The Chinese term Qi (spoken tchi) is a philosophy and also medicine, which stands for the vitality of humans as well as their environment. Breathing, energy and fluid are central to this. People who believe in Qi have an idea that the human organism circulates according to certain patterns and the internal organs circle as meridians.
The term Gong stands for work or ability. Put together, Qigong means the ability to handle or use one’s Qi. Originally Qigong comes from the Chinese and is a term for dealing with the Qi (Chi).
In Chinese martial arts, Qigong plays a central role in the development of internal and external forces. In Qigong a distinction is made between “Dong Gong” and “Jing Gong”. The latter represents the silent chi – gong, the former the moving chi – gong.
The origin of Qigong lies in Chinese medicine and as a Chinese self-healing method. Qigong is more than just an exercise or 60-minute program, it is a path, or life-accompanying path, which is often completely misunderstood in the western world. Starting as a general regulation of disharmonies, Qigong developed into a symptom-related method.
Qigong aims to increase the individual momentary performance and to consciously perceive the flow of Qi. Depending on the objective, different exercises are chosen from Qigong. (e.g. prevention, rehabilitation).
Qigong is used in Chinese martial arts, meditation and concentration as a form of movement to cultivate mind and body. Accordingly, the practical implementation includes not only breathing exercises but also concentration exercises, body movements and meditation exercises. In the core it is about the mobilization of Qi.
In the field of health, Qigong serves to stabilize the energy balance and thus to fight diseases. Qigong promotes the maintenance and recovery of human health, supports the healing process, strengthens the immune system and prevents numerous diseases. The flow of energy in the body improves mobility and thus strengthens the entire nervous system, blood system and lymphatic system.
Furthermore, it enhances the ability to concentrate through mental and emotional strength. It therefore has an effect not only physically but also psychologically. Particularly in the modern society a special effect becomes to the Qigong concerning the existing illnesses of civilization such as back pain, blood high pressure, rheumatism, heart diseases, headache u. v. a.
The scientific conception of medicine like it the western civilization knows, can be led back partially to the Chinese procedures, a description is nevertheless only possible with the Chinese language. The historical origin of Qigong lies very far back. Already in the Zhuangzi certain forms of practice were transmitted by silk pictures.
In Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, Qigong was used for religious purposes. The Daoist “Xu Xun” used the term Qigong for the first time to denote various fighting exercises. In contrast to Western philosophy, where new methods are constantly being developed on which the entire training (see strength training etc.)
is based, the Far Eastern tradition goes back to methods that are thousands of years old and passed on from generation to generation. In the 50th years of the 20th century, Qigong was used for health exercises by the physician Liu Guizhen. In the oldest Chinese work around 200 B.C.
“HUANG DI NEI JING SO WEN”, exercises/body exercises were named for the first time to stabilize and maintain health. With our western understanding of health and movement, it is almost frightening how long it took to gain this insight. For the first time, records from about 2500 years ago were found in the village of Mawangdui, where people were recognizable in various forms of stretching and breathing exercises.
The exercises were already then considered as prophylaxis against various diseases. The individual techniques of the “Shaolin monks” found only very sparse harmony in the Qigong. The techniques consist primarily of methods of muscle tension and relaxation.
They try to collect the blood centrally and give it to special parts of the body. The training can take up to 16 hours. More than 1000 different forms of Qigong are already registered at the Research Institute for Qigong in Beijing.A qigong exercise is recognized when at least two of four exercise units within an exercise are merged together.
Thereby it is tried to create a transition between heaven, earth and man. It is about attention, letting go and discipline. This conscious focus of attention creates an unconscious development of inner tension. Especially in martial arts the standing column plays an important role.
- Relaxation
- Rest
- Movement
- Breathing
- Imagination
- Music
- Naturalness