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Qi Gong
What is Qi Gong?
Qi Gong (also called Chi Gung, Qi Kung or Chi Kung) is a “self-help” relaxation
technique originating in Chinese medicine. Qi Gong combines meditation, breathing
techniques, gymnastics, muscular exercises, and mental imagery with the aim
of strengthening and relaxing both body and spirit.
Qi Gong literally means “Energy Cultivation.” It comes from a combination of
the words qi (energy, or life force) and gong (the achievement that comes from
practice). Qi Gong is a series of thousands of exercises that improve health,
increase longevity and create a sense of harmony between the individual and
the surrounding universe. According to Chinese medicine, any exercise done with
the goal of improving your chi can fall under the definition of Qi Gong,
as long as it achieves these goals with the use of the mind, the eyes, movement
and breathing.
Each of these four principles represents an aspect of the energy cultivation
process:
· The mind represents the existence of the intention
· The eyes represent the focus on the intention
· The movement is the intention in action
· The breath is the flow of intention
These four principles are considered the “secrets” of Qi Gong. Anyone can practice
Qi Gong; however, experts claim that only after years of practice does one begin
to understand the “secrets.”
Qi Gong aims to add rhythm and discipline to the practitioner’s bodily patterns
and regulate thought, breath and movement. The goal of all Qi Gong practices
is to achieve harmony in all aspects of one’s life. Only when one is approaching
mastery of the Qi Gong philosophy does one begin to feel this harmony. This
harmony is characterized by:
· Curiousity
· Clarity
· Focus
· Perseverence
· Resilience
· Openness
· Creativity
· Responsiveness
Note that mastery, in the context of Qi Gong, does not refer to someone who
knows everything, but to someone who is extremely open to learning.
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