QIGONG - CHINA'S BEST KEPT SECRET

A Brief History and Introduction to Qigong

Qigong developed and benefits from a 5000-year history; a variety of different terms were used to describe the new movements, a few examples are:

1. Dao yin (guiding the qi movement)

2. Zuo chan (sitting or meditation)

3. Yang shen (nourishing the spirit)

4. Jing zuo (sitting meditation).

Not until Liu Gui-zheng published a paper in 1953 ("Practice On QIgong Therapy"), was the term ‘Qigong’, adopted.

The origins of QIgong are thought to have developed from ancient traditional dance, in a region of China that enjoyed abundant food due to the regions fertile soil and ample rainfall. Thus there was more leisure in damp conditions, generating patterns of disease. The ritual dances were found to remedy the maladies. Thus under the guidance and understanding of the shaman, the dances became not only therapeutic but were performed for health preservation.

Due to the hardship of early living conditions and struggles with nature, the ancients became aware of the benefits of movement and breath; the changes in body, mind and spirit that occurred therefore determined the application of individual forms. Eventually QIgong practice established 5 different categories,

1. Walking (Taiji chuan)

2. Active (Peng qi guan ding)

3. Standing (Gongfu standing forms)

4. Passive (meditation)

5. Spontaneous movement

and 5 different traditions.

1. Daoist

2. Buddhist

3. Confucian

4. Gongfu

5. Medical

The 3 levels of Training of the Xing Ming Qigong System

1. Beginners Level

2. Advanced Level

3. Master Level (training to become a Master)

Qigong presently is comprised of over 1000 individual QIgong forms, each having a particular purpose and function. In general the function of QIgong forms is to influence the Qi, motivating its movement, function and permeability, influencing the Qi pathways (ex. acupuncture channels), the related organs, body structures, intellectual, emotional and philosophical constructs and energetic body (ex. energy field). The aim is to adjust, transform and develop all aspects of the individual while harmonizing the basic Yin and Yang components and refining the deepest aspects of the Qi.

The practice of Qigong is composed of 3 basic aspects

1. The form or technique

   1. Preparation

   2. Form

   3. Closing

1. The breath

2. The mind technique or visualization techniques

All of which must be performed in a particular synchronized pattern unique to each form. These 3 aspects constitute the form; they must be taught and practiced properly in order to receive the special benefits of that particular Qigong form. This is why you can’t learn Qigong from a book, a blog or unqualified instructor. ‘The Dao that is written is not the Dao”. The Dao is the way, the practice, and the transformation that has occurred through correct application.

The benefits of Qigong

1. Physical: improved strength, flexibility, co-ordination, endurance and recovery from exertion.

2. Mental: improved mental state, clarity, academic performance, memory, creativity

3. Philosophical or Spiritual: improved awareness, insight, personal development.