QiDedicated to maintaining health and vitality through movement
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ORIENTAL EXERCISE Dedicated to maintaining health and vitality through movement |
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CHI KUNG Chi Kung is an exercise system from China whose origins stretch back many thousands of years. Translated, Chi kung (sometimes written as Qi Gong) means something like 'the method of breathing' or 'the cultivation of energy through breathing'. Although there are many different styles of chi kung, the movements themselves are usually easy to learn. The challenge comes from coordinating these with the correct way of breathing. When this is achieved, the body's natural vitality (Chi) is circulated far more efficiently than would normally be the case. With daily practice, therefore, chi kung can strengthen the overall state of health and increase resistance to illness. This is achieved through combining the breath with certain gentle movements or, sometimes, without any movement at all. I call these two varieties of chi kung active and passive respectively. My book Teach Yourself Chi Kung (see books) provides an introduction to several different styles of chi kung that you might like to use as a gateway to finding an experienced instructor or school. The more active styles are becoming very popular these days, while the passive exercises (like the one illustrated here to the left), requires a fair bit of patience and dedication. No matter what we choose, most of us can achieve positive results from chi kung within a few weeks of daily practice. Follow the links below in this section to discover a little more about the history and benefits of the timeless art of chi kung.
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