Gentle movement, deep breath, and quiet intention, working as one.
Most of us are familiar with tai chi, seen being practiced in parks. Tai chi originated as an ancient martial art, but over the years it has evolved into a gentler practice focused on health promotion and rehabilitation. Practiced this way, it is considered a form of qigong.
Qigong, pronounced “chi gong,” was developed thousands of years ago in China as part of traditional Chinese medicine. Qi, or “chi,” means life force or breath, and “gong” means practice or work. So we can say qigong is a form of breath work. It is also known as moving meditation.
It involves mindful exercises aimed at optimizing energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being. Qigong has both psychological and physical components, and involves the regulation of the mind, the breath, and the body’s movement and posture. There are over 3,000 qigong forms.
A practice that requires discipline. As you train and stay consistent, the discipline develops organically.
Qigong can be practiced by almost anyone, at any age and physical ability. Exercises emphasize the breath and conscious movement. Research has shown that over 70% of the toxins in our blood are removed through exhalation. The problem with modern living is that most of us are holding our breath from stress, and not moving enough.
Qigong is also a form of preventive medicine that helps detoxify the blood and negate the ill effects of stress. It offers relief for an array of aches and pains, from headaches and back pain to stomach pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel, and more. It can help us manage the emotional side of stress as well, allowing us to decompress at the end of the day, or energize ourselves in the morning before an important meeting.
The practices of yoga, tai chi, and qigong move the energy that carries blood and body fluids throughout the body, opening blockages in the meridians, clearing toxins and impurities. The result is better circulation, along with an accumulation of energy that leads to vitality.
In traditional Chinese medicine, there are 12 regular meridians, or energy pathways. Meridians are like rivers, carrying the flow of energy (qi) the way a river carries water to different destinations in specific directions.
These pathways distribute energy, nutrients, and blood across the body in much the same way as the circulatory system. Each meridian line is connected to an internal organ, and the meridians are interconnected in pairs, each belonging to an Element in nature.
Chinese medicine recognizes Five Elements that correlate with nature: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. It also recognizes emotions that correlate with each Element. As our emotions change and transform, so do the Elements, just as they do in nature.
Through qigong, tai chi, and yoga, we stimulate networks along the meridians, bringing balance and healing into the body and mind.
If you are looking to:
then come join a class at 12Meridians-Fit and experience this transformation for yourself.
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