Qigong
Learning to include the ancient art of Qiogong can help improve your health by balancing the body's energy (Qi). It can also help you to attain a deeper level of relaxation and keep your body supple and flexible.
Qigong is the mastery of the mind, body and breath. Focusing the mind and breathing while the body is held in a static posture or following a specific movement allows the body to replenish and build up the internal qi by drawing energy (external qi) into the body from Heaven and/or Earth. This internal/external energy exchange creates balance which brings with it a deeper connection to your universe bringing you a sense of inner calmness and a overall feeling of well being. These help you to open the energy circuits (meridians) of your body to improve internal power, flexibility and softness. The ultimate state during the practice of Qiging is for the mind, body and breath to become one integrated unit and with this you experience a state of deep relaxation or "song". Your spirit of vitality raises and circulates through the meridians of your body washing and cleansing toxins and inpurities.
"Strong, vibrant qi cleanses and energizes the channels throughout the body like the flowing waters of a river running into the ocean" .
When you practice qigong, your internal energy increases and warms up the internal organs. This allows any excess fluid surrounding the organs to become gaseous vapour. This vapour rises up and is circulated into the extremities of the body, this is why some people experience getting hot and sweating during the practice of qigong. Many of the traditional ancient Chinese texts written about Qigong often show the image of a large cauldron of water sitting over a blazing fire.This reflects the opposites of "Fire" (Yang) and "Water"(Yin) working in harmony. If there is an excess of "Water"(Yin) this will extinguish the "Fire"(Yang). An excess of "Fire"(Yang) will boil off the "Water"(Yin) as steam and burn or scorch the inner organs.
Qigong and Taoism
Taoism is a school of thought developed during the Spring/Autumn and Warring States period of 770BC to 220BC. The "Tao" or "Way" as far as qigong is concerned involves the refining of qi or the life force of the mortal body to realize a higher state of existence. Some of the ancients, including the author of the famous "Tao Te Ching", namely Lao Tzu were said to have attained immortality and ascended to immortal paradise after living to a great age.
The terms 'Hsing" and "Ming" or "Nature" and "Life" were often used to describe spiritual attainment. Hsing or nature is the inborn quality of a person where spiritual consciousness begins. Ming or life is one's destiny as decreed by heaven. These two terms used together describe the spiritual state of being as it exists before it is corrupted by the contact of earthly existence.
At birth Hsing and Ming separate. Hsing is the beginning of consciousness and Ming is the beginning of breath or qi. It is believed that through practices such as qigong one is able to reunite the Hsing and Ming It is also believed that when this happens it will stimulate health, promote longevity and reawaken the immortal mind inherent within mankind. It is said in the Taoist classics "When firstborn man shone with radiance and his step was light, but as he began to fulfil his worldly desires his body became heavy and his radiance dimmed."
With this in mind, one who seeks the "Tao or Way" must discipline themselves and find their pleasures from purity of being, quietness and freedom from all attachment. By nurturing in themselves the element of heaven and refining the quality of the element of earth through awareness and acceptance, one's transmuted energies merge. In this state the Hsing and Ming reunite and a radiant circle of light shines in front of one's eyes. This circle of light is described in the ancient texts as 'One's original face" or "the mysterious gate" or 'Taiji, the supreme ultimate."
Which Qigong?
There are many styles and types of Qigong, i.e. medical, martial, meditative and spiritual. When choosing a qigong teacher ask questions about the origins and history of their particular style. Who is or was their teacher? Try to find a tried and tested system that has a proven history behind it. Qigong in the wrong hands is like giving a two year old a loaded pistol. When you practice, take it slow, one step at a time, I suggest people start with a couple of minutes of practice per day and build up. This gives the body time to adapt to the increased energy flow and any healing that occurs is an enjoyable process.
The modern idea of 'doing more to gain quickly' is not true when it comes to Qigong practice. I have seen people who were taught a posture at a workshop and then go home and practice it daily for a 20 minute session . They wonder why they become ill or suffer joint pains and lower back ache. Excessive Qigong practice is the same as trying to put 120 volts through a 12 volt system, there is an overload and eventually something is going to burnout.
To master something you consistently repeat it on a daily basis. Repetitive practice produces small improvements which reprograms the body allowing the activity to become natural, just like breathing. Just think about how much energy you've put into becoming successful at developing bad habits. How would your life change if you could focus the same amount of energy to develop and install good habits into your daily life.
I have experienced the effects of practicing and I have taught the following Qigong styles listed below. I have found them easy to fit into a busy lifestyle and difficult work schedule. They require 10 -15 minutes of practice time on a consistent basis to get the best results, however if you can only maintain 2 or 3 sessions per week this would be adequate. Most of the Qigong forms listed below can be taught in about 5-6 hours, except the Wudang Qigong, this takes a minimum of a 2 day workshop. These systems are easy to understand and this is why I like to teach them:
- Wudan Shen Quan Qigong (Magical Fist Qigong)
- Taiji Qigong
- Ba Duan Jin (Eight Pieces of the Brocade)
- Xiang Gong (Fragrant Buddha Qigong)
- Zhang Zhong
- Tai Yi Shen Qigong
- Taoist Secret Six Healing Sounds (Tao Ching Liu Zi Jue)
By Sifu Chris Turner