Last updated on November 23rd, 2023.
Our lives these days are full of stress, and we face new and different kinds of ailments that affect our bodies every day. With so much going on in the world, it would be best to find a way to reduce stress and illnesses. It may seem easier to take pills for every ailment and stressful feeling, but why do that when you can reduce all these on your own? As long as you have a few minutes a day, you can practice qigong, and that’s how you’ll start changing your life, how you feel, and how you react to everything around you.
Qigong is an ancient medicinal practice originating from China. Like other forms of medicine, qigong promotes a good mental, physical, and spiritual health. Qigong combines physical movement, controlled breathing, and meditation. There are different types of qigong, and each of them leads to the same end goal, which is to get rid of disease from the body.
Article Topics
What is qigong, and how does it work?
Mindfulness Meditation is among the most popular mediation techniques in the west. The origins of Mindfulness Meditation come from Buddhist teachings. Mindfulness Meditation is also another form of focused meditation and it addition, it is the first stage in the practice of Zen Meditation.
Mindfulness Meditation begins with the practitioner focusing on either their body or on their breath as it passes through their body. By creating this focus, there is also an awareness of what is happening in the present forming. Using a body scan technique to focus on the body, starting with the toes and working their way through the body for example, the practitioner is able to create awareness of potentially stressed areas. Through that awareness they are then able to mindfully release that stress and continue through the body.
Utilizing breath as a focal point also develops the awareness and state of consciousness that Mindfulness Meditation provides. In this instance, the practitioner focuses on their breathing. By paying attention to the flow of air both in and out of the lungs, as well as the pause in between, a state of being present is developed.
In either cases, random thoughts will no doubt invade the mind of the practitioner, when this occurs, a simple technique called ‘note-ing’ can be applied, which is simply to observe the thought, lightly acknowledge it and refocus the mind on either the breath of body.
Utilizing this technique the practitioner develops a strength of focus that can be summoned for calming the mind from racing thoughts in the future. It also brings a state of consciousness allowing for the practitioner to be an observer to emotions when they should arise.
Where does qigong come from?
Qigong is a modern term used to categorize over 1500 different types of exercise into meaningful contexts. In the past, qigong used Taoism to attain physical and spiritual immortality. The earliest archaeological discoveries of qigong were discovered in the Ma Huang Tui Tombs. The images looked like dance-like postures combined with breathing used for health.
The concept of qigong follows that of yin-yang because the physical exercises attempt to harmonize the ying-yang relationship in the body to keep the Qi circulating. Going by history, this was an effort stimulated by the Taoist alchemical tradition. In the earlier Chinese beliefs, there was no concept of reincarnation, and the finality of death stimulated a way for them to prolong their lives.
In pursuing immortality, the alchemists tried to discover various ways to maintain an individual’s consciousness even after death. This means utilizing herbs, particular dietary regimens, minerals, breathing, and physical exercises. All these were meant to prolong life, and it’s where the roots of Qigong come from. That’s why we use the practice to develop and maintain health.
Currently, the practice of qigong is widespread in China, and even the government supports its use. The various forms of qigong today are either to prevent ailments, get rid of the disease, or fully recover. It’s even possible to project Qi from one person to another to restore balance and healing. This form of qigong requires lots of education on the subject and learning from someone who’s done it for years. Practitioners also learn specific qigong exercises for particular diseases.
How does qigong make you feel?
Students practicing qigong explain how they felt relaxed after the classes and energized. They also report sleeping deeply at night every day they have a class. According to a study, qigong could help reduce the symptoms of depression. In the study, participants who practiced qigong reported having less anxiety and better moods than those who didn’t. QiGong also has positive effects on bone and cardiovascular health and it improves balance.
Because of the controlled breathing and gentle movement, you end up centering your body and clearing your mind. Doing so relaxes your nervous system, and that’s why most people have benefits like reduced anxiety and depression. Our daily lives invoke a lot of stress and worry, but once we calm down, breathe, and move the body, we worry less, and this has a positive effect on the mind and physical health. By practicing QiGong, you will improve your health and have a more balanced and brighter outlook on life.
Can qigong cure diseases?
The body constantly fights bacteria, viruses, and many other forms of infection. When you practice qigong, it acts like a utility that shifts the body’s energy making it more accessible by restoring energy how it’s supposed to be and restoring the natural ability of the body to heal itself by restoring balance. According to most experiments conducted on qigong‘s ability on the body, it is possible to see evidence suggesting that qigong may be effective in the treatment of diseases. These include chronic pain, arthritis, asthma, headaches, diabetes, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, and heart disease, among other illnesses causing death in this new age.
If you’re wondering why one would opt for qigong over medical science, you haven’t given it a chance. Even though medical science has been growing over the years, certain diseases keep coming up, and medical science can’t seem to catch up. Also, we can see that it’s the biggest killer of our age when it comes to heart disease and cancer. Mortality rates from cancer have been the same since the 1940s. Even though life is always a gamble, qigong will help ensure that the odds are in your favor.
One of the greatest gifts that qigong gives us is detecting illness in its subclinical stage. This means you can notice when Qi is depleted, stagnant, or excessive and know what actions to take to balance it. For example, certain forms of breast cancers grow for eight years before they’re visible on mammograms. But with the practice of qigong, you can detect any form of illness trying to happen and stop it.
What are the five elements of qigong?
In TCM, there are five elements that are interconnected and interdependent. A harmonious balance between these five elements leads to a healthy life. Each element is more prominent in certain seasons and daily cycles. Each element is more strongly connected with specific organs and energy channels in the body.
- Wood. Liver and gallbladder (spring). The wood element is most prominent during the spring season. This element’s color is green, and the liver energy flows more easily in spring when plants are sprouting new growth. It can help detoxify the body and give us more energy.
- Fire. Heart, small intestines, Pericardium, and Triple Heater (summer). The color of this element is red, and it’s more prominent in the summer when there is lots of heat. The heart energy is healing and brings health and joy to our lives. It is essential to enhance our heart energy, especially during summer.
- Earth. Stomach and spleen (all seasons, especially late summer). The earth element has nos pacific season, meaning you must activate it through all four seasons. It is quite prominent in the last ten days of each season. The best time to enhance your stomach and spleen energy is during the last ten days of each season.
- Metal. Lung and large intestines (fall). The color of this element s white, and it falls in the fall season when there is a lot of harvesting and the abundance of summer. Fall comes between a warm and cool season, and it’s necessary to prepare the lungs to prevent colds now that cooler seasons are coming.
- Water. Kidneys and bladder (winter). The water element is most visible during winter when plants go into a dormant cycle and animals hibernate, storing energy away for spring. Enhancing the kidney during this season gives you more energy and vitality for the more active seasons waiting for you.
There are also five main principles of qigong that are keys to unlocking its true potential, which you should read further about.
Where can I learn more about qigong training?
Whether you’re a beginner or have prior knowledge of qigong doesn’t matter. You can always learn and advance. White Tiger Qigong has qigong trainings that can give you everything you need to know about qigong. Qigong is a practice that everyone should be given a chance to understand.
Final thoughts
Qigong is quite a special ancient practice that we use to rid the body of ailments and also prevent our bodies from getting diseases. Since this form of medicine was created to achieve immortality, it is a great way to balance Qi and keep illnesses away from the body. It helps us detect disease in the body when Qi is stagnant or depleted. The best way to manipulate Qi is by following the elements of qigong and balancing each according to its season. Dive into qigong by exploring best qigong certification and learn best practices.
