| The word ‘Qigong' is made up of the two words | | | | China where people had to mobilize energy and |
| ‘Qi' (meaning breath or gas in Mandarin) and | | | | stamina in coordination with the physical act of |
| ‘Gong' (meaning technique or work). Thus Qigong | | | | breathing. |
| basically means ‘breath work'. Qigong, therefore, | | | | This Chinese healing art is an effective form of |
| is a technique of traditional Chinese medicine involving | | | | alternative medicine that uses a series of gentle |
| the regulation and coordination of breathing patterns | | | | focused exercises to coordinate the mind and the |
| to ensure good health. | | | | body. It is believed that most people use only a small |
| Qigong is believed to be the result of decades of | | | | portion of the energy within them. Most people get |
| struggle by the Chinese people for survival. | | | | sick because they do not breathe properly. These |
| It was noticed that certain breathing techniques used | | | | two facts have been juxtaposed in Qigong, where |
| in conjunction with mental concentration greatly | | | | proper breathing helps bring good health. As such, |
| improved bodily functions. Qigong has also borrowed | | | | Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance |
| heavily from Taoism and Buddhism. Thus religion and | | | | purposes. But rarely the doctor also uses Qigong for |
| spirituality plays a very important role in Qigong | | | | therapeutic purposes. |
| techniques. Some forms of Qigong even believe that | | | | In the modern world, millions of people all around the |
| an individual can attain higher levels of | | | | world practice Qigong for maintaining their good |
| accomplishment only if he is very virtuous. | | | | health. Qigong and other related arts are still |
| Traditional Chinese medicine operates on a simple but | | | | associated with meditation and martial arts. But as |
| effective premise - that of ‘Chi'. Chi is the | | | | opposed to the past, these people are no longer the |
| energy or life force that travels through the human | | | | sole custodians of the intricate techniques involved in |
| body and suffuses all our organs with health and well | | | | Qigong. These techniques have become so popular |
| being. When this flow is blocked or disturbed, there is | | | | now that medical Qigong has been officially |
| a disturbance within the system that manifests itself | | | | recognized as a medical technique in China. |
| as a disease. According to tradition, all that a doctor | | | | The practice of Qigong began nearly 5,000 years |
| has to do to restore good health is to analyze the | | | | ago. Today there are almost 3,000 forms of Qigong. |
| reasons for the block and to take measures to | | | | Tai Chi is just one of the more popular forms. |
| facilitate the free flow of energy once again. | | | | Western medicine accepts that Qigong can improve |
| Qigong teaches an individual to live in such a way | | | | the overall health and vitality of a person. But the |
| that the free flow of energy happens always, so | | | | religious connotations that are lying just below the |
| that he is free from diseases. As the two words | | | | surface have often proved to be a matter of |
| indicate, Qigong deals with the manipulation of breath | | | | controversy. But there are no two opinions regarding |
| to achieve and maintain robust health. This art has | | | | the level of effectiveness of this practice. |
| found a strong role in the martial arts of ancient | | | | |