- Ben Heathcote
Qi Gong - Exercise for the Body, Mind and Emotions
Qi Gong (pronounced 'chee gong') has been growing in popularity recently as more and more people become dissatisfied with their gym workouts, yoga practice and Pilates classes. If you’re looking for something new to try then this is definitely for you. People of all ages can benefit from Qi Gong from children right through to the elderly.
The best part about Qi Gong is that anybody can do it and the benefits are truly incredible! I’ve been practising on a regular basis since 2002 and it’s definitely my favourite type of exercise.
When we talk about Qi Gong we are referring to either a series of movements, a stationary posture or a meditation that people are encouraged to do on a regular basis to improve their health. People will generally go to classes and also practice at home for a few minutes each day.
My preferred translation of Qi Gong is ‘working with your Qi, and mastering it over a long period of time’. Through daily practice the results are accumulative in that the more you do the greater the benefits. Through repetition each and every movement is slowly refined until they are perfected and the body movements become aligned with the breath.
There are hundreds of different types of Qi Gong and many of them come under the Tai Chi banner but there are also many more such as Eight Brocade Qi Gong, 18 Lohan Hands Qi Gong, Five Element Qi Gong and Five Animal Qi Gong to name just a few popular ones.
Many Chinese Medicine practitioners will teach their patients Qi Gong to improve their health but there are also classes available in most local areas that I would encourage everyone to seek out to give it a go.
Below are a few links that I would encourage you to check out so you can find out more information about what Qi Gong is, the benefits of Qi Gong and where to go to get started.
What is Qi Gong?
Benefits of Qi Gong
Qi Gong in Australia (Melbourne)