What is Qigong?

Originating in ancient China, Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is a gentle yet powerful self-healing art that combines soft rhythmic movement, massage, acupressure, breathing, focused attention, visualization, and meditation. It is a simple but comprehensive health care system that helps us to cultivate our vital life energy to maintain or restore health and harmony to body, mind, and spirit.  The movements are easy and mindful.  The practice isrelaxing and rejuvenating.  Qigong is adaptable to nearly everyone and every ability.

Qigong has a rich history, rooted in the Daoist philosophy. To follow the Dao is to flow with the natural cycles of creation and destruction. Qigong practice promotes clarity and stillness in our daily life and brings us back into harmony and utter balance within the rhythms of yin and yang.  Yin, is the female enrgy that represents stillness, softness, and the downward flow of qi.. Yang, is its male counterpart, that represents movement, strength, and the upward flow of qi. Through the practice of qigong, we learn to flow with ease through the constant changes and interactions between yin and yang.

What are the benefits?

Qigong can reduce stress, increase vitality, enhance the immune system and the body’s ability to heal itself, improve cardiovascular and respiratory function, and energize the lymphatic system.  Qi or vital energy flows throughout a system of circuits called meridians and energy centers called dantians. Qigong practice helps to cleanse and purify the energy and allow it to flow freely to support all our vital life functions.  Qigong promotes physical healing, mental peace and clarity, and reconnection to your spirit.  Through regular Qigong practice, you become master of your own energy and healing power.

What do I need?

Qigong is performed mostly standing, so you might want to wear warm, comfortable clothing you can easily move in.  You may practice in socks or bare feet indoors and shoes or bare feet outdoors.