Qigong is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. It is a traditional Chinese medicine mind-body practice that offers many possible benefits, from improved immunity to stress reduction to enhanced fitness. Qigong has both psychological and physical components and involves the regulation of the mind, breath, and bodys movement and posture. The term "qigong" is a combination of two words: "qi," which means "subtle breath" or "vital energy," and "gong," which translates to "skill".
Qigong comprises a diverse set of practices that coordinate body, breath, and mind based on Chinese philosophy. Practices include moving and still meditation, massage, chanting, sound meditation, and non-contact treatments, performed in a broad array of body postures. Qigong is commonly classified into two foundational categories: dynamic or active qigong (dong gong), with slow flowing movement, and passive or quiet qigong (jing gong), with still positions held for a period of time.
Qigong is practiced for meditation and self-cultivation as part of various philosophical and spiritual traditions. As meditation, qigong is a means to still the mind and enter a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity, and bliss. Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.
There are likely thousands of qigong styles, schools, traditions, forms, and lineages, each with practical applications and different theories about Qi ("subtle breath" or "vital energy") and Gong ("skill cultivated through steady practice"). Tai chi is one of the hundreds of forms of qigong exercises that was developed in China. Other forms of qigong include Baduanjin, Liuzijue, Hu Yue Xian, Yijin Jing, and medical qigong.
Qigong has been practiced for centuries by millions of Chinese people, and feedback from past and current students shows that, with a little bit of regular practice, it can have a powerful effect on mind, body, and spirit. Thousands of studies have shown qigong effective in helping to heal life challenges ranging from high blood pressure and chronic illness to emotional frustration, mental stress, and spiritual crisis.
