Ever heard of Qi Gong? The Chinese tradition is good for body and mind. Learn more about the effects of Qi Gong now.
Early in the morning, before breakfast, they meet in the park. Totally concentrated and introverted, they practice their slow and flowing physical exercises. It seems as if it is happening in slow motion.
Qi Gong is widely practiced in China. Because the combination of breathing, movement and meditation exercises harmonizes body and mind.
A few days ago, I also discovered a group of people practicing the Chinese tradition in our park. I was quite fascinated and immediately read up on the Qi Gong effect.
It's hard to believe the benefits the exercises have for the body and mind. They immediately became my morning routine.
Table of contents
What Qi Gong is in the first place
Qi Gong is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine along with acupuncture, acupressure and herbal medicine.
It is composed of movement, concentration and meditation exercises.
Many of these exercises have been known and used in China for over 1000 years.
Qi Gong is used as therapy for existing complaints. But is also used preventively to strengthen health. In the western society Qi Gong has already created its place for 50 years. But it finds more and more beginners.
The term itself is composed of two words: Qi and Gong. Qi can be translated as life energy, vital energy or life force. Gong means, among other things, practice, work, ability, skill. So we translate Qi Gong best with "work with the vital life energy".
Through the Qi Gong exercises, the practitioners should perceive body, soul and spirit. The goal is a harmonization of the life energy Qi. Through the exercises, this can flow unhindered through the body again.
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How the Chinese tradition works
Qi Gong works with the combination of movement sequences and other physical exercises. Qi Gong is best done in a quiet and large environment.
Either in the fresh air or in the middle of a large room. The important thing is that you bring enough time.
The exercises are very much based on nature. The practitioner takes on the role of an animal in his imagination or meditatively places himself in nature. One can be deeply rooted in the exercises like a pine tree.
Each of these exercises has a specific effect on the life energy.
In Qi Gong it is important to learn the movements precisely and to pay attention to breathing. The exercises can be performed lying, sitting, standing or walking.
The basic positions are easy to learn and you can practice them almost anywhere.
The best known is the so-called game of the five animals, which are assigned to the five elements according to their properties.
Thus, the ponderous bear stands for earth, the graceful crane for metal, the supple monkey for water, the powerful tiger for wood and the dynamic stag for fire.
The movements of these animals are imitated. In this way, imagination and expressiveness can be trained and emotions can be expressed in a playful way.
The Qi Gong effect
According to the understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine, diseases occur when the harmonious flow of the life energy Qi through the body is disturbed.
Through the flowing and soft movements of Qi Gong, combined with breathing exercises and mediations, this harmony in the flow of energy is to be maintained or restored.
However, the Qi Gong effect is not only physical, but also mental and spiritual.
Qi Gong is healing and beneficial in many ways. The exercises train concentration and memory, they improve self-awareness, promote the sense of balance and mobility and thus lead to a better body feeling.
When you do qigong, your breath deepens, you provide better blood circulation to the muscles. You gently stretch the tendons and move the joints. And you straighten your spine.
The movements have a positive effect on the nervous and circulatory system and strengthen the immune system.
As you can see, qigong has many positive effects on body and mind. We have collected them all in a list for you.
- Promotion of health and well-being
- Strengthening the immune system
- Regulation of blood, lymph and energy flow
- Strengthening the circulation
- Helps against headaches, irritable stomach and irritable bowel syndrome
- Improve mobility
- Muscle tensions are released
- Posture is improved and back pain is reduced
- Gentle training for the joints
- Helps with stress, sleep disorders and fatigue
- Regulating effect on the autonomic nervous system
- Increasing sensitivity and improving self-awareness
- Improvement of the oxygen supply
- Improve concentration
- Relaxation
- Improvement of the mood
- Preventive effect against civilization diseases
- Promotes own body awareness
- Strengthens self-awareness
If you want, you can watch another video about it here. I found it on YouTube and find it very informative.
What you need to consider with Qi Gong
Despite the varied and intense effect, Qi Gong is a particularly gentle training method. Even people in poor health can practice it.
However, the exercises are very complex and should be performed precisely. It is best to find a qigong master at the beginning.
This way you can be sure that the exercises are tailored to your personal needs and physical capabilities. Once your program has been developed, you can continue to practice independently.
The Qi Gong effect unfolds, however, only if you practice regularly. It is best to practice daily for at least half an hour.
You should preferably not have time pressure when practicing qigong.
It doesn't matter where you practice. Whether in the morning in the park or in the evening in the living room is up to you.
Those who already perceive the positive effect on body and mind, develop by themselves an inner need to practice as often as possible.
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For whom the exercises are suitable
The good news is that anyone can practice qigong. If you have physical limitations, you can also practice qigong while sitting.
Especially for people with heart disease or respiratory restrictions, the training session looks a little different.
There are no restrictions for the combinations with Qi Gong with other measures.
Our conclusion
The list of qigong effects is long. But it definitely pays to incorporate the exercises into your daily routine. This way you bring body and mind back into balance. Try it out, there are many great videos on YouTube, even for beginners!
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