Qigong exercises come in many different schools and styles. And with a history of around 5000 years, that’s hardly surprising.
To help us categorize the legion of qigong exercises we can separate them into 4 different groups based on the aims and objectives of the practitioner.
Medical qigong exercises – as the name suggests focus on overcoming a specific or general illness or disease. The aim is restore the harmonious flow of energy or qi through the energy channels (meridians) of the body. With harmonious energy flow you have good health. There are many different qigong exercises that focus on overcoming illness and improving health including ‘self manifested qi flow’.
Scholar Qigong Exercises – at a higher level, where good health is established you may wish to improve your ability to think clearly, to find creative solutions to problems or be a great student, in the endeavor of your choice. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Shen or mind/spirit is responsible for Spirit, consciousness, the ability to articulate thought, memory, intelligence and creativity. Qigong for the scholar focus on the Shen/mind. When Shen is strong you have peace of mind and you can see Shen in a persons eyes. Qigong exercises like Dan Tien breathing and Nourishing Kidneys are beneficial for the Scholar.
Martial Qigong Exercises – the martial artist requires great health, stamina and the ability to make decisions quickly. In the past the martial artists life may depend on these abilities. Qigong for the martial artist focuses on developing these qualities. There are 1000′s of qigong exercises like Zhan Zhuang, iron palm, golden bell, 1 finger shooting Zen that are suitable for these aims.
Monk Qigong Exercises – the highest level. Spiritual cultivation is one of the most rigorous activities an individual can undertake. Qigong exercises can help a person to follow this path safely and effectively.
But remember this grouping is definitely not carved in stone. It’s just to help us in our understanding. For example if we pick one of the most well known qigong exercises – Lifting the Sky. It could easily fit in more than one of the groups mentioned above.
You see, there is no one exercise that is the best of all the qigong exercises. There is something far more important and that is the skill of the practitioner. It’s not how many exercises or forms you know, it’s the skill you have that counts.
Below you will find lots of different posts all to do with qigong exercises. Just click on the title for the full article.
I’m frequently asked how to incorporate Qigong into an already existing practice. Whether that practice is Tai Chi, Kung Fu or other martial arts and even meditation, the solution is easy using PERFECT. Here’s a quick overview of PERFECT: Preparation – Stand up right and balanced. Enter a Qigong State of Mind – Relax physically, [...]
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No, I don’t mean solar panels, wind turbines or sea power. I mean alternative to Qigong. Whilst taking Louis for his morning walk I noticed someone had dropped an ‘Energy drink’ can on the floor. I started thinking what a shame it is that the first thing most people think of when they need an [...]
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I’m so busy writing my new Qigong book ‘Smiling From The Heart’ that I was tempted to not make any Qigong blog posts until I’d finished. But that thought didn’t feel very comfortable. So whilst I don’t have any specific comments to share, I thought I’d give you a brief update as to what’s going [...]
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Phew, well 2011 is reaching its expiry date and this will be my final Qigong15 blog post of the year. I usually have more of a plan of what I’m going to write, before I write, but today, I’m just going to let it flow. It’s a Bank Holiday in the UK after all. Hopefully [...]
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There is a story of a student who wanted to become a Qigong master. After many hours of research he found one and made the long journey to visit the master. Finally, the student gained an audience with the master and said: “I want to be on the same level you’re on”. And the master [...]
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Personally I always prefer practicing Qigong in a group setting, it’s a completely different vibe to solo practice. I find that my Qi flow is more powerful, especially if there is a Qigong master present. But even when there isn’t there is something about training with a group of like minded people to really bring [...]
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This post is all about my ‘Adventures in overcoming Fear‘, using Qigong exercises and other methods to develop a healthy relationship with fear. My hope is that if your enjoyment of life is being limited by out of control fear then you’ll find something of benefit here. “While fear is a deep seated and adaptive [...]
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In this post I want to make clear why I believe Qigong and Qigong exercises (yes, even at the form level *shock horror*) have a vital role in helping our aging population stay active. I believe that time is the most precious commodity you can ever have, with time you can improve health, increase wealth [...]
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An Introduction In this post I’d like to look at what it is that makes Qigong/Chi Kung such a powerful tool for overcoming depression, anxiety, worry, fear and for raising self esteem and resistance to stress. I know from my own personal experience of using Qigong to get off anti depressants and You can think [...]
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Introduction: I’m often asked what my Qigong training ‘regime’ looks like and I’ve usually avoided directly answering this question for three main reasons: 1) This is just the way I practice, it’s not the ONLY way to practice, or the BEST way to practice. It’s the best way for me. 2) My practice changes through [...]
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