The Practice of Qigong

The Practice of Qigong

Have you ever thought about trying Chinese medicine? Like the more commonly-known practice of T'ai Chi, Qigong (pronounced chee gung) is a powerful system of breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation used to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate life energy (qi). Qigong practice leads to better health and vitality and a tranquil state of mind. And it can be very easy to learn.

You may be skeptical about claims to ‘balance your energy,’ or techniques that create a healing effect using nothing but your breath and a few strange-looking movements. Qigong is also known as ‘moving meditation,’ and it’s helped people overcome physical, mental and emotional issues - even reversing disease. A few of the conditions treated with success are migraines, sinus problems and allergies, weight loss, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, digestion issues, hearing and vision problems.

Qigong can be practiced standing, seated, or lying down, and is suitable for young and old.

Here's how Qigong works: You repeat a series of simple movements while breathing calmly and deeply. You use your imagination to guide your breath into the major energy points in your body.

In Chinese medicine, there are energy pathways that connect the different parts of your body, also known as meridians. If you've ever had acupuncture, these are the points used during treatment. Funny thing is... you can actually feel stimulation along these points. It creates a tingling sensation, like an electro-magnetic force is moving along invisible highways in your body.

It’s impossible to explain all the movements and philosophies of qigong here, so this is just an introduction to whet your appetite. Breathing, visualization and imagery are used extensively, along with easy physical movements. Here’s a simple beginning.

Find a comfortable chair and sit upright. In Qigong meditation, both feet must be pointed straight ahead. Your tongue rests against the roof of your mouth, just behind the teeth. The tongue is against the palate because it acts as a bridge for the energy to pass from the top of the head on down through the esophagus.

Your chin should be pulled back so that your spine is straight, to allow a smooth flow of energy. Your hands should rest on your legs, face up.

Proper breathing is from the diaphragm. Though there are certain exceptions, you should breathe through the nose. Let the diaphragm expand downward. It is important to pause between inhaling and exhaling, to collect the chi when you are manipulating its force.

Focus your eyes on a distant point (or on a candle, if you have one), and listen to your breathing. If you like, imagine a rainbow and focus on its colors. Let the stress of the day roll away. If something comes into your mind while meditating, don’t scold yourself; just acknowledge it and push it aside. Then focus again on your breath.

With just a little practice, you too can balance your life’s energy and become more calm and stress-free!