Qigong:  The roots and heart of Chinese medicine

"xin" means "heart - mind" in Chinese... In qigong, the heart and the mind are considered as one.


 Qigong is a very special part of Chinese medicine.  

Qi (pronounced "chee") means "vital life energy"
Gong means "skilled practice" or "work"

Together, qigong means, "skilled energy practice," or "energy work."

It is the oldest of the Chinese healing arts, much older than 5,000 years at the root where it emerged from the shamanic energy healing practices of China.   Since all other Chinese healing arts (acupuncture, herbal medicine and tui na) work with the body's energy to promote health and healing, it is easy to see how over time, and experience, Chinese medicine was born out of qigong practice and healing.

Qigong therapy has two parts:                
                                                                                                                                                       
1.  Direct qi healing.
2.  Instruction in certain qigong self healing exercises, meditation, movement, and mind/body methods to be done independently.

Qigong uses body, mind and breathing to guide energy and cultivate energy in the body for good health.  Through the open and easy flow of qi in the body, healing is promoted.  Modern science has taken a close look at many qigong practices and also has shown the beneficial effect of meditation, deep, slow and easy breathing, movement, and the powerful effects of thought (the mind) on healing.

Anyone can receive qi healing or learn qigong practice.  It is gentle, natural, and also very empowering in that you can practice on your own, for better health.

Benefits of qigong practice, and qi healing...

Qi healing is gentle and natural, and because no needles or herbs are necessary, qi healing is appropriate for all ages, and states of health.  Some of the benefits of qi healing and qigong therapy include:

~ Increased relaxation (decreased stress).
~ Lowered blood pressure.  Qigong studies done at Columbia University and other institutions have shown that practice of qigong is very effective in the treatment of hypertension.
~ Improved sense of well-being.
~ A deeper connection to your own natural healing abilities and body/mind/spirit awareness and integration.
~ Athletic performance improvement, naturally and safely using the body/mind/spirit integration approach.
~ A closer relationship with nature
~ Increased mental focus and ability

For more benefits of qigong and to see the real science behind the art... you can visit the website for the Qigong Institute by clicking here... qigonginstitute.org

How is it done?

In the clinic, qi healing involves locating and correcting imbalances in the flow of qi (energy).  When energy is flowing openly, smoothly and is abundant, good health can follow. Natural healing can occur.  

The art of healing in the clinic with energy, involves locating and correcting these imbalances and also teaching the patient how to maintain energetic health with meditation and specific qigong therapy exercises. 

During qi healing, the patient relaxes and rests comfortably on a table or in a chair, as imbalances are sensed, and detected, and cleared using ancient qigong healing methods.  Mostly there is no touch at all involved. Sometimes, though, there may be some very gentle touch, on acupoints or areas of the body. Also we may do visualization and breathing exercises together, for healing work. It is very individual for each person.

During the session, the patient may feel qi moving and experience energy visually and physically and this is quite normal.  Many people never have sensed qi in their own body until a qi healing session, and it can be a new discovery.  Everyone experiences energy in their own way. Some people are very sensitive to qi and can feel it with ease, and some cannot physically sense but have another way of understanding it, such as visually, or intellectually.   As with anything, there are varying degrees of sensitivity.  Often those who are not very sensitive to qi will experience it with acupuncture in a different way and prefer that to qi healing.  As one person once commented to me, "acupuncture feels like induced meditation."  I agree with him, as the effect of acupuncture treatment can be much like that of qigong, in that it promotes a relaxing state through the circulation of qi in the body.

Nature...
Qi is a subtle energy and is present in all life around us, in the whole Universe.  Thoughts are energy, as well.  And yes, healing can be done across the distance, hundreds of miles away for this reason. 

All of nature around us has unique energies, and often we can work with them for good health in certain ancient qigong meditations, such as practicing with trees, which is a very special natural art that is also very healing for both the person and the tree. 

Through qigong practice, people often become more close to nature, and open to their own natural healing abilities.