Brief Introduction To Qigong
Where Did Qigong Originate?
Several thousand years ago anywhere from 4000 to 7000 years Qigong or Chi Kung was introduced to China. It has become an ancient treasure of China’s past and its cultural foundations. Chi Kung embraces and cultivates the best of Taoism or Chinese philosophy.
“We should value it, and teach what we know to others — so every person can benefit from it.” Master Ng Ming Yin
Most Americans have heard of Tai Chi but only a few recognized that Tai Chi is a martial art form of a vast system of exercises known as Chi gong. Or that Chi Kung is an integral part of Chinese medicine. While medical doctors stateside prescribe antibiotics, Chinese doctors prescribe any number of herbal remedies and a formula of prescribed qigong exercises. Over 100 million Chinese begin their day with Qigong. They can be seen in the parks performing the slow, deliberate, trance-like movements of Chi Kung.
Qigong – Energy Or Life Force
For thousands of years the Chinese have understood that Qi or Chi is energy or the life force and flows through a dozen pathways, or meridians in the body. Blockages in these meridians cause weakness and disease. Proper breath control, postures, still exercises and meditation in all form qigong which work to unclog the blockages to promote the free flow of Qi and to balance the energy within the body.
Cultivating Qigong requires concentration and focus bringing the mind, body and “life forces” together to assist the individual to begin a new way of life. The practice is a way of life that involves movement “exercise” and “stillness” “meditation” with breath.
In her 2001 book “The Field” Lynn McTaggart explores western science. The scientific research has discovered the field which is a medium that transports energy back and forth between all subatomic particles “the existence of the field” implies that all matter in the universe is connected on the subatomic level through a constant dance of quantum energy.”
So what on earth does this have to do with Qigong?
Qigong has been a part of Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese and Korean cultures for thousands of years. Chi Kung is built on the premise of cultivating your Qi or Chi which translates as either vital breath or life energy. The monks, physicians, shamans and warriors of these cultures practiced poses or exercises aimed at strengthening the Qi with a view to creating overall better health, stamina and strength as well as cultivating the quiet mind.
Practicing Qigong is learning to control and direct seemingly involuntary functions of the body, like blood pressure, blood flow, and circulation of nutrients to the cells as well as control of the breath. It has been shown that just 30 minutes a day of Qigong will provide healthier bodies, sharper minds, more energy and peaceful calm emotions.
