Qigong
Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung") is a Chinese term which translates as "Energy Skill." Qi (pronounced "chē") is the Chinese word for the Energy which enables the Universe to function. It is the basis for "All Change". It can take many forms, including the "Life Force" which animates all living beings. Gong is the Chinese word for Skill.
By learning to conserve, acquire more, transform and manipulate Qi at will, we are developing our Energy Skill or QiGong.
Reasons for practicing Qigong
Qigong is practiced for many reasons. The most common one is to promote better health and longer life. It is also used by martial Artists to develop more power and the arcane skills gungfu masters are known for.
Forms of Qigong
There is some confusion about Qigong. This is due to the many meanings of the word Qi.
Qi can mean breath or energy. This is because in ancient times, since people could not see oxygen, they believed we inhaled Qi or energy. Later, even after the discovery of air, the notion of breathing in energy remained and also became synonymous with breathing air.
Therefore to avoid confusion in this article, Qigong refers only to Internal Energy Skill and not just breathing.
Qigong can take many forms. From simply learning to control our breathing to opening our Energy gates and emitting our Qi outside of our bodies.
At its most simple level, we can move our Qi through our bodies by moving our various body parts with our muscles. This is the form of exercise and Qigong practiced by countless Chinese in their parks and recreation centers.
Even massage can be consider a passive form of Qigong. This is because the masseuse moves our Qi through our body for us.
Many forms of Qigong involve performing specific patterns of breathing which involve various combinations and durations of inhalations, exhalations and breath retention (both holding the breath in and holding it out). Some forms will require moving various body parts in conjunction with the breathing patterns and others will not.
These forms of Qigong are practiced for several reasons: Spiritual growth, Improving Health and Vitality, Sexual Enhancement, Martial Arts and Increased Power. The major difference among them is where the practitioner places his/her main intent and the spirit in which this intent is manifested.
It is also common to perform Muscle and Tendon Changing Exercises along with the breathing exercises. These exercises prepare the body to safely handle the increased power output.
Medical Qigong is also popular. In this form of "Qigong", a Qigong practitioner learns to use his/her Qi to help manipulate their patient's Qi by using various means from physical touch to mental manipulation.
Since Traditional Chinese Medicine states that all illnesses are caused of by an imbalance in a person's internal energy. Some of the common imbalances are:
1) Too much energy or too little internal energy in the whole system.
2) Too much or not enough Yin or Yang Energy associated with a particular internal organ.
3) A local energy blockage at a specific point which inhibits the free flow of the system's energy
In Medical Qigong, the patient may also be taught to manipulate his/her own Qi in certain ways for specific purposes.
At its highest levels, a Qigong master can move his/her Qi through the air using nothing but their Yi or Intention/Will Power.
Tools for practicing Qigong
Inhalation, Exhalation and Breath Retention are powerful tools which enable the practitioner to gather, store and circulation their Qi move efficiently throughout their body at will.
The Chinese consider everything to be Qigong. Considering everything we do takes energy, they are correct. However, the level of one's Qigong is proportional to the amount of conscious intent one is using.
The amount of intent one can use is directly related to the how much awareness one can maintain. Awareness can not remain without the ability to remain focused. And the ability to remain focused requires Will Power.
A focused mind with great Yi or Will Power may enable high level Qigong skills. However, without a Purified Heart, all that can be accomplished is selfish desires and goals.
Therefore, Qigong practice also requires one to practice purifying one's heart and mind.