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Qigong - Chinese for Stress Management
The ancient Chinese practice known as Qigong plays a crucial role in the "unwinding" process that we as humans have come to rely on for good health and vitality.
Hundreds of diseases are now linked to stress, including heart disease and cancer.
In light of that, relaxation could perhaps be the most crucial component in health and well-being.
The martial art known as qigong (pronounced chee-gong), an ancient Chinese healing art currently practiced by over 70 million people in China on a daily basis, is an effective way to manage stress and prevent disease.
There are over 1,000 varieties of qigong but they all involve movement and meditation in some way. In fact, many of the strategies used