qi gong exercises

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Origin of Qi Gong Exercises

Qi Gong Exercises already existed in Chinese traditional medicine, philosophy and martial arts for more than 5000 years ago. When the Qi (chi), which is a term for energy flow, life force, and force of energy, is imbalanced it will cause alterations physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Qi gong exercises (pronounced as chee gong) helps in balancing the qi in the body by aligning the breathing patterns with movements and integration of meditation. Before, many terms were given to qi gong exercises such as xing-qi (promoting the qi circulation), dao-yin (guiding the energy flow), fu-qi (taking qi), tui-na (exhaling and inhaling), zuo-chan (sitting meditation), jing-zuo (sitting still) and yang-shen (nourishing the spirit). Until finally in 1953 Liu Gui-zheng published “Practice on Qigong Therapy” where qi gong exercises derived its name and remain as it is known today.

Training Methods of Qi Gong Exercises

qi gong exercises

There are four different methods of Qi Gong Exercises, but all of comprises different variations of physical and mental training rooted back from ancient Chinese philosophers.

1. Dynamic Training. Dynamic means movement. These qi gong exercises involves different stances and positions of fluid movements that promotes the coordination of breathing and awareness. It involves graceful yet slow motion movements like imitating five animals, white crane and wild goose or martial arts poses.

2. Static Training. Static means staying still. These qi gong exercises are similar to yoga poses wherein you have to hold your breath in a certain position for a couple of seconds then exhale slowly. These exercises are helpful to people with breathing problems like asthma, for it will strengthen their lung muscles. Plus it is also a useful knowledge to control breathing patterns during panic attacks.

3. Meditative Training. There are lots of worries and stresses your mind encounters and meditative training is a great way of freeing the minds from those elements. This type of qi gong exercises aim to empty the mind allowing the balancing of qi flow in meridian pathways.

qi gong exercises

4. Use of External Agents. Qi gong exercises with integration of other traditional healing and treatment such as herbs supplements, acupuncture, chiropractics, and massage therapy.

Health Benefits of Qi Gong Exercises

Weight Loss. Unlike jogging or other forms of exercising wherein you are allowed to exhale and inhale anytime most specially when you feel tired, qi gong exercises are mostly controlled breathing. Simple positions may seem easy but when your breathing pattern is controlled it requires lots of efforts. After assuming few stances of the chi gong exercises you will immediately notice sweat dripping all over your body.

qi gong exercises

Protection against chronic illness. Chi gong exercises aims to normalize these important elements in the body: hormone, respiration, circulation and inflammatory responses. It is believed that chi gong exercises help to stabilize the chi in our body which helps in preventing anomalies like hypertension, insomnia and other diseases. But keep in mind that you should not only depend your health in qi gong exercises, you should also practice having a healthy lifestyle.

Increased mind capacity. When the mind is exhausted it can no longer think creatively no matter how hard you try. Through meditation, our mind can rest and relax so that it can think of brighter ideas the next time you need to put your thinking caps on.