The Qi Institute.com
    Qigong (Chi Kung)
    WHAT IS QIGONG?

    Qigong (aka Chi Kung) is a complete system of health and exercise from
    Ancient China.  Qigong literally translates as Qi, breath or energy & Gong,
    exercise; when combined Qigong becomes a system of "breath &
    energy" exercise or the "art of developing energy for health, internal force
    & mind training" (Wong Kiew Kit, The Art of Chi Kung).  The roots of
    Qigong go back 6,000 + years to the Taoist Dao Yin exercises of ancient
    China.  There is serious debate as to how old Qigong really is, with 6,000
    + years being the widely accepted age.

    In China Qigong has influenced many different fields including: Medical,
    Martial Arts, Society, Philosophy and more.  

    Qigong was created for the maintenance of mind/body health and
    continues to be taught in hospitals throughout China.  Qigong is one of the
    four branches of "Traditional" Chinese Medicine or TCM.  According to
    Dr. Stephen T. Chang, in order for Traditional Chinese Medicine to be
    effective and authentic it must contain all four branches.  The branches of
    TCM are: Qigong/Internal Exercises (Internal Alchemy), Tui-Na (Taoist
    Medical Massage), Herbs & Acupuncture.  If one branch is missing then
    it is not TCM and will not be effective.  For example, if you go to an
    Acupuncture Physician and they do not have a knowledge of or practice
    Tui-Na then no matter what they profess or promise their treatments will
    only be 18% effective (according to Dr. Stephen T. Chang).  Same rules
    apply for Qigong & Herbs.  So make sure they have a knowledge of all
    four.

    In fact, according to some scholars, Qigong is the most important aspect
    of TCM.  Wong Kiew Kit states in "The Art of Chi Kung", that "Chi Kung is
    excellent for curing illness and promoting health.  There is a saying that
    Chi Kung can cure hundreds [emphasis added] of illnesses."  The roots
    of Qigong rest with the "Barefoot Doctors" of China.  These Doctors
    would travel throughout China going from town to town, village to village
    passing on and learning the local forms of Qigong as they traveled.  After
    many years of travel, the Barefoot Dr. would amass a formidable
    knowledge of healing many diseases and illnesses.

    WHAT IS QI?

    Before we discuss Qigong further, I want to make sure you have an
    understanding of Qi.  You already learned Qi, means breath or energy,
    and Qigong means breath or energy exercise.  But how exactly do you
    exercise energy, what is energy, how do you know it is real, and do other
    forms of exercise improve or benefit energy?

  • First, the easiest way to explain or relate to Qi (pronounced Chi---
    Chee), is the internal force within all things.  In humans, Qi is the
    internal force that allows the body to perform its functions.  Qi is the
    reason for your thoughts, it allows blood to circulate, it gives the
    organs strength to function, moves the limbs and unites your Qi to
    universal Qi, or to others and the universe.  
    Remember this equation, blood follows the Qi & Qi follows the                 
    breath and mind or intent.  
  • Illness is a result of blockages (stress, tension, organ imbalance
    etc...) within the Qi, Disease is the result of long term illness or
    tension.  Split the word Disease and you have Dis-Ease, no ease,
    or not being at ease....  Therefore, Disease is a result of being
    under stress and tension for a long period of time, this tension
    blocks or disrupts the flow of Qi.  Release, Relax the tension---
    Increase the flow of Qi, and the Illness or Disease is improved,
    prevented or reversed!  
  • According to Lam Kam Chuen in "The Way of Energy", "The
    Chinese have studied the energy of the human body for thousands
    of years.  This study is one of the earliest activities recorded in
    human civilization and dates back to the reign of the Yellow
    Emperor [most likely much earlier]....Chi is the fundamental energy
    that sustains life and is present in the vibrating biological processes
    of every single one of the millions of cells.  It drives all the activities
    throughout the organism."

    Using this understanding of Qi, Qiqong now becomes: A system of
    exercise that consists of both flowing and stationary postures to ensure
    the proper flow of Qi, whereby preventing or reversing disease & illlness.

    Qigong is the oldest system in the world which specifically increases and
    improves the flow of Qi in the body.  

    All forms of Martial Arts, including Taiji Quan, and according to Dr.
    Stephen T. Chang most if not all forms of exercise are derivatives in one
    form or another of Qigong.  

    What is Meditation?

    Perhaps what is more important is to ask What is not Meditation?  Almost
    everything you have heard about Meditation is FALSE!  It is not a means
    to enlightenment, it is not a mystical experience, it is not new age, or
    psychological, nor is it Bio Feedback, or any number of other things that
    are being circulated about it.  

    Briefly meditation is a combination of relaxed deep abdominal breathing,
    in which the mind and intent or (I) in Chinese is focused on one thing or
    thought and only one thing or thought.  

    For instance, meditation could be counting the breaths in a set routine or
    formula, it could be focusing on a color, object or idea, could be
    circulating the Qi etc.....  Meditation is not, sitting still and observing, or
    taking it all in, or observing the thoughts and letting them go.....

    Also, meditation especially contemplative meditation is an ancient
    system that originated in Ancient China roughly 5-6,000 years ago, and
    was a primary subject in the Worlds first fully functioning University!  

    Any book or workshop or session or tape that features meditation as a
    new approach, or new research shows, or we have a new slant on such
    and such is hogwash plain and simple.  Meditation is ANCIENT and was
    one of the first forms of Qigong & Dao Yin, in fact one could say that
    Meditation is the Union with Tao!  


    How do I find out more?

    Click on the links for Classes & Workshops and attend one or several.  
    Seek proper & authentic instruction from a qualified Master Teacher or a
    Teacher studying with a qualified Master.
Qigong Benefits

Qigong has been proven in
hundreds if not thousands of
studies in China and many
studies in USA to have the
following benefits (note: this is
a short list of benefits, Qigong
offers many more than listed
below):

Improvement of the following
systems or conditions:
Cardiovascular, Nervous,
Muscular skeletal,  
Neurological, Respiratory,
Immune System, Brain, Chronic
Pain, Mental Health, Longevity
and many more!!!!!
What effects Qi in
our Body?
according to Dr. Aihan Kuhn, CMD
in "Natural Healing with Qigong,
Therapeutic Qigong"


Negative Effects
  1. Poor Diet & Big Portions
  2. Negative Thinking
  3. Irregular Lifestyle
  4. Physical Pain
  5. Overworked
  6. High Stress
  7. Oversexed
  8. Irregular, Inappropriate
    Exercise

Positive Effects
  1. Healthy Diet & Portions
  2. Positive Thinking
  3. Regular Lifestyle
  4. No Physical Ailments
  5. Balanced Work
  6. Managed Stress
  7. Moderation of Sex
  8. Regular, Appropriate
    Exercise
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