Mastery of Your Energy

Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique that involves controlled breathing, movement exercises and meditation.
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Qi in the traditional Chinese culture roughly means information, breath or spirit, vital energy. While the second part “gong,” means cultivation or mastery. Qi Gong is therefore sometimes translated as “vital energy cultivation” or “mastery of you energy.”

APPLICATIONS OF QI GONG
Qi Gong goes back to Shamanistic practices in Chinese culture and then evolved incorporating both Buddhist and Taoist applications used to treat and prevent illness and for use in the martial arts.
In the US, Qi Gong is normally practiced in health clubs and fitness centers where adherents think about their breathing, concentration and focus points as they carry out a series of slow, careful and controlled movements. They focus a lot on the flow of Qi throughout their bodies, and in some cases, they concentrate on specific areas that need healing.
Around the world, there are currently thousands of forms of Qi Gong which are in practice, with each school having its own distinct style

FORMS OF QI GONG
There are many forms of Qi Gong practiced throughout the world, among which are:

• Medical Qi: The medical form of Qi can be used as exercises to prevent disease and promote longevity, or for specific exercises to treat diseases, almost like the way we see a physical therapist. Basically, this relates to stress. Proponents of Chinese medicine believe that keeping our stress levels down is instrumental in controlling certain medical and other conditions, such as high blood pressure, insomnia and anxiety.

 

• Healing: Qi Gong is believed to help relieve stress by boosting the immune system in the body and helping the body to heal itself.

 

• External Qi Healing (EQH): This form of Qi Gong involves the healer learning to tap into a well of healing energy in Nature and “funnel” it through his or her body. External Qi Healing techniques may be used as a standalone form of wellness treatment or may be combined with massage, acupuncture, therapeutic touch, osteopathy or any other form of bodywork. EQH does not violate Psychotherapists’ professional ethics which do not allow touching the patient because treatment is generally performed at a distance from the body and is thus an ideal adjunct to body-centered psychotherapy.

 

• Spiritual Qi Gong: Is a system to tap into our potential and raise our consciousness and even obtain enlightenment. Spiritual Qi Gong puts us in harmony with Nature and also helps us become calmer, less stressed and more self aware. It is thought to not only help people get in touch with a Divine presence but can also help them get in touch with themselves.

 

• Sports: Fairly obvious as it involves using the techniques developed and perfected through practicing Qi Gong in other areas of sport. Martial Arts, in general, can help improve stamina, coordination, balance, flexibility etc. This can be applied to different sports from golf to tennis to ping pong.

 

• Tai Chi (Martial Art): Tai Chi is a Qi Gong practice that is a Martial Art; with punches, kicks and postures that can all be used for both offensive and defensive applications. It is a widely practiced mind-body exercise which cultivates, moves and helps manage Qi.

Other forms of Qi involve breathing and meditation to promote spirituality and health while others are more vigorous and include Martial Art exercises. Qi Gong also finds applications in areas such as art and business.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF QI GONG
To the Chinese, we are not a body that has energy rather we are energy that has a body. It is interesting that Western Medicine is based on Newtonian Physics which looks at the body like a machine, but Chinese medicine is based more on Quantum Physics that states that when a matter is broken down into its smallest components (Quanta) all that is there is energy.
Only now is Western Medicine staring to understand that the mind and body are connected but that philosophy is an underlying factor in Chinese Medicine.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF QI GONG
The effectiveness of Qi Gong has been proven in China by its beneficial impact on the health of millions of people over thousands of years.

Reports from proponents of Qi Gong, says that anyone can benefit from it and improve their health, regardless of their background or expertise in the area. The objectives are to release a free energy flow when the Qi has been blocked by disease, injury, stress etc.

Because Qi Gong includes both dynamic and gentle techniques that can be practiced from standing, seated and supine postures, it is suitable for young and old. Practices can be tailored to individual needs making it an ideal aid to recovery from illness or injury. Qi Gong is a form of complementary medicine. It works well with other forms of therapy and should never be used as a substitute for necessary treatment by a physician.

The health benefits of Qi Gong include:

• Increasing longevity
• Aiding in the fight against cancer
• Relieving stress
• Curing ulcers
• Getting rid of allergies
• Reducing high blood pressure
• Alleviating symptoms of asthma
• Helping fight diabetes
• Raising low sex hormone levels
• Result in bigger bowel movements
• Qi Gong can help the mind focus and restore a sense of calm throughout the body
• Qi Gong can be used as a technique to help reduce levels of stress and improve coordination and flexibility
• People who are prone to muscle aches and joint pain can find Qi Gong useful as it is generally considered safe because of the slow, deliberate movements involved.

With Qi Gong exercises, we can not only work on the body for health but work on calming and centering the mind, releasing stored negative energy and tapping into the deepest parts or our psyche and spirit. When our energy is abundant we will have more health, feel better, be happier and be able to help others.
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If everything is energy, that makes Qi Gong one of the most important practices we can embark on to plug in, recharge and energize our lives! It is my personal belief we should all have the practice to help us tap into our authentic selves and Qi Gong can be a tool to open the door to miraculous wonders.