What Is Qigong?
Qigong literally means “life energy work”. Qigong can be described as a mind-body practice that improves one’s mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-awareness, and focused intent. There are many different Qi Gong styles, forms, and lineages, each with slightly different applications but similar fundamental theories.
One purpose of Qigong is to cultivate life energy or “Qi”. What is ‘Qi’ or life energy? It may sound confusing if you hear it for the first time. I am sure you have heard about acupuncture. Acupuncture can help to heal some illnesses and relieve the pain. Why is that?
Acupuncture and Qigong are part of classic Chinese medicine. According to classic Chinese medicine, Qi or life energy flows in our body via meridians. There are many meridians passing through different organs and making connections with one another. If there is a blockage in meridians, you may feel ill or pain. Acupuncture uses needles to stimulate the affected meridian, unblock the blockage, and heal the illness or relieve the pain. Qigong by design, increases blood and Qi circulation through certain meridians, around certain organs by posture the body in a certain way combined with deep breathing to prevent or unblock the blockage in the meridian. This is why practicing qigong regularly has many health benefits.
There are many different Qigong forms that can be carried out in sitting, standing or lying position, or moving. Some Qigong forms focus on breathing patterns for the purpose of mind-body integration, emotional and spiritual fulfillment, Qi cultivation, and healing. Some others involve repeatedly tensing and then loosening the muscles for the purpose of strengthening the internal organs and developing stronger muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Categories of Qi Gong forms include:
1) Medical Qi Gong;
2) Martial Qi Gong;
3) Spiritual Qi Gong;
4) Intellectual Qi Gong:
5) Life Nourishing Qi Gong Forms.
Most commonly practiced forms include:
- Eight Pieces of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin ⼋段錦).
- Muscle-Tendon Change Classic (Yì Jīn Jīng 易筋經).
- Five Animals Frolics (Wu Qin Xi 五禽戲).
- Six Healing Sounds (Liu Zi Jue 六字訣).
- Dragon and Tiger