What is Qi Gong?
Ask anyone who practices Qi Gong (pronounced chee kung) and they’ll tell you how they practice it. Ask someone else and they’ll tell you something different. For one person it is a martial art, for another it is meditation, for yet another it is a physical relaxation exercise. The problem with defining it is that it is a science and not a practice. Just as the definition of chemistry doesn’t include all the things that one can do with chemistry, defining Qi Gong doesn’t limit its practice.
Qi Gong is essentially the science of cultivating the body’s internal energy for health, for physical fitness, or for the martial arts. It is an ancient science from China, possibly four thousand years old. This science was, until the last few years, kept a secret and passed from teacher to student in a long process of instruction combined with physical and mental exercises.
Now the secret is out, except that people who know only a small piece of the science are sometimes promoting that small piece as Qi Gong in its entirety. There is no harm in this because each part is helpful in its own way.
The Styles of Qi Gong
One way of categorizing the styles of Qi Gong is to list the groups of people who developed their own approaches to the science of Qi; the scholars, the medical doctors, the martial artists and the religious monks. As can be easily imagined there is a difference in focus for each group since one might be more interested in developing the health benefits while another might be more interested in developing the spiritual experience. The student of Qi Gong should find a group or teacher that is more aligned with their own goals.
The scholars sought a clear, peaceful mind through meditation. They also were interested in the health benefits. The medical doctors devised physical exercises that moved the Qi in the body and reestablished health or maintained wellness. The martial artists developed physical power that involved storing and moving Qi with tremendous force. They were also concerned with health and wellness. The monks practiced a Qi Gong that was primarily internal with the goal of enlightenment but it also promoted physical strength to a point and wellness.
The Value of Qi Gong
Qi Gong is a science that is the foundation of several related practices. Each of these, when practiced, makes us more vital. That vitality leads to mental clarity, health and increased spirituality. It has no direct connection with any religion, martial art, or health regimen so it can be added to anyone’s life without conflict with the positive things that are already improving their lives.
Resources
