- What is Qi (Chi)?
- What is Qigong (Chi Kung)?
- How does Qigong work?
- Do I need a teacher to learn
Qigong?
- What are Yin and Yang?
- What are the benefits of practicing Qigong?
- Are there different types of Qi ?
- How is Medical Qigong different
from other forms of Qigong?
- What is the difference between
Internal and External Qigong?
- What does it mean to "empty the
mind"?
- I am bound to a wheelchair,
can I still practice Qigong?
- What is "spontaneous" Qigong?
- General Questions about the practice
of Qigong
Qi (Chi) is defined as vital life energy, an energy which
is able to demonstrate power and strength. This energy can have many forms
including: electricity, magnetism, heat and light. When something is
alive, the Chinese call it "vital Qi" (Huo Qi). When Chinese use
the word Qi, it can mean "energy" or the "state of the
energy" within the person.
Qi can be thought of as the basic or fundamental life force. You might
want to think of Qi as something similar to electricity. You cannot see
it, yet you know it is there and it can be felt. By understanding that all
things in life are just different forms of the same energy (Qi), you can see why
wise men have stated that "all things are one."
Qi transforms and impacts
thoughts, emotions, vision, hearing, taste, smell, memory, mood,
motivation, desires, physical movement, perceptions, mental will, and your
spirit. From a metaphysical perspective, energy (Qi) never remains
constant. It is dynamic and always changing and transforming. Qi
has also been called "bioelectricity."
There are different kinds of Qi ranging from pre-birth Qi given from the
parents to post-birth Qi given from food, air and environmental energies.
Physical Qi is material energies, such as sound, light, and electricity in the
human body and in the natural environment. The Chinese call "vital
life energy" that is born within human beings Original Qi.
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Qigong is one of the oldest traditional Chinese personal health care methods.
It is widely believed that Qigong has special healing and recovery
powers. There are over 1,200 registered Qigong schools in China.
Qigong can be divided into five major disciplines: Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist,
Martial Arts and Medical. Each tradition has its own purpose for
practicing/training, as well as different methods (forms/postures) to achieve
those purposes.
Qigong is an ancient Chinese discipline that integrates medicine, marital
arts, culture and science together. The Chinese call the "breath of
life" Qi (Chi). They call any specialty that takes a long time to
develop Gong (Kung) Fu. The art and science of the management of Qi in the
mind, body and spirit for holistic healing is called Qigong (Chi Kung).
This implies a life-long practice in order to master it. Qigong is an
intuitive approach to knowing and learning the truth.
Qigong is also a meditation used to explore
human nature, including self-improvement and self-awareness. It becomes a
vehicle to integrate the mind, body and spirit to help unify all systems into
"oneness."
There are more than 3,000 kinds of Qigong being practiced in China
today. There are two basic types of Qigong; motion and still.
"Motion Qigong" focuses on the continuous movement of the body to
guide Qi. "Still Qigong" emphasizes the mental piloting of
energy.
Qigong has four main categories: (1) Scholar Qigong for maintaining mental
and physical health,
(2) Medical Qigong for healing yourself or others, (3) Martial Arts Qigong for fighting, and (4)
Religious Qigong for enlightenment.
Qigong can also be classified according to its therapeutic purpose, for
example, (1) Quiet, relaxed Qigong; (2) Internal healing Qigong, (3) Robust
Qigong, (4) Transmission and strength-directing Qigong, and (5) Daoyin
(breathing exercises).
The main functions of Qigong can be summarized as: disease prevention,
disease treatment, strengthening the body, improving intelligence, prolonging
life, and manifesting the latent power within us all.
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It is widely accepted that exercise can promote health and prevent
illness. Western exercise, however, concentrates on muscular/skeletal
development through the application of stress and weights to build up strength
and mass. In other words, it works from the outside inward. Qigong,
on the other hand, works the body from the inside outwards. It connects
the body, mind and spirit, focusing on breathing, concentration, and physical
movements to integrate all three.
Qigong is a self-discipline (self-care) method that aims to integrate the
individual personality through adjusting the breathing, posture, mind and spirit
to help achieve internal and external harmony and universal unification.
Qigong uses individual will, Qi (energy), postures, and spirit (meditation
and visualization) to improve health, prevent disease, reduce anxiety and fear,
cure disease, improve mental health, keep in good shape, and balance and
integrate the mind, body and spirit.
