Qi Gong

Qi Gong or Qigong is an ancient form of Chinese medicine designed to remove stress from the body and increase our natural energy. The earliest recordings of Qi Gong date back at least 4,000 years and started with people mirroring the movement of nature.

As they followed these mirrored movements, they began to feel the transformative energy coursing through their body, and they experienced healing as a result. Since Qi Gong has been around for thousands of years, it has been fine-tuned with centuries of wisdom being poured into it, making it a well-rounded practice that has withstood the test of time.

The word “Qi” (pronounced “chi”) means “energy.” Qi is the life force that keeps us alive. Everything alive has Qi, and we are surrounded by it. But most of us don’t realize it or even know what to do with it.

The word “Gong” means “to work with” or to “have skill with.” So “Qi Gong” is having the skill to work with life force energy, to strengthen it so it can be harnessed for healing and wellness so that we can be at our optimal state of health.

If you walk into almost any gym in the western world today, you will see people tuning their minds out by staring at a screen or listening to music as they work out. They are turning their attention outside of themselves, focusing anywhere else but the present.

This is common in our society. Our mind is usually somewhere else and not in the present moment. When we turn our attention back to ourselves, we are gathering our energies from being spread out in multiple directions, and this brings our power back to help ground us into the present moment.

Qi Gong is called “meditation in motion” because it practices looking inward and being in the present moment. When your mind is present and you relax into the movements, you become aware of the subtle energy shifts that start taking place.

The energy shifts are the qi getting “unstuck” and moving freely through the body in a state of flow. The more one practices flow and tuning into the sensations they are experiencing, the deeper the mind and body connection becomes, and the practices become effortless and powerful.

Qi Gong is a holistic approach to bringing balance to the body. In the West, we are used to separating our mind, body, and spirit. For mental health issues, we go to psychiatrists. For spiritual issues, we go to church. For physical problems, we go to a medical doctor.

There is nothing wrong with seeing psychiatrists, churches, or medical doctors, but the western approach gives the impression the mind, body, and spirit are different and disconnected. But they aren’t. The more we strengthen our mind, body, and spiritual connections, the deeper the healing can come as we balance those three things together.

Energy needs to be in constant motion. Unfortunately, when we aren’t moving our bodies enough or in various ways, we get stuck energy, also known as “stagnant energy.”

If the energy gets stuck for long periods of time, it can begin to cause pain and sickness in the body. Think of the stiffness you get when sitting too long at a desk or in a car on a long drive. Once you get up from the desk or out of the car and stretch, you get that energy flowing again, and you feel better.

However, if you don’t get up and stretch and don’t get the energy moving again, the deeper issues start to take root. Chronic pain, arthritis, and illness are all symptoms of stuck energy. Movement gets energy flowing again for optimal health and graceful aging. There is a saying in Qi Gong, “we don’t age because we get older. We age because we stop moving.”

My teacher, Lee Holden, says, “If you take a 20-year-old and have them stop moving, they will age faster and have more pain in their body than a 70-year-old who is moving and exercising regularly.”

It’s important to keep in mind that movement is good but that we need to move our bodies in a variety of ways to stay healthy. Someone who is on their feet all day but out of alignment might be moving their bodies, but they will be stiff and sore from the misalignment, and that can cause issues as well.

There is also the factor that repetitive exercises can stop being effective because our bodies adjust to the motion and hit a plateau. Think of a runner who runs five miles every day. Once they hit their plateau, they need to increase their time or distance to see improvements.

The beautiful thing about Qi Gong is that there is a wide range of movements to get energy moving in multiple ways, so there won’t be the plateau that is so often dreaded with other forms of exercise. The varied movements of Qi Gong lengthen the telomeres in our cells to increase our longevity and lifespan.

Qi Gong vs. Tai Chi and Yoga

Most people in our culture today have heard of Tai Chi, so another question I often get asked is if Qi Gong is anything like Tai Chi. The short answer is yes, there is overlap, but they are very different simultaneously.

Both work with Qi to harness the benefits. Qi Gong was formed first, and then Tai Chi branched out and was adapted for martial arts. The long, complicated routines in Tai Chi are not part of Qi Gong. There may be similar movements, but the sequence structure is quite different. Everyone has their preference, of course, but several of my students who have done both Tai Chi and Qi Gong liked the simplicity of Qi Gong.

A question I get asked frequently is if this is anything like Yoga. I have practiced different styles of Yoga, although admittedly not very in-depth. One of the main differences I’ve seen is that Qi Gong has a more flowing quality to the movements when stretching, whereas Yoga tends to hold stretches for extended periods of time.

I have encountered a few overlapping exercise moves, but for the most part, they are both ancient healing methods with completely different styles. Also, Yoga focuses on the seven Chakra system for balancing the body, and Qi Gong focuses on the five elements. Both systems balance the body deeply and completely, just in different ways.

Things to Keep In Mind

Everyone can benefit from Qi Gong, but not everyone can do it perfectly. We all have limitations in different areas. The best thing to keep in mind is to do what is best to your ability, and you will get benefits from it.

For example, if I ask the class to bend down and touch the floor, it’s not a competition to see who can go the furthest, and the winner doesn’t get the most out of the class. If you can only bend over slightly, you will benefit from going to your limits.

The number one rule of Qi Gong is, if there’s pain, stop or modify. There should never be pain. All movements can be modified to fit your needs. You are more in tune with your body than anyone. Only you can know your limits and what doesn’t feel good.

If I’m asking you to do something that hurts, listen to your body. Maybe it means not going as far or not bending your knees. But do what you can or skip the move if there are concerns.

If you are pregnant or have medical concerns, please see a doctor before engaging in this activity. Even thought Qi Gong can benefit everyone, if there are health concerns, it’s best to do this with the guidance of a physician.

Please note that Qi Gong is not a substitute for medical care, it is a compliment to medical care and your lifestyle.