Qi Gong for health

Qigong (or ch'i kung) is an internal Chinese meditative practice with over 3000 years of history, which often uses slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques. The Chinese believed that through gentle exercise which incorporates the mind, breathing and body helps to cultivate and promote circulation of qi within the human body, thus enhance a practitioner's overall health.

There are various forms of Qigong, some are done with no movement at all, in standing, sitting and supine positions, some with gentle movements and some with movements mixed with stretching of the body or dynamic exertion of power. There are more than 10,000 styles of qigong and 200 million people practicing them all over China and the world.

The Chinese character for qi, in qigong, can mean air, breath, or "life force". Gong means work, so Qigong is therefore the practice of "working" with ones "life force". Currently there is a movement underway in China, the United States, and Europe to preserve the valuable aspects of these traditional Chinese practices and to have them studied using Western scientific methods. Now more and more western medicine doctors, researchers and scientists accepted the fact that through regular practice of Qigong or TaiChi helps maintain better physical and psychological health and wellbeing. Chinese Traditional Medicine Doctors, practitioners also believed that qi can be felt as a vibration or electrical current and physically circulated through channels called meridians. Many testify to a reduction or elimination of pain through the use of qigong.

The smooth flow of Qi enables our body to function properly and when the channels or meridians are blocked, the flow ofQi will slow down or become stagnant, illnesses arise and in serious case death. Therefore it is important to keep the Qiflow smoothly.

Health Qigong is a system comprises of some of the oldest Qigongs in China, they are Yi Jin Jing, Ba Duan Jin, Wu Qin Xi, Liu Zi Jue and Twelve Duan Jin, these Qigongs all have more than 1000 years of history.

Yi Jin JIng - Muscle and Tendon Strengthening exercise
The earliest description of Yi Jin Jing exercises can be found on a 2000 years old brocade painting named 'Illustration of Qi Circulation' (Dao Yin), which was unearthed in the 1970s from an ancient tomb in Changsha, Hunan, China. From 526 AD on, monks of the Shaolin Monastery played an important role in the evolution of the Yi Jin Jing exercises. The earliest account of the modern 12-movement exercises is included in the Illustrations of Internal Exercise compiled by Pan Wei in 1858 in the Qing Dynasty.

As traditional Yi Jin Jing relies heavily on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of the Five Elements - metal, wood, water, fire, earth - different school of the exercises have evolved, emphasizing this aspect in many works. The Health Qigong Yi Jin Ying absorbed the cream of the traditional 12-routine Yi Jin Ying exercises together with a modern scientific approach. The movements form a continuous integrity, focusing on tendon stretching and bone flexing and combining softness with strength. An essential part of the routines is natural breathing and the integration of mind and body with a relaxed spirit to make the circulation of the vital energy (qi) as unimpeded as possible.

Yi Jin Jing movements require a full range of stretching, bending, flexing and twisting in multi-directional and wide-ranging motions of the bones and related joints. As the bones are flexed, the muscle groups, tendons and ligaments are also stretched. This improves the blood circulation, nutrition supersession in the soft tissues of the motion-related areas, increases the flexibility and pliability of such soft tissues as muscles, tendons, ligaments and enhances the mobility of the bones, joints and muscles.

The exercises are centered on the twisting, flexing, and stretching of the spine, with the waist as the axis and are conducted at a slow and even pace. Such movements help to stimulate spinal and nerve cords to make them function more effectively, together with the exercise of limbs and internal organs. Strength, when required, is applied in a gradual manner and the muscles should be relaxed to combine strength with tenderness.

The Yi Jin Ying movements have been proven to be able to improve health, fitness, prevent diseases, lengthen life and improve intellect. Regular, correct practice has very impressive effects on the respiratory system, flexibility, balance and muscular strength. It may also help to prevent and cure diseases of the joints, digestive, cardiovascular and nervous system.

Wu Qin Xi - Five Animals Frolics
The system of Five Animal Exercises were designed by Hua Tuo, a leading physician of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). Hua Tuo developed this system based on existing ancient Chinese traditional exercises following theories of the functions of the internal organs and meridians as well as the principles of the circulation of Qi and blood in the human body. His inspiration came from the careful observation and study of the characteristic behaviour of tigers, deer, bears, monkeys and birds, concluding that wild creatures regularly performed certain exercises to build up their constitution and improve their life skills.

The Five Animal Exercises imitate the movements of five animals and combining physical with mental exercises. The physical movements are designed to show the courage and robustness of the tiger, serenity and poise of the deer, the steadiness and solidity of the bear, the nimbleness and dexterity of the monkey and the swiftness and grace of the bird. The physical movements are at all times integrated with the mental exercises which are supposed to imitate the spiritual activities and expressions of the animals.

The exercises have the aim of strengthening muscles and bones, promoting the circulation of Qi and blood, preventing and curing diseases, maintaining good health and prolonging the life span. The external dynamic physical activities should be integrated with the static activities of the mind. Exercising limbs, waist, trunk and spine can increase the movement range and physical efficiency.

Exercises of the fingers and toes are particularly emphasized for improving the blood circulation to the extremities. Physical and psychological tests of people practicing the Wu Qin Xi give high scores to their overall constitution, the functions of the various organs, mental attitude and power of perception, as well as physical fitness.

The movements are simple and easy to remember as well as very safe and can be exercised by people of different age groups and stages of practice.