What is Qigong?
Translated, qigong means “work or handling life energy”. Qigong has been practiced for a long time in traditional Chinese medicine for maintaining health. The aim of qigong is to direct the life energy (Qi or Chi) of the person in the right direction or to get it flowing. Qigong involves a combination of breathing, movement and meditation exercises. Qigong is similar to Tai Chi. Whilst Tai Chi involves carrying out a sequence of movements, Qigong focuses on controlling the life energy in the body by calm, sometimes almost static movements.
Qigong is deemed to be the forerunner of Tai Chi and is based on the principles of Taoism.
Effect of Qigong
Qigong provides peace, relaxation and calmness. Qigong exercises have a regulating effect on the vegetative nervous system. Qigong is used against insomnia, restlessness, stress, depression, muscle tension and headaches.
Learning Qigong
The basic positions of Qigong are relatively simple to learn and can be practiced almost everywhere. When looking for Qigong courses and literature make sure that they are not esoterically dominated. Sect-like organisations also offer courses.
Falun Gong
The Qigong master Li Hongzhi developed Falun Gong. Representatives of Falun Gong claim that their Qigong is the only correct form of Qigong and that it is superior to all others. The Falun Gong movement indicates clear sect tendencies.
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The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi
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Qigong Balls
The most well known form of Qigong is probably the exercises with the Qigong balls. Qigong balls have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries in order to improve agility and blood circulation in the fingers.
Qigong balls are balls made out of metal or stone.
Qigong balls made out of steel are hollow balls. Inside these balls there is a smaller rotating ball which causes the outer ball to vibrate. In the hollow, outer ball there is a pin which is vibrated by the inner ball that makes sounds.
Application of Qigong Balls
The Qigong balls are placed into the palm of the hands and rotated with the help of the fingers. The movements cause the muscles in the hand and the lower arm to regularly tense and relax. The direction of rotation changes in regular intervals. It is recommended to exercise with smaller qigong balls in the beginning.
Effect of Qigong Balls
- Qigong balls stimulate motor activity in the hand.
- Exercising regularly with Qigong balls can relieve rheumatic pain in the hand.
- The movements exercise the hand and arm muscles.
- The vibrations loosen the tissue and stimulate blood circulation in the hands.
- The sounds made by the balls and the uniform movements have a relaxing and calming effect.
- There are meant to be reflex zones on the hand which are linked to the different organs in the body. In this way the Qigong balls are meant to have an effect on the various organs
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The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing, Ken Cohen
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