Qi Gong
Daoyin or Qi gong as it is referred to as today, is an instrument able to teach us many things about ourselves & about the way of life. With continuous practice, each day, you can start to regain balance back into your life for the purpose of bringing out the best in yourself!
Living in a world with constant demands can make it feel like riding on a Tilt- A- Whirl ride. Cheeks blown open by the wind, hair a mess, & a nail broken by gripping the bar that’s been protecting your life. When your prayers have finally been answered & the ride has stopped, you get off disheveled & stumbling. All this is to say, you may be feeling off balance, stressed, anxious, & rushed.
To regain control, we must train our minds to be more present & to live in each moment in order to start feeling changes in the body & to find the answers within ourselves. It’s an art form that helps us to ask - what does my body need? What are my feelings trying to tell me right now? One way to regain control can be through the practice of Qi gong, a branch of traditional Chinese medicine.
Qi gong has over 3,000 styles! It is a form of light exercise that involves repeated movements, breath work, stretching, & increasing blood flow throughout the body. When each of these goals is achieved, the flow of energy & balance in the body is restored.
Qi gong is translated into “energy work.” Qi gong refers to either a singular form of exercise or a systematic practice either in the form of movement or simply with tranquility to center qi. Qi is an important term, especially in Daoist medicine. It is our energy flow, life force, our breath. It is a great way to help strengthen our vitality.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the leading causes of death is negative emotions. Common day to day feelings like disappointment, sorrow, envy, & rage aren’t inherently ‘bad.’ But when strong emotions are suppressed, physical systems like inflammation & illness can result.
Our physical pain can often be a manifestation of stress or other emotional or mental challenges. It is important to find a healthy way to deal with these issues & qi gong may help you to find your inner calm to manage stress & negative, repeated thought patterns.
Qi gong has been practiced since 202 BC in the Western Han Dynasty. With its gentle yet powerful movements, externally, you move & become strong. Internally, you circulate the qi & become more harmonious. Coordination with inner qi is a must. It is far more than moving your hands up & down. You link each movement with your breath, done in a rhythmic manner, utilizing breath work, stretching, & flowing into the next repetition while increasing blood flow throughout the body. This restores the flow of balance & energy in the mind, body, & spirit.
The two main principles of Qi gong are posture & mind regulation. A relaxed, natural posture allows for a smooth breathing pattern. It eases the mind into a calm state. Gentle arm movements combined with conscious breathing & walking while moving the hands is a commonly performed practice.
Quieting your mind is the next important discipline in Qi gong. Not easily mastered, but highly rewarding. Being able to settle your mind, focus, & tune out distractions is a goal & benefit of practicing qi gong.
Tai chi comes from Qi gong. It is a martial art style application of qi gong used in a series of movements to flow. It is the oldest form of the five primary tai chi styles formed by Chen Wangting around 1670.
Qi gong can be practiced at home, outside, in the office, anywhere! When practiced consistently over a period of time, one should begin to feel & enjoy the benefits, such as:
Better concentration & focus
Reduced stress & anxiety
Improved flexibility & circulation
Enhanced immune system
Digestive, headache, & arthritis relief
Increased energy & metabolism
Reclamation of body’s curves
Increased memory, recall, & creativity
Trauma relief
Deeper access to joy, intuition, peace & belonging