What is Qigong

Qigong is a study of the energy of the whole universe. This includes physics, chemistry, psychology, astrology, biology, electricity and medicine. Qigong is an easy to follow combination of controlled breathing, focused concentration and simple movement. Qigong works with the body’s energy.

Qigong has been practiced in China for more than five thousand years and has proved to be effective in the prevention and cure of many diseases. Millions of people in China practice Qigong because of its great healing power. However, unlike acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, or tai chi, Qigong remains a mystery to the Western world. This ancient discipline combines mental concentration, breathing technique, and body movements to activate and cultivate our "vital energy" as it flows through the invisible channels of the body.

"Qi" or "Chi" (pronounced Chee) means air or breath, vital energy, or the universal force that forms all animate and inanimate things. "Gong" means work, the function and benefit of this energy, or self-discipline leading to the art of mastery. We are born with Qi energy which is fundamental to life. Qi has been called the "mother of blood". It is believed that by moving Qi through the body, you can heal yourself of many ailments. More and more people all over the world are practicing Qigong due to its healing power and simplicity of philosophy.

How Qigong works

According to Chinese medicine, sickness, pain and other health anomalies are caused when Qi energy is blocked. When Qi cannot flow through the body, two things happen:

First, excess Qi builds up where it is not needed or wanted. This is like water damming on a river and flooding a neighborhood.

Second, other parts of the body do not receive enough Qi. This is like the riverbed drying out on the other side of the dam, destroying river life.

Qigong exercises remove blocks and increase flow of energy through your body. When it flows free, Qi energy heals and restores the body. Qigong deals with the cause of sickness; it gives the body a perfect healing physically, spiritually and mentally. Qigong heals the body faster and more completely with fewer or no side effects, lower cost and prevents future problems.

Qigong is the grandfather of Chinese medicine, Tai-chi, acupuncture, Shiatsu and Reiki. The Qigong exercises look similar to the meditative movements of Tai-chi. Qigong has been a guarded secret of the Chinese elite and only became known to the rest of the world during the last half century.

I came to know about Qigong from Chunyi Lin, a Qigong Master, who collaborates with Learning Strategies Inc, to promote it. I have attended classes at the offices of Learning Strategies Inc. in Minnesota, where the personnel practice Qigong everyday between 11.30-12.00. Master Lin has been in Minnesota since 1995 practicing the healing power of Qigong with persons individually and also teaching thousands of people. He has also been working with medical researchers to establish the effectiveness of Qigong. He has developed a new form of Qigong called Spring Forest Qigong.

With Spring Forest Qigong you can learn a method to relieve pain in yourself. Qigong teaches you to use your mind, body and spirit together to unblock energy and balance Yin and Yang energy in the body. We are formed by two kinds of Qi: Yin and Yang.

Yin means something female, passive, and spiritual; Yang means something male, active and physical. Examples of Yin would be woman, water, and earth. Examples of Yang would be man, fire and sky. Yin and Yang energy must be in a good balance. Many diseases are caused due to the imbalance of Yin and Yang. This imbalance creates energy blockages which prevent energy to flow freely in our energy channels which run throughout the body to keep it fully functioning.

There are twelve main channels in our body and eight reservoir channels. Each channel serves a specific purpose. The main channels carry energy to wherever energy is needed in the body. Extra energy in the main channels flows to the reservoir channels. The body draws on energy in the reservoir channels when the main channels run low.

Blockages in the main and reservoir channels prevent energy from getting to all parts of the body. Body functioning slows down or stops, and we feel sick. If we want to get well, we must remove those blockages and open channels. This brings the Yin and Yang energy back to balance.

You can either take medicine or practice Qigong and other exercises. It is recommended that you consider Qigong to compliment medicinal therapy. Qigong exercise and meditation are active and preventative ways to heal the body. Medicine is a passive way to heal the body. Both approaches play an important role, however Qigong can potentially heal the body more effectively and perfectly.

Qigong opens the door for holistic, perfect healing of the body, mind and spirit. It helps to unblock Yin energy and helps heal the body more completely with less pain, less stress and less anxiety.

Benefits of Qigong

Master Chunyi Lin developed Spring Forest Qigong, an advanced, simple and powerful form of Qigong, in 1994. There are thousands of Qigong exercises practiced around the world, most of them complicated and time-consuming and difficult for the average person to learn and practice. He explains the meaning and importance of each movement, and helps us to realise our natural ability to heal ourselves. Spring Forest Qigong can fit into our everyday lives and reward us in many ways:

• You discover your natural capacity to heal yourself
• You acquire the power to protect yourself from ill health, mentally, physically and spiritually
• You learn knowledge and skills to continually strengthen your health throughout your lifetime
• You achieve all of the above through the training of the mind, breath and posture in a very simple form that is easy to learn, and a joy to practice.
• Improves your metabolism, digestion and elimination
• Qigong is great for weight control
• Stimulates the lymph system. Qigong builds a stronger immune system
• Improves your circulation
• Reduces tension
• Lubricates your joints for pain-free movement and greater flexibility
• Soothes the nervous system

The most beautiful aspect of doing Qigong is that through healing the body, you learn to understand your life and freedom of life, physically and spiritually. You will find long-forgotten love, kindness, and forgiveness coming back to you. Life is for happiness – of your family, your community, your people and the whole world. Happiness is gained by giving love and forgiveness to others.

Join Our Classes

Your health is too important not to try Qigong. You can join a class in our offices at 117 Athalassa Avenue, 2024, Nicosia: twice a week Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.00-8.00 pm. You can call us on 22454547. The first two consecutive lessons are free and for those registering for January 2003, the month of December 2002 will be free. We plan to expand our class offerings in Paphos in April 2003.