”, that “Chi Kung is excellent for curing illness and promoting health. There is a saying that Chi Kung can cure hundreds [emphasis added] of illnesses.” The roots of Qigong rest with the “Barefoot Doctors” of China. These Doctors would travel throughout China going from town to town, village to village passing on and learning the local forms of Qigong as they traveled. After many years of travel, the Barefoot Dr. would amass a formidable knowledge of healing many diseases and illnesses.

WHAT IS QI?

Before we discuss Qigong further, I want to make sure you have an understanding of Qi. You already learned Qi, means breath or energy, and Qigong means breath or energy exercise. But how exactly do you exercise energy, what is energy, how do you know it is real, and do other forms of exercise improve or benefit energy?

First, the easiest way to explain or relate to Qi (pronounced Chi—Chee), is the internal force within all things. In humans, Qi is the internal force that allows the body to perform its functions. Qi is the
reason for your thoughts, it allows blood to circulate, it gives the organs strength to function, moves the limbs and unites your Qi to universal Qi, or to others and the universe. Remember this equation, blood follows the Qi & Qi follows the breath and mind or intent.

Illness is a result of blockages (stress, tension, organ imbalance etc…) within the Qi, Disease is the result of long term illness or tension. Split the word Disease and you have Dis-Ease, no ease,
or not being at ease…. Therefore, Disease is a result of being under stress and tension for a long period of time, this tension blocks or disrupts the flow of Qi. Release, Relax the tension—
Increase the flow of Qi, and the Illness or Disease is improved, prevented or reversed!
According to Lam Kam Chuen in “The Way of Energy”, “The Chinese have studied the energy of the human body for thousands of years. This study is one of the earliest activities recorded in
human civilization and dates back to the reign of the Yellow Emperor [most likely much earlier]….Chi is the fundamental energy that sustains life and is present in the vibrating biological processes
of every single one of the millions of cells. It drives all the activities throughout the organism.”

Using this understanding of Qi, Qiqong now becomes: A system of exercise that consists of both flowing and stationary postures to ensure the proper flow of Qi, whereby preventing or reversing disease & illlness.

Qigong is the oldest system in the world which specifically increases and improves the flow of Qi in the body.

All forms of Martial Arts, including Taiji Quan, and according to Dr. Stephen T. Chang most if not all forms of exercise are derivatives in one form or another of Qigong.

What is Meditation?

Perhaps what is more important is to ask What is not Meditation? Almost everything you have heard about Meditation is FALSE! It is not a means to enlightenment, it is not a mystical experience, it is not new age, or psychological, nor is it Bio Feedback, or any number of other things that are being circulated about it.

Briefly meditation is a combination of relaxed deep abdominal breathing, in which the mind and intent or (I) in Chinese is focused on one thing or thought and only one thing or thought.

For instance, meditation could be counting the breaths in a set routine or formula, it could be focusing on a color, object or idea, could be circulating the Qi etc….. Meditation is not, sitting still and observing, or taking it all in, or observing the thoughts and letting them go…..

Also, meditation especially contemplative meditation is an ancient system that originated in Ancient China roughly 5-6,000 years ago, and was a primary subject in the Worlds first fully functioning University!

Any book or workshop or session or tape that features meditation as a new approach, or new research shows, or we have a new slant on such and such is hogwash plain and simple. Meditation is ANCIENT and was one of the first forms of Qigong & Dao Yin, in fact one could say that Meditation is the Union with Tao!

How do I find out more?

Click on the links for Classes & Workshops and attend one or several. Seek proper & authentic instruction from a qualified Master Teacher or a Teacher studying with a qualified Master.