What is Qi Gong? The benefits of this Chinese discipline
We are used to looking at things from only one perspective: ours. If we were used to looking beyond our habits, we would realize how many opportunities we have to feel better about ourselves and find peace of mind. Qi gong is just that: a discipline that aims at the health of the body and mind, and which originates from ancient China. It is good for the body and helps fight stress, a bit like acupressure, look here:
This practice comes from far away, both in space and in time, but it brings with it many benefits and a slightly different approach to things that happen to us in life! Let's find out what qi gong is and how to practice it.
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Qi gong: what it is and what it is for
Qi gong is an oriental practice, of Chinese origins, made up of a series of physical and breathing exercises that can bring benefits to health and the psyche. It was born from the crossing of traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts, combining meditation and physical exercise.
The word Qi Gong has various meanings including "working with" energy "or" breath or spirit technique "and derives precisely from the combination of two ideograms," Qi "which means" energy "," spirit "or more metaphorically "vital breath", and "Gong" which instead means "technique", "work", "practice".
The goal of this discipline is to take care and grow one's internal energy, which flows in people's meridians, through a series of movements coordinated with breathing, which are combined with the techniques of meditation. For the Chinese tradition, in fact, the blocking or stagnation of this energy inside the body is equivalent to the onset of discomfort and disorders. Through this practice, which is used both in Chinese martial arts, and in Taoism, Buddhism or Confucianism in different forms, the internal energy will be able to flow freely in our body, benefiting our health. Not bad, right?
What are the qi gong meridians?
As we have seen, according to Chinese medicine, a person's body is made up of meridians within which the "Qi", or the "vital energy, the vital breath" flows. By letting this energy flow freely and smoothly, avoiding stagnation, the body and mind will always be healthy. You may have wondered what human meridians are, right? . In traditional Chinese medicine, there are 12 meridians, which are basically like energy fields that flow through our body. Qi gong works on these meridians through a series of movements, breathing and standing meditation.
Qi gong: basic exercises to feel good
Even if qi gong is a "very ancient oriental art, only in the 70s did it spread and it was only in 2000 that the Chinese Qi Gong Association was created, which regulates its requirements and, above all, is responsible for certifying the masters. such as to guarantee a serious and reliable practice.If you are interested in this discipline and in deepening all its benefits, we recommend that you contact an expert teacher who can guide you.
Qi gong exercises are based on gentle, static and prolonged movements that aim to stretch and relax the muscles, rather than straining or contracting them. The goal, also achieved thanks to the breathing combined with each exercise, is to obtain a complete relaxation of the body in order to make both liquids and energies flow through the meridians. The exercises that make up a qi gong lesson, which lasts approximately 45 minutes, they are of 3 types:
- dynamic, which involve prolonged and soft movements associated with breathing, often performing real choreographies,
- static, that is the positions to be maintained for a certain period of time and which allow elongation and relaxation of the body
- meditation through the breath, which supports concentration and promotes the flow of qi and proprioception
Therefore, the figure of the qi gong master is fundamental to learn how to practice this ancient Chinese art in the most correct way. The same is true for Chinese martial arts!
What are the benefits of qi gong?
Although some of the benefits of qi gong are not medically approved and certified by the scientific community, many people who practice this discipline feel an improvement in both physical and mental health. According to Chinese tradition, and therefore also medicine, the benefits of qi gong are:
- stress reduction and sleep improvement
- muscle relaxation
- strengthening of the musculoskeletal system
- strengthening of the immune system
- increased vital energy
- improved perception of one's body
- reduction of anger and depression
- decrease in blood pressure
These benefits make us understand why those who practice qi gong can feel an improvement in the state of their body but also benefit from this activity also on a psychological level.
