Practice Qigong for Ultimate Health

Qigong is the study of life force energy.  Qigong has been practiced in China for over five thousand years and has been shown effective in the prevention and cure of many diseases.  Tens of millions of people in China practice this ancient art daily, yet unlike acupuncture, herbal medicine, or tai chi, Qigong remains a mystery to most westerners.

In Chinese philosophy, “Qi” or “Chi” (pronounced Chee) and known in Japan as “Ki”, and in India as “Prana”, means air or breath, vital energy, or the Universal Force that forms all animate and inanimate things.  “Gong” means work, and refers to the self-discipline leading to the art of mastery. Thus, Qigong is the art and science of Qi cultivation.  This complex energy substance, fundamental to life itself, is comprised of intelligence and its carrier energy.

This ancient discipline combines mental concentration, breathing technique, and body movements to activate and cultivate our vital energy as it flows through the invisible channels, often referred to as meridians, of the body.

Qigong teaches how to use your mind, body, and spirit together to unblock energy and balance Yin and Yang energy in the body.  In Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang are the two polarities that emanate from the Tao (pronounced “Dow”, and sometimes written as “Dao”), or Universal Source.  Yin, is passive, interior, dense, cool and feminine. Yang is active, radiates upward and outward, is expansive, bright, and masculine.  These two energies combine together to create everything we see in our physical universe.  When they become out of balance in our bodies, our energy becomes blocked and we get sick.

We have many energy channels in our body. There are twelve main channels and eight reservoir channels. Each channel serves a specific purpose. The main channels carry energy to wherever energy is needed in the body. Extra energy in the main channels flows to the reservoir channels. The body draws on energy in the reservoir channels when the main channels run low. 

The beauty of Qigong is that it is something that you can do for yourself. You can’t buy this sophisticated medicine that is produced by your own body, yet you can access it for yourself by the amazing practice of Qigong.

If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend Spring Forest Qigong as taught by Chunyi Lin.  He teaches a very practical method that is easy to learn from Cds, a DVD, and a brief manual.  He also briefly describes how you can learn to cultivate Qi to heal others, as well as yourself.

References:

Macritchie, James. Chi Kung – Energy for Life, Haddington, Scotland; Thorsons, 2002. 

Jahnke, Roger, O.M.D. The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi, New York; McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Cohen, Kenneth S., The Way of Qigong, New York; Random House, 1997.

Lin, Chunyi, with Gary Rebstock, Born a Healer, published by Chunyi Lin, 2003