Qi Gong

Qi gong, which means ‘energy exercise’, is thought to have developed from people in ancient China imitating the natural movements of animals as a way to stay healthy. Over thousands of years, this developed into what is now known as qi gong, and its practice has long been claimed to help increase people’s lifespans.

How Qi Gong Works?

Qi gong is seen as encouraging self-healing and the building up of immunity. The exercises relate to acupuncture points and the channels linking them, and are designed to build up chi - the so-called life force or energy - which can then flow to clear problems or blockages. Much of qi gong focuses on storing energy in the tan t’ien (a point just below the navel) - a sort of chi savings account. The Chinese say that by doing qi gong you can build up strength to cure your disease - and once an illness has been cured in this way, it will not return.

What Happens At A Qi Gong Class?

You are advised to wear loose clothes and flat shoes or trainers. There will probably be about 10 or 15 people in a class. At the beginning the teacher will talk about the philosophy of chi and how its circulation around the body can be helped by certain exercises. A lot of emphasis is put on being aware of the tan t’ien energy center in the abdomen. The teacher will demonstrate each exercise sequence to you first and then talk the class through doing the movements themselves. Sometimes movements are done in unison and sometimes each pupil is left to go through the sequence at their own pace.

At times the teacher can appear to use their own energy to influence the posture or movements of pupils. More experienced pupils who are totally swept along by performing the movements may cry out spontaneously at times - which can be rather alarming if you are attending your first class.

The exercises may look simple and gentle but they actually prove physically demanding. By the end of the class you could feel a mixture of elation and exhaustion. The session may end with a short and quiet meditation with the pupils and teacher seated in a circle.

Buqi Healing

In traditional Chinese medicine, one theory of disease is that there is good chi and bad chi. In a normal healthy person, bad chi is thought to leave the body naturally during sleep; but poor posture and stress can prevent this from happening and bad chi can accumulate. If a patient has too much bad chi, then that has to be eliminated from the body. Some qi gong teachers also practice ‘buqi’ healing which aims to take away this harmful energy.The practitioner’s hands - which do not touch the patient - are said to emit vibrations; these are thought to stimulate vibrations in the patient’s body and so help to throw off bad chi.There are records of this hands-off healing method being practiced in China 2,000 years ago.The skill was kept secret and passed from father to son. Dr Shen Hongxun, who has revived interest in buqi healing and brought it to the West, says it is now at the stage that acupuncture was at 30 years ago. In the future, he hopes its use will become just as widespread.

What happens inside the body when you do the exercises?

Qi gong poses and movements can initiate vibrations in the abdomen. These can increase in intensity, moving up the spine and spreading through the body.The force of the vibrations is said to eliminate tension and create a feeling of happiness.

Is qi gong a mental as well as physical exercise?

Yes, up to a point. Primarily it is used to improve the circulation of chi to promote self healing and vitality. But by concentrating on the postures your mind will become calm and clear and your concentration should improve.

Qi Gong Is Good For:

• Stress related conditions
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Heart problems
• Muscle and bone pains and stiffness
• Degenerative conditions
• Headaches

Qi Gong:

AVAILABILITY - Limited

MEDICAL EVIDENCE - Sparse

MEDICAL ACCEPTANCE - Limited

SELF HELP - Possible

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