Qigong

Mysterious and wondrous, Qigong is an outstanding legacy of Chinese culture as well as an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. As a form of traditional breathing exercise, Qigong has been practiced by the Chinese for thousand of years. Literally, qi means air or breath, in fact, it refers to the body's physiology functions. Qingong experts call it the internal qi or datian qi which generate life. In ancient Chinese cosmology, qi is closely tied in with spirit as distinguished from physical substance. The Taoist philosophy regards man's qi as part of the universal qi or man's, life force. Gong refers to Kungfu. Therefore, Qigong is a kind of self-training method by which the practitioner use the initiative to train the body and mind, providing a holistic training for self-reliance, self-adjustment, body building, prophylaxis, curing disease and strengthening the constitution, resisting premature aging and prolonging life.

• History

The history of Qigong can be dated back to Zhou Dynasty about 3,000 years ago. Qigong exercise was already recorded in the Jinwen text, incriptions on ancient bronze sacrifical objects. The oldest book recording Qigong is Master Lu's Spring and Autumn A nnals written in 230 B.C.

Effects of Qigong exercises

In prophylaxis and treating diseases, Qigong exerts effects on the body through its required movements, postures, regulation of respiration and control of thought, building up constitution and strengthening bodily resistance.

 

It has been proved to be effective in treating some chronic diseases, especially hypertension, coronary heart disease, ulcers, neurasthenia and bronchitis. Qigong can reduce severity of disease and promote earlier recovery without any special equipment. So it is highly desirable to employ Qigong clinically.

 

Qigong is also effective for bodybuilding. People who keep practicing Qigong usually enjoy the benefits of improved digestion and respiration, cardiovascular and nervous system. It improves sleep quality, relieves fatigue, strengthens physical and mental conditions, enhances stamina and thus improves working efficiency. It is also brings anti-aging and life-prolonging effects.

 

In ancient times, people believed that Qigong was a method for curing disease and prolonging life. Some even regarded is as the key to immortality. According to historical records, Hua Tuo, a famous doctor of the Three Kingdoms period (220 -280 A.D.), invented the Frolics of Five Animals exercise. He persisted in practicing it. As a result, he looked young at the age of 100. This youth-preserving effects are verified by the aged who have practiced long-term Qigong exercise. Most people who persist in Qigong exercise are spirited with normal blood pressure, have good vision and hearing, have ringing voices, and sound teeth, and can sleep well, walk with firm strides, withstand the heat or cold, and seldom suffer from diseases. They differ greatly from those taking little exercise. So Qigong contributes greatly to geriatrics.

Various kinds of Qigong exercises

There are numerous kinds of Qigong exercises, each with its own features and effects, differing according to posture, method, form, style and purpose. At present there are nearly four hundred kinds of Qigong in China. Generally, it can be divided into Quiescent Qigong, Dynamic Qigong and Emitting Qigong.

 

There are four main postures in Qigong exercises, namely, lying, sitting, standing and walking. Although there are various ways to practice Qigong, the following three are essential. For example, regulating the mind, regulating the body and regulating the breath. Regulating the mind into a state of tranquility, or calming the mind, is the most fundamental skill in Qigong practice. This method was also called heart-regulation in ancient China. Calm the mind and avoid worrying about worldly cares, and then Essential Qi will be able to travel smoothly along the channels and the body will not be invaded by diseases. In modern medical terms, this method can induce the activity of the cerebral cortex which control the brain and the rest of the body, relieves the cerebral cortex of pathological tension or excitation caused by certain illness, thus helping it to regain its power to regulate the function of the body. Regulation of the body is also an important skill in Qigong practice. According to scientific experiments, the oxygen consumption and metabolic rate during Qigong practice are even lower than during a sound sleep, which is beneficial for reducing consumption of vital energy, allowing it to reaccumulate. In this way, Qigong exercise helps cure some chronic disease and strengthen health. Regulating the breath, with the help of slow and smooth movements of the body, promotes circulation in the portal veins as well as in the systemic and pulmonary circulatory systems. The net result of this exercise is an increase in the vital capacity of the lung, improved functioning of the heart and stimulation of metabolism, thus creating favorable conditions for recovery of the heath.

 

It is generally believed that through regulating the body, regulating the mind, and regulating the breath, Qigong can increase vitality and promote longevity.

 

Even though there is such a variety of Qigong, each with its own fentures and requirments, the general principles for them are the same, which including combination of relaxation, inward peace, natural movements, flow of Qi, integration of movements, quiescence, flexibility in the upper body ans stability in the lower body, a moderate amount of exercise, and exercising in an oederly way.