Probably one of the most misunderstood of all New Age practices is Qi Gong. For one thing, not many people know how to pronounce its name appropriately (it’s Chee Kung). Another thing is that many think it is just a relaxation technique; it actually can be used both as a relaxation and martial art technique. Finally, a lot of people mistake it as Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual practice that is banned by the Communist Chinese government.

A set of concentration, relaxation, and breathing exercises, Qi Gong is designed to restore balance and harmony in the qi or energy in the body. To the uninitiated, it looks like Tai Chi and yoga rolled into one. It follows a philosophy that instructs people on how to exploit and optimize their use of qi, maintaining its free movement throughout the body.

Qi Gong adherents believe that all people, regardless of their expertise in the area or background, can improve their health and benefit in other ways from it.

We become ill when this energy (qi) movement becomes out of balance, slows down, or stagnates. We are healthy and happy when this movement is unhindered and in balance. To illustrate this fact, one can use the analogy of water. If you are walking through the woods and saw a stream of quick flowing water and a stagnant pond of water, where would you drink from?

Qi Gong – Its Beginnings and Uses

According to researchers, Qi Gong has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, although some of its practitioners believe its earliest practice began around 2,500 years ago. In Chinese culture, it dates back to ancient Shamanic practices that then evolved integrating both Taoist and Buddhist philosophies that’s applied in the art of self-defense as well as to prevent and treat disease.

Today, Qi Gong is widely offered in fitness centers and health clubs across the US. Those practicing it think about their focus points, concentration, and breathing as they perform a number of controlled, careful, and slow movements. They mostly concentrate on the movement of qi within their bodies, and in certain instances cases, focus on specific body parts that require healing.

Presently there are literally thousands of different Qi Gong exercises being practiced around the world, with each type having its own unique style. Be that as it may, Qi Gong has four important areas of application and concentration. They include:

1. Spiritual: The ideas used in Qi Gong bring us in harmony with nature and can also make more self aware, less stressed, and calmer. These ideas originate from spiritual Qi Gong, Buddhism, and Taoism. Besides helping individuals stay in communion with a divine presence, Qi Gong can also assist them in getting in touch with themselves.

2. Healing: This basically refers to stress. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that reducing our stress levels is essential in the prevention of illnesses and diseases, such as anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Qi Gong is a healing art designed to help alleviate conditions through self healing and the strengthening of the immune system of the body.

3. Sports: The practice of Qi Gong has led to the development of distinct techniques that can be applicable in the area of sports, particularly sports involving the martial arts. Qi Gong can help boost flexibility, balance, coordination, stamina, etc., which can all be utilized in various sports from ping pong, to tennis to golf.

4. External Healing: Basically the same as number 1, albeit often added with extra complementary healing practices like acupuncture and osteopathy. According to Qi Gong practitioners, this exercise can exploit the qi that is abundant in nature and channel it through their bodies. They believe this energy helps wash and cleanse their bodies. Qi Gong is a bit similar to Reiki except that the former is not a hands-on technique.

It is important to note that Qi Gong can be also applicable in the realm of business and art. Theoretically, it can help address “hurry sickness” as it is believed to help reverse heart disease associated with this “sickness,” and slow down aging.

Health Benefits

According to Qi Gong adherents, the main goal of this therapy is to set free the flow of qi if it has been impeded by stress, injury, disease, etc.

Despite the fact that very few studies about its efficacy have been conducted in the West, Qi Gong is widely practiced in clinics and hospitals throughout Asia, as it is considered to be an easy stress-reducing activity that can actually help slow down the aging process. It is very rarely used even as a complementary therapy in Western conventional medicine. Long time practitioners, however, attest that Qi Gong has helped them reverse the effects of certain medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke and helped them become more resilient to sickness.

The following are some of the various health benefits that can be attained when one practices Qi Gong on a regular basis:

• Improved bowel movement
• Rise in sex hormone levels
• Preventing or even reversing diabetes
• Relieving the symptoms of asthma
• Lowering high blood pressure
• Elimination of allergies
• Curing of ulcers
• Relieving of stress
• Helping combat cancer
• Increasing longevity

Throughout the body, Qi Gong can also bring about a sense of calmness and a more focused mind although some practitioners claim it can achieve more than that. They are 100 percent sure that Qi Gong can “cure” certain diseases through the channeling of qi released that is released from their fingertips as they perform the activity along with others.

No scientific proof exists that shows Qi Gong helps cure cancer. However, it certainly can be used to help enhance flexibility and coordination and lower stress levels. It is recommended as a meditation and relaxation exercise gentle enough for people who are not keen on doing anything more strenuous.

Because of its intentional slow movements, Qigong is generally deemed as safe. In some instances where the effort or movement is overdone, it can lead to joint pain or muscle aches in people who are prone to these problems.

Ni Nan Healing Art Center
2579 Merrick Rd
Bellmore, NY 11710
Phone: (516) 442-7408
www.ninanhealing.com