The regular practice of Qigong encourages and promotes
self-healing within the body. Self healing refers to the process where the
body defends or heals itself once it encounters pain, disease and injury.
Medical research now indicates that the most powerful healing substances are
actually located within our own bodies.
Vital Qi (healing energy) seeks to constantly balance the body's
energy. A Qi imbalance usually precedes any physical illness. The
regular practice of Qigong will keep the Qi flowing smoothly and freely so that
every cell in the body receives a constant supply of vital energy (Qi). If
the supply of Qi to a cell becomes blocked, the blood flow to that area will
change, the cells and their related organs may malfunction, and disease or pain
may occur. The regular practice of Qigong increases the flow of
blood. Increased blood flow results in a more efficient delivery of oxygen,
nutrients and white blood cells as well as the removal of metabolic waste that
could sustain or contribute to illness and pain.
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No, but the benefits of having a teacher far outweigh not having one.
There is an old Chinese saying about the practice of Qigong, "Ten
thousand volumes of books can not provide the true essence, but a few words from
the master can do wonders." A master (teacher) can provide the real
meaning of the Qigong practice and cultivation, and keep practitioners from taking
the winding scenic route.
There is another old saying that is also applicable. "A master
(teacher) can guide you to the door, but the practice and cultivation (of
energy) is up to the individual." The lesson here is that no matter
how advanced your master is, he/she cannot perform the practice or cultivate
energy for you. The only way to gain the benefits of practicing Qigong
(health, the ability to heal, etc.) is to thoroughly understand the essence of
life from within yourself.
Because Qi is internal energy, if a person practices Qigong incorrectly, the
practice could cause the opposite effect - i.e., health problems. A good
Qigong teacher can insure the practice is performed correctly.
How do you know if you have a good teacher? A good teacher will be true
to him/herself and to the practice. He/she will not hold back any
knowledge, but will share it freely with their students. A good teacher
will always be honest. He/she will treat their students as their children;
sharing their knowledge and freely and openly.
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The Chinese believe that two universal forces need to be in balance to
achieve health, harmony, and a long life. Yin is the negative force and
Yang is the positive force. When the two forces interact, Qi is generated.
Qi (internal energy) is considered to be Yin, while the physical body is
considered to be Yang. Yin (Qi) cannot be seen or touched, it can only be
experienced. Yin (Qi) is the origin of life and allows the Yang (body) to
grow and flourish. Yin (Qi) keeps the Yang (body) running properly.
When Yin (Qi) energy increases or weakens, the result will be manifested in the
Yang (body). If the imbalance persists, the results could be serious to
the person's health and life.
If a physical problem occurs, the Chinese treat the source of the dysfunction
and not the symptoms. The Chinese believe that you must understand how
each organ works and how the organs interact with one another. All of the
internal organs are related and connected. Qi is the one thing that links
all of the organs together. Chinese medicine treats the imbalance or the
blockage in the Qi circulation system (Meridians). They
believe that treating the blockage or imbalance will bring the Yang (body) back
to health.
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Qigong has five primary advantages.
1. There are no side effects.
2. It is a natural way to improve your health and correct imbalances
and physical problems.
3. It does not use chemicals to treat the health issue.
4. It helps the person to increase their own awareness and
understanding of their own body (both physical and Qi).
5. It is excellent preventive medicine.
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Yes, there are several different kinds of Qi each having different
responsibilities in life. Three common types that are within our body
are: Protective Qi, Organ Qi and Meridian Qi.
Protective Qi (Wei Qi) - This Qi operates at the sub-atomic level and is like
our physical immune system. This Qi resides between the skin and the
muscles and acts as a protective barrier. When our protective Qi is weak,
our resistance is low and we are more susceptible to catch colds, the flu, and
other illnesses.
Organ Qi - This Qi is responsible for the health, strength and integrity of
our body's organs. When organ Qi is weak, illnesses manifests themselves
through our organs (i.e., heart disease, cancer of the lungs, etc.)
Meridian Qi - This Qi runs through our internal "super-highway"
system called meridians or channels. These channels allow Qi to
flow throughout our body linking organs and promoting the efficient flow of
blood. Meridian Qi is what acupuncturists are attempting to free up when inserting needles into
the body.
