QIGONG (Chi Kung)
Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese energy (Qi) practice. Qi means energy, Gong means work.
It is based on the concept of Qi energy which flows through the body. It is used for both medical and health purposes and to improve one’s martial arts practise. Most Qi Gong is now a mixture between Daoist & Buddhist energy cultivation practices. Qi Gong is a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation.
When speaking of Qi Gong, firstly, we should understand what the essence of “Qi” is. There are many kinds of “Qi,” but Chinese traditional culture emphasizes that the most basic one is “Yuan Qi” – the origin of all living things. Yuan Qi is an engine or an anchor for human’s growth, metabolism and physical development. Yuan Qi also plays an important role in fighting off illnesses. Chinese medicine teaches that all life depends on the circulation of Qi.
Qi Gong is founded on a whole life outlook, related to the law of nature. When practicing it, you mainly take the initiative of your own consciousness.
The content includes three adjustments: to adjust your mind in peace, to adjust your body into the best condition and to adjust your breath in balance .If you keep training regularly and persisting, gradually the function of many parts of your body will be greatly enhanced and step by step, your health condition will be improved. The practice is able to improve quality of life, and naturally transmute and develop a deeper awareness of subtle energies.
Qi Gong and Kung Fu
All great Kung Fu makes use of energy training (Chi Kung) to develop internal force, without which it remains at the external, mechanical level, considered by Chinese martial artists as rather rough and inferior. Kung fu training with qi gong enhances harmonious chi flow, thus promoting health, vitality and longevity.
Qi Gong and Zen
There are three aspects in all types of qi gong, namely: form (xing), energy (qi) and mind. If you practice only the form, without the energy and mind dimensions, you are merely performing physical exercise; strictly speaking not qi gong, for there is no training of energy. For an effective control of energy, you have to enter what is called in modern terms a Zen state of mind. In the past, this was called “entering Zen”(ruchan) or “entering silence”(ru ding).
When you are in Zen or a meditative state of mind, you can, among other things, tap energy from the cosmos and direct that energy to flow into wherever you want in your body. It is this mind aspect of qi gong, even more than its energy aspect that enables qi gong masters to perform what lay people would think of as miraculous, or, depending on their attitude, fakery.
Qi Gong styles
Dynamic Qi gong, static Qi gong, dynamic and static Qi gong. Dynamic Qi gong means to combine the body’s moves with mind and to breath to achieve a peaceful mind through a moving body. The usually practised forms in the Shaolin Temple are baduanjin, yijinjing and xi sui jing.
Static Qi gong is a kind of Chi Kung that uses standing, sitting and posing postures to combine the practising mind, and high speed breath. The mind practises to gain, calculate, and control qi. This form of qi gong can be practised through meditating standing still, in the sitting lotus position or through a meditation in pose.
Dynamic and static Qi gong is based on static Qi gong, to use qi and blood to drive the body to move or even jump high and fly
The practice of Qi Gong has three requirements:
- Regulating your breathing (breath naturally)
- Controlling your mind (get rid of your distracting thoughts)
- Regulate your body (keep your body coordinated naturally)
Benefits of Qi Gong
According to Chinese medical thought, practising Chi Kung can cure as well as prevent all kinds of illness, including diseases like asthma, diabetes, hypertension and cancer which are generally considered “incurable” by conventional medicine. Practising Chi Kung is also very effective for overcoming psychological problems.
There are many wonderful benefits derived from practising Shaolin Cosmos Qi Gong. Some of these are – Curing illness and promoting health
Enhancing vitality and developing internal force
Promoting youthfulness and longevity
Expanding the mind and the intellect.
Spiritual cultivation
In a word, practising Qi gong can strengthen your body and help you against entire force, which can help you in combat or competition. The longer you practise, the more Qi you will obtain.