QiGong.ae

WHAT IS QIGONG?

Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves meditation, controlled breathing and movement exercises.

The character "Qi" that makes up the first part of qigong is a difficult word to translate, according to Peter Wayne, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the research director at Harvard's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Qi is a concept from traditional Chinese culture that roughly means vital energy, information, breath or spirit. The second character in qigong, "gong," means cultivation or mastery, Wayne said. Qigong is therefore sometimes translated as "vital energy cultivation" or "mastery of your energy."

There are many forms of qigong practiced throughout the world. Some of these forms involve breathing and meditation to promote spirituality and health while others are more vigorous and include martial arts exercises. Tai chi, a widely practiced mind-body exercise, is sometimes referred to as a form of qigong because it "cultivates, moves and helps manage Qi," according to Wayne.

Qigong is more than exercise or practice. It is an Art - the Art of Wellness and the Art of Life

According to the traditional teachings of Qigong, beginners first learn physical movements coordinated with breathing techniques. They practice sets of exercises (similar to Tai Chi) until each movement or posture is perfected. Once they learn the form, the next step is to find the subtle flow or fluctuation of energy within the postures, movements, breathing patterns, and transitions. This is called moving meditation.

Moving meditationAmong the exercises, there are many postures that are held for long periods of time. These postures are somewhat similar to those of yoga. They are practiced to strengthen the limbs and increase energetic flow. These postures fall into the category of still meditation.

The Healing Benefits of Qigong practice are composed of three important parts:

Body - On the physical level, Qigong employs soft flowing bodyweight movements designed to stimulate the acupuncture meridians and the associated organs. The movements are designed to move blood and oxygen throughout the body facilitating the release of tension and friction in the muscles, joints and connective tissue that leads to physical degeneration.

Breath - Qigong combines these movements with long, slow, deep and even diaphragmatic breaths. The breathing concept is called "beating and drumming the Qi". The combination of the specific physical movements and the controlled breathing pattern serve as crutches to connect the mind to the present moment, training mental focus.

Mind - All movements and exercises have a specific visualization or mental intention that adds another layer of focus to the practice. This turns the entire workout into a moving meditation. The movements may be soft and gentle, but the healing effects of Qigong practise can actually be quite powerful. Here are but just a few of the many positive effects of Qigong training.

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The Aim of QiGong

Qigong can be described as a mind-body-spirit practice that improves one's mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent.

The aim of Qigong is to promote the movement of Qi (energy) in the body; this is done by opening certain gates and stretching and twisting energy channels. A key point in Qigong practice is relaxation and deep breathing, both of which are prerequisites to allow Qi to flow.

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TOP BENEFITS OF

QIGONG

The idea behind Qigong is that discomfort and sickness are a result of imbalanced energy within a person. To improve health and prevent disease, a person must balance their internal energy by enhancing the "Qi.".
Here are the benefits of Qigong.

Physiological Benefits

Increases Bone Density
Improves Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function
Improves Balance
Immune System Health
Improves Somatic Symptoms

Psychological Benefits

Improves Quality of Life
Improves Self-Efficacy
Reduces Stress Biomarkers
Decreases Depression and Anxiety

In-Person classes available with these masters:

Master Can
Dubai

A 34th generation Shaolin Warrior Monk and a Champion of traditional Qi Gong, Kung Fu and Tai Chi in China. He has over 10 years teaching experience around the globe.

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Master Hui
Dubai

A 34th generation Shaolin Warrior Monk. He has 15 years of teaching experience in Qi Gong, Kung Fu and Tai Chi and has taught many children to become Kung Fu champions in China.

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FAQs

+1. Are there different types of Qigong?

There are several hundred different styles of qigong, but there are 5 historical categories of qigong:

Medical Qigong for healing pain and illness.
Longevity Qigong for prolonging life.
Scholarly Qigong for boosting intelligence.
Martial Qigong for internal power.
Spiritual Qigong for enlightenment.

+2. How Old Is Qigong?

Qigong history dates back at least 3000 years.

The early era of qigong history began in roughly 1100 B.C.

Tai chi came much later. There are endless debates about the origins of tai chi, but the 2 main arguments either put the origins in 12th century or the 17th century A.D.

Either way, qigong is older than tai chi by a few thousands years.

+3. Is Qigong Religious?

Short answer: no.

In the early days of qigong (1100 B.C. to 206 B.C.), the art had zero religious flavor to it.

Later, some of the techniques were picked up by Buddhist and Taoist schools to be used for spiritual cultivation.

Some schools of qigong will have more of a religious tinge to them. If this makes you uncomfortable, then you should clarify this with the teacher before joining.

+4. How Much Do You Have to Practice?

This depends on the style of qigong, and the teacher.

Some masters ask you to practice for 2 hours per day.

Although 15 minutes is definitely doable, it is harder than it sounds.