subject: Medical Qigong- Restoring Qi Flow With Rhythmic Movements [print this page] There's more to Traditional Chinese Medicine than just acupuncture. TCM actually covers a lot of areas, from acupuncture, to Chinese herbs, and Qigong, among others.
Qigong (ch'i kung) is a form of meditation that encourages the proper circulation of the body's vital energy, known as Qi, through rhythmic movements and proper breathing techniques.
However, not all Qigong needs breathing control techniques as there are other Qigong forms that are done with less or the total absence of movement.
Medical Qigong is an area of Traditional Chinese Medicine that is composed of therapeutic exercises intended to maintain or restore the proper flow of the Qi to address health-related issues.
The goal of Medical Qigong revolves around three aspects which include increasing vitality, to help the body to heal naturally, and to nurture a skill in naturally adapting to change. All of these three goals play a vital role in sustaining good health and healthy life.
Based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong, our individual life is said to be dictated by fundamental rhythms that is directly associated with all of nature. All these rhythmical movements within the human body and that of nature, is dubbed as the Qi.
The Chinese character in Qi stands for breath, air, or life force while Gong stands for work, Qigong therefore means "working with one's life force."
Within the human body, the Qi is the vital energy that flows along the meridian pathways. The body's vital energy flow protects the body and mind by maintaining proper balance and conserving the essentials of life at the same time keeping harmful elements at bay.
While in nature, Qi transforms in a recurring movement such as the transition from day to night, the shifting of the seasons, and the changes in the phases of the moon.
Qigong has been viewed by both the western and eastern medical societies as a set of rhythmical movement exercises that have positive effect towards the overall wellbeing of a person. Other practitioners, on the other hand, have a more metaphysical perception of Qigong believing that the Qi is being circulated throughout the body as electrical current or vibrations.
Qigong exercises are simple, soothing movements that consist of the "Three Regulations" that cover the body, breath, and mind.
Through the proper regulation of the body, breath, and mind, the human body can achieve a rhythm that is in sync with the rhythms and the cycle of nature, which is closely similar to rocking a baby in rhythmical movements to help the little one fall into a soothing slumber, which is every essential to a baby's development.
Today, millions of Chinese people as well as people all over the world adapt Qigong as a regular exercise to maintain the best of health.
