Qigong, put simply, is a very peaceful yet powerful ancient Chinese martial art that mimics the flow of water and the wisdom of nature. It uses standing poses, gentle stretches, flowing movements, and deep breathing to open meridian pathways and improve energy flow. When the energy (otherwise known as qi) is flowing properly through the body, it means the blood is flowing too, carrying oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to the cells and allowing toxins to be transported faster to the elimination organs to be removed.
The word qigong is actually the combination of two words. “Qi” means energy and “gong” means skill or practice. So, if you combine the two, it can be loosely translated into “the skill of working with energy”. I like to tell my clients that Qigong helps turn stress into vitality, and aging into a thing of the past. It’s the epitome of preventative medicine where once you develop a daily practice of even 10-20 minutes, you will not want to go even one day without it.
When I tell people that I’m getting certified as a Qigong instructor, nine times out of ten they say, “What is that?” And then I say, “Have you heard of Tai Chi?” and usually, they will nod their heads. So, at that point, I tell them, “Qigong is like the grandmother of Tai Chi.”
I tend to practice a combination of both Qigong and Tai Chi, depending on how much time I have and what my goal is for the day. Many of the Tai Chi moves I do are more like calisthenics to strengthen my muscles, and the Qigong moves are more for flow and balance. Once you learn to combine deep breathing with your movements, it becomes like a moving meditation – clearing the racing thoughts from your mind and leaving you feeling more focused, relaxed and happy, all while building muscle strength, resilience and a stronger immune system to face whatever challenges you have with much more ease and grace.
Literally anyone can do Qigong! The hardest part is getting started, but this is where you need to tell yourself to get over any fear or nervousness and just do it. It is such a wonderful and healing practice whether you’re in shape or overweight; tall or short; young or old. And if you have mobility issues, you can even do Qigong sitting down. The list of pros far outweighs the cons (if there are any) and, believe me, once you begin – you will never, ever want it to end.