Think of the body's meridians as the electrical wiring within your body -
complete with junctions, fuse boxes and miles of wiring - all connecting one
vast energy system.
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Medical Qigong is the oldest form of healthcare in China. Its emphasis
is on freeing up and balancing the vital energy in the human body.
Medical Qigong is designed to help practitioners take personal control of the
prevention, treatment and healing of illness and injury. This practice
also teaches medical practitioners to use the "inner Qi" to diagnose
and heal.
Medical Qigong helps to strengthen the three self-healing capabilities of the
body:
- Immune System - This is our self-defense system. When it is
healthy and strong, this system can resist infectious diseases and prevent
most illnesses.
- Self-Healing and Recovery Capability - When Medical Qigong is
practiced regularly, self-healing is enhanced. The body has the
ability to heal itself despite the injury or disease.
- Self-Repair and Regenerative Capability - When Medical Qigong is
practiced regularly, the regenerative capabilities of the body repair the
damage or injury and can even re-grow the body parts, if necessary.
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Internal Qigong involves postures and thoughts focused on regulating the breath,
body and mind. It is the primary tool for self-healing.
There are two forms of Internal Qigong: Moving and Still.
"Moving Qigong" uses specific movements and postures to help
concentrate the Qi on a specific portion of the body (or the entire body) and
initiate the energy (Qi) flow. "Still Qigong" uses
"mindfulness" meditation and guided imagery to concentrate Qi and move
Qi into and through the body.
External Qigong therapy refers to the process where the practitioner directs
or emits his/her energy (Qi) into others. The Qi is meant to open up
blocked channels (meridians) and move the sick Qi out of the body so as to
relieve pain, heal an injury, or balance the Qi system to remove disease.
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Suppressed emotions and mental disturbances need to be released to facilitate
the healing process. Many chronic diseases may well be related to these
emotions and disturbances. When a practitioner can empty the mind there is a tendency to forget about
disease, injury, worries, and
themselves. During these moments the practitioner can often practice
without any physical restrictions or pain. Spontaneous healing has been
documented when a practitioner is in this "empty mind" state.
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Yes, the beauty of Qigong is that it can be practiced standing, sitting, or
in bed. No matter what the person's physical capabilities, Qigong can work
for you. Dedication to the practice, visualization and focus are the key
attributes of a good Qigong practice.
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Spontaneous qigong is when, instead of doing a form of
routine, the practitioner allows the qi to move freely throughout the body,
causing spontaneous movement. Many modern qigong masters feel that this is where
deep healing occurs. Oftentimes it can be quite cathartic, with the practitioner
accessing deeply held emotional areas. Some people's movements can be quite
erratic while others move in gentle swaying fashion.
Another way it can be explained is that while the practitioner
is practicing the form itself they are using their mind to direct the qi to
specific points or channels. Then, in the spontaneous section, they disengage
their mind from the process and let the qi itself guide the movements. Different
people have different energy configurations or different health problems which
is why the qi moves so differently in different people. The movements themselves
must never be forced. Instead the practitioner allows the qi itself to guide the
movements, usually resulting in a feeling of deep release and harmony.
Many qigong masters feel that it is important that when people
are first working with spontaneous movement they work with a qualified master or
teacher. This way they can be taught the proper way to both enter and get out of
the spontaneous movement state, especially if they are working with a lot of
intense emotional areas or feel that they are losing control of their movements.
Spontaneous movement can be a valuable addition to any qigong
practice. It is sometimes said that this is when the qi practices the student.
It is also said that this is when the qi itself becomes the teacher.
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Q. How often should I practice Qigong?
A. If you are just trying to maintain your health, it is recommended that you practice at least once a day for at least
30 minutes. The length of time isn't quite as important as practicing
Qigong daily. There is a general belief among Qigong teachers that a new
student needs to practice at least once a day for 100 days. The reasoning
is that it takes about three months to develop a good habit.
If you are working on correcting a health issue, you should consider
practicing a little longer (perhaps 60 minutes or more) or practicing twice a
day.
Q. When should I practice Qigong - mornings or evenings?
A. The student can decide when it is best to
practice. Find a time that is convenient and that you can set aside every
day to practice. It is more important that you just take the time to
practice.
Q. Where should I practice?
A. Anywhere is fine, but a quiet place free of drafts is best.
Outdoors is in a natural environment is an excellent place to practice.
Q. Why do I perspire so much during my practice?
A. It is normal to perspire, become hot, have headaches or pain
when you first start practicing Qigong. In the initial days, the balance
of Yin and Yang is temporarily disturbed (out of balance). The correct way
to deal with the issue is to "just let it be." The more a person
practices, the quicker the body will balance itself and the signs will
disappear. Once the healing Qi kicks in, the practitioner will often
believe the health condition is becoming worse. These symptoms are normal and
are good signs that the Qigong is working. The symptoms will disappear
after the Qi flows to all the places where the blood and the Qi are
stagnant.
Q. After I practice, my hands feel very cold. Is this normal?
A.
This is a normal sign that some practitioners exhibit when healing is occurring
within the body. According to a Medical Qigong theory, when a health
condition is removed from the body, the practitioner will feel cold where it
leaves the body.
Q. It appears that when I practice
Qigong with other people, they have various physical reactions, but I only feel
good afterwards. Am I doing something wrong or are they more advanced than
I am?
A. As a general rule, no two people react the same.
Different people have different reactions throughout their practice
experience. There are cases where practitioners have experienced no
reaction during their practice, but their health condition has been
eliminated. Do not practice Qigong for the reaction you might want.
Instead, eliminate distractions and enter into a state of
"nothingness." With time and patience, one will develop
potentialities (functions and abilities), including the ability to
self-heal.
Q. I have a tumor. When I practice
should I focus on healing the tumor?
A. The beauty of the practice
of Qigong is that the generated Qi will automatically seek out any known (and
even unknown) diseases. Medical Qigong therapy treats disease from its
cause and is therefore effective in the treatment of all health issues.
Qigong teachers and healers state that the practitioner does not focus on
fighting/healing a specific disease. It is best to "let go and let
God" do the healing. Qigong theory states that healing Qi will attack
the most critical health condition first. The rule of thumb is to just
free the mind of all thought and to just practice. After the Yin and Yang
has been balanced, the body's immune system and self-healing ability will be
strong enough to cure any health issue without medication.
Q. When I practice
should I focus on increasing the Qi sensations I feel within my body?
A.
Feeling Qi is normal and does not necessarily mean a person's Qi is
strong. Generally speaking, everyone can feel Qi, but some people
may be slower in developing this capability. There are even a few people
who never feel Qi, but feel good and healthy after regularly practicing
Qigong. The purpose of Qigong is not to feel Qi or intensify the Qi
feeling. The reason for practicing Qigong is to develop and maintain good
health and longevity of life.
If a person is not healthy, then this
means there is something wrong with their Qi.
Q. How will I know
whether I am practicing Qigong correctly?
The most important thing to
remember when practicing Qigong is to "listen to your
body." Your body will tell you everything. If you cannot
control your Qi or you feel uncomfortable or not healthy after finishing your
practice, it means you are doing something wrong. Remember that everything
has a good and a bad side. If you can understand that and always listen to
your body, then you will benefit from the Qigong exercises and not have any
problems.
This is why the mind must be relaxed and clear of thought in order
to receive information from (listening to) the body. You must learn to
trust your instincts and follow your intuition to avoid mistakes.
Q. I
saw an advertisement where a Qigong teacher claims you can learn astral
travel. Can I really learn how to do this?
Some styles of Qigong
claim to offer special abilities including healing powers, aura diagnosis,
astral travel, mind-reading, etc. The pursuit of these skills should not
be the goal of practicing Qigong. One should practice Qigong to improve
one's health and to live a long, healthy life. The greater your desire to
develop these other skills, the more elusive they will become, and the more
mentally unbalanced and unhealthy you will be. Everything should be
allowed to happen naturally - without effort. When the Qi, mind, body and
spirit are all connected, focused and concentrated, a person is capable of a
great many things. The practice of Qigong renders many seemingly
impossible feats possible and the difficult seem effortless.
Qigong does not
endow individuals with any special abilities that were not already present
within them latently from birth. Whatever hidden talents a person
possesses, the regular practice of Qigong will enable a person to realize and
develop their true "potentiality."
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