| |
Gather Your Qi
Kathleen Gagne
I've recently been hearing a lot about Qigong (pronounced
chee-GONG). I've heard it referenced in connection with exercise,
relaxation and balance. Since these are subjects that I'm
always interested in, and thinking that it was the new "thing",
I started doing some research on what Qigong is.
As it turns out, Qigong isn't new at all. Qigong is just the
current name for the Taoist breathing exercises that date
back nearly 5,000 years. Tai Chi, which I've heard of many
times, is just one of the 3,000+ forms of qigong.
Definition of Qigong
Qi refers to the energy of the universe. Gong means to gather
with skill. Putting them together, Qigong means to gather
energy from the universe with practiced skill. Using breathing,
slow rhythmic movement and mental images, qi is gathered,
brought into the body and moved through the meridians of the
body. The results calm the mind, energize the body and help
to create a sense of balance. The mind, body and spirit all
work together.
History of Qigong
The concept of moving qi through the body may actually have
originated as far back as 6000 years ago in India. However,
it is believed that Qigong was developed in China around 4000
years ago. It was primarily used for health and religion purposes
before its introduction into martial arts.
Qigong for Health
Qigong is traditionally used to balance the yin and yang.
The Chinese believe that disease and illness are the direct
cause of the imbalance between yin and yang. Therefore, Qigong
is the natural method to optimize the body's latent energy
and guard against illness.
The benefits of Qigong are numerous. Using the lower stomach
while breathing stimulates the lymph system, which in turn
detoxifies and oxygenates the body. The breathing and mental
imagery shift our nervous system and reduce stress. The gentle
movements lubricate the joints and increase flexibility. Qigong
has been said to alleviate arthritis and chronic fatigue,
improve metabolism and increase circulation. The lists go
on and on.
To learn more about Qigong and other methods to balance your
life, visit the author's website at Connecting
Rainbows.
Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com
|
|
