Qigong

Qigong is an ancient system of exercise, which has its origins in China, the practice of which enables the build up of health and prevention of disease by the combination of disciplining the body, mind, and the ‘Qi’ or life force of the body. The term ‘Qigong’, pronounced as ‘Chi Gung’, and sometimes spelt like ‘Chi Kung’, in fact, has been derived from the Chinese words ‘Qi’, which means ‘energy’ or ‘life force’ and ‘Gong’, which means ‘practice’ or ‘work’.

There is documented evidence of Qigong dating back to about 2,000-2,500 years back. Although Chinese historians and archeologists have found indications of techniques that look remarkably like Qigong that go back to even 5,000 years. However, it was only in 1953 that ‘Qigong’ as a term was accepted as a name for this exercise system, due to Liu Gui-zheng publishing a paper that was entitles ‘Practice On Qigong Therapy’. Before that, the exercises that are part of Qigong were referred to by many other terms like Daoyin, Liandan, Xingqi, Jinggon, Xuangong, Xinggon, Dinggong, Xiudao, Neigong, Yangshengong, Zhoshan, and many more.

How does Qigong work?

There are several elements that form the basis of Qigong, such as: posture, which regulates the body; regulating mental activity via concentration, relaxation, and quiet; breath regulation, to increase energy; movement of limbs, for balance; self massage, for health and relaxation. Qigong has a wide variety of styles and exercises, such as: Qigong done in standing stance style, wherein the body is exercised through standing in a posture that is motionless and relaxed; ‘tuna’ style of Qigong, with its emphasis on inhaling and exhaling breath, thus gaining control over it; the ‘dao-yin’ or ‘moving’ style of Qigong, which involves external movement along with attaining internal quiescence; and various types of self massage Qigong.

Basically, this ancient Chinese science and art involves increasing the awareness of the ‘Qi’ and using a precise choreographed system of movements, postures, techniques of respiration, and meditation to gain control of it. As a matter of fact, Qigong is akin to biofeedback, teaching psychological-cum-physiological self-regulation, wherein the practitioner gains awareness of functions of the body that conventionally regarded as involuntary, such as the rate of respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and so on, and learns how to regain a healthier balance. But, in Qigong, there are no machines used, unlike biofeedback. The only requirement required in Qigong is investing from ½ an hour to 1 hour per day in doing the exercises, thus gaining increased energy, better health, and tranquil alertness.

What are the Beneficial Effects of Qigong?

According to some estimates, about 80 million of the population of China practice Qigong, and more and more people in Europe and the United States are taking to it after becoming aware of its health benefits. In fact, after clinical trials and controlled scientific testing, Qigong is often recommended as a complementary system to be used along with conventional medicine. For example, it has been found that hypersensitive people on medication who incorporate Qigong do much better compared to those who only take the medication. Likewise, Qigong is said to improve the immune system as well as mental health, and prevents age-related disabilities. It also improves the cardiovascular system, lowering the resting heart rate and normalizing cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and EKG. Qigong is beneficial for the musculoskeletal system too, because it improves balance, posture, flexibility, and strength, thus prevents falling injuries in the elderly. It is also recommended for controlling chronic pain, such as caused by fibromyalgia, arthritis, injury, and surgery.

Qigong is also said to increase longevity, due to its beneficial effects on health, and also helps to gain spirituality, due to its meditational breathing exercises and postures, which have an effect on the mind. In fact, Qigong is often divided into martial, spiritual, or medical categories, according to the purpose it is used for.