Qi Gong (Chi Kung): what is it and how is it practiced?

Qi Gong, also known as Chi Kung It is an art of Chinese origin that aims to understand, apply and optimize the body’s energy., as understood by traditional Chinese medicine. It is an ancient practice, dating back approximately 2,000 years.

In Qi Gong it is done with the breath movements and visualizations, the same as traditional Chinese medicine does with acupuncture. According to this perspective, there is health when there is abundant vital energy, which is called “Chi” or “Qi”. Such energy must circulate where it has to circulate, without stagnating or dispersing, maintaining a balance. In Qi Gong there should be no excess or deficiency of Chi in any part of the body. If this is achieved, there is good physical and mental health.

The practice of Qi Gong

Qi Gong can be practiced by anyone, without age or condition limit.. It does not require good physical condition, since it is based on static postures, dynamic movements, sitting postures, marches and sounds. Unlike yoga, it does not require great skills to achieve the aforementioned postures.

In Qi Gong or Chi Kung you do not need a teacher permanently. You can learn and practice by yourself. It is also guided by the principle of “little and regular”, that is, a practice of short periods, but constantly. It usually requires between 15 and 30 minutes per day.

The most common practice of this art begins with self-massage, followed by joint unblocking. Then, a static pose is carried out, then a dynamic movement and, finally, meditation is done. Most of the movements come from the Taoist traditionothers are of Buddhist inspiration and some more have been created recently.

The benefits of Qi Gong

Qi Gong seeks to balance the body’s energy and, therefore, nourishes and strengthens it. It is estimated that The benefits of this practice become especially noticeable about three months after starting daily routines.. From the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine, Chi Kung can generate the following benefits:

Reduce stress. Just like Tai Chi, this practice has very positive effects in reducing stress and anxiety. In Chinese medicine, these emotions are associated with digestive problems, so it will also influence better digestion.Strengthens the immune system. By balancing energy, the immune system is strengthened and, in this way, the body is less vulnerable to infections and more serious problems such as cancer. This also helps reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.Helps reduce chronic pain. The practice of Chi Kung helps reduce pain caused by diseases such as arthritis or rheumatism. Likewise, it relieves all types of muscle pain and prevents migraines.Strengthens muscle mass. After the age of 40, the loss of muscle mass becomes very evident. This practice helps reduce this loss, which is a very important factor in preventing falls in people over 70 years of age.

Qi Gong and traditional Chinese medicine

In the Chinese philosophical tradition, which is at the essence of that country’s traditional medicine, All phenomena in the universe can be classified into Yin aspects and Yang aspects.. The Yin correspond to the feminine and are associated with cold, rest, the internal, the soft, the receptive, the fragile and similar concepts.

Yang, for its part, is related to the masculine and is associated with heat, movement, strong, active, hard, etc. On the other hand, for traditional Chinese medicine, there is an essential energy called Chi, which must flow through an energy system that is made up of a network of meridians.

When Chi does not flow, that is, when its circulation stagnates, is interrupted or disperses, illness appears. That’s why, All this medicine is aimed at ensuring that this energy flows again appropriately, to recover the Yin-Yang balance.. In this medicine this is achieved through acupuncture, massage, diet, herbal medicine and Qi Gong.

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