Qigong (chi gung) is an amazing, truly holistic system of gentle exercises that is over 4000 years old. It began in ancient China and has long been used to promote personal development on all levels of our being; spiritual; emotional; mental and physical.
Qi energy (chi) is the driving force of the entire universe. It creates planets, solar systems and galaxies. On a planetary level, it creates, nurtures and sustains all of nature and, at the human level, it is the force that nurtures and sustains our bodies.
The saying goes… We can live for 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 minutes without air, and 3 seconds without qi.
In the TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) model of health, when the qi is flowing in an abundant and unrestricted way around the body, the person is in a state of natural good health. Qi flows in 12 channels (meridians) around the body. When there are blockages in these channels, the qi flow becomes interrupted and distorted, the qi becomes unbalanced and cannot nurture and sustain the entire body. Thus illness arises.
The aim of Qigong is to remove the blockages and enliven the qi energy in order to restore balance. Once the qi is flowing in an abundant, unrestricted and balanced way, the person will return to a state of natural good health.
The flowing movements of Qigong are designed to relax the muscles, open the joints and flex the torso and limbs. These movements stretch the meridians and promote healthy qi flow. The correct term for movement Qigong is Dao Yin which translates to "Pulling and Guiding". This refers to the intention of the movements, which is to pull the chi, down from heaven, up from the Earth and guide it around the body.
When performing these movements, the mind is relaxed and focused (usually on the hands), and the whole body is moving in a flowing, integrated and coordinated way. This creates a meditative state that promotes the flow of qi through the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our being. Thus the whole being is nurtured and sustained. The person thrives and is in robust health. This is the power of Qigong.
If you would like to know more about Qigong, or would like to join a Qigong class, simply contact me (Alec) on 07508007624.
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