Here’s what you need to know before jumping into this ancient exercise system. If you’re anyone involved with holistic exercise and the pursuit of health, sooner or later, you’ll stumble upon qigong. Qigong is a holistic approach to health involving movement, breathing, and regulating the mind.
If health and peace within are two of your priorities, qigong is the perfect embodiment of what you want to achieve. Whatever age you are, it’s always a good time to pay intense attention to your body. A healthy body is the best gift you can give yourself.
If you’ve heard about it, but are unsure what it means, read further to learn what you need to know about this traditional Chinese practice.
What is qigong?
It was originally developed thousands of years ago in China and is pronounced “chi gong.” It is linked to traditional Chinese medicine, although it is also widely used in a sense to include exercise as well.
The word “qigong” is more acceptable when referring to exercises rather than traditional Chinese medicine. It is made up of two major components — physical and psychological. With these components combined, practitioners of this art regulate their minds, breathing, movements, and posture.
Instead of looking at it as a specific exercise, look at it as a holistic approach to a particular traditional form of Chinese fitness.
Qigong has many forms. It can be difficult to enumerate precisely what it is. A more accurate way of defining it is by acknowledging its different forms. Doing so gives you a better idea of what it is, what it does, and how it can benefit you.
Breathing
Breathing involves slow, long, and deep patterns that switch from abdominal breathing to a combination of living with speech sounds. In some instances, you will recite a sound together, but in other cases, this revolves strictly around just breathing.
Movements
The movements are smooth, gentle, and designed for relaxation. The slow motion helps stimulate healthy blood flow without making the practitioner uneasy or unrelaxed. The ultimate goal of these movements is grace, gentleness, and calmness.
Mindset
The concept of qigong is that when you properly breathe and move, you can achieve peace. The mindset behind this is focusing your attention and visualization on a single subject instead of free-flowing.
Are qigong and tai chi the same?
No. The two were created for entirely different purposes. Tai chi is an ancient martial art, while qigong is a form of relaxation and medicine (treatment). Despite the differences, tai chi still incorporates hundreds of qigong movements.
Tai chi involves physical postures, focused attention, and controlled breathing, all qigong practices. It’s safe to say that tai chi can be found under the mother branch of qigong, since the latter is a broader approach to health.
Is it safe?
As long as you learn it from an authentic practitioner, you will be taught different exercises that are safe and healthy.
Its main goal is to improve health, but if you feel like the exercises are too advanced for your level, you are free to make adjustments.
It is also not a type of exercise focusing on weight loss or muscle gain. Instead, it focuses more on breathing, movement, and relaxation.
Qigong is a healthy exercise when it is done correctly. Aside from its health benefits, it is also suitable for people struggling with happiness, contentment, or positivity.
It, as a form of meditation, helps you see the grace, calmness, and peace in the world.
While there are no licenses, training, or certifications for being a qigong instructor, you can look for long-time practitioners and ask previous clients about their effectiveness.
Can it heal me?
While qigong is a healthy approach to life, it should not be regarded as a substitute for medicine or medical treatment.
If you have a known medical condition, think of it as a way to ease your mind instead of healing your sickness.
Refrain from substituting actual treatment with the practice of pure qigong. However, it can help you manage through the treatment by providing you peace, clarity, and courage.
Qigong is also a great practice to help you deal with anxiety when dealing with a medical condition. Although not always guaranteed to be effective, there are those practicing itto handle tough times.
