Qi Gong for Health

Qi Gong has been practiced in China for over 4000 years to promote health and well being. Its name indicates its function: qi is the body’s vital energy which flows through internal channels called meridians, and gong is a series of movements. It is believed that when qi flow is interrupted, the body suffers illness. So, Qi Gong is a form of exercise to help promote the flow of qi through the body. One of the primary benefits of Qi Gong is its ability to aid in digestion. When the body is not digesting food properly, it produces a general feeling of sluggishness overall, and can lead to problems with internal organs like the kidney, liver and spleen, in addition to associated intestinal problems.

There are three basic aspects to Qi Gong: breathing, physical posturing and mental focus. Each of these elements incorporates and complements the others. Proper body posture is necessary to achieve the right alignment of the meridians and direct the flow of qi. There is not one “correct” form. The goal is to attain the most comfortable complete body position for the practice of Qi Gong. Consequently, it can be performed sitting, standing, lying, or even walking.

Breathing is the single most beneficial function of the human body. It increases the circulation of oxygen in the blood, and serves to promote physical and mental relaxation. Though there are many ways to breathe, the most common form of breathing practiced in Qi Gong is referred to as abdominal diaphragmatic breathing. In this method, when breathing in “good air” the abdomen is expanded and the diaphragm drops as breath is taken in. Contracting the abdomen while exhaling forces the diaphragm upward, causing a greater amount of “bad air” to be expelled.

The part of Qi Gong called mental focusing is a quieting of the mind whereby practitioners attempt to replace a multitude of intruding thoughts and images with a single focus. There are several ways to find this focus. Breath counting is perhaps the simplest. A single inhalation and exhalation counts as one breath. Concentrating on breathing blocks out all other thought. Silent recitation of a single word is also useful. Your mind focuses on the word being repeated in your mind and outside thoughts are negated. Another effective focus method is imagery. Using your imagination to create a peaceful place or object in your mind can help you eliminate intruding thoughts. Whatever technique works best, the result must be the same: harmony of a single thought. The success level of the entire Qi Gong process depends on the level of quietness one can achieve in the mind.

When you’ve completed this exercise, you may even feel so relaxed that you’ll want to step outside and put your feet up on a recliner or hammock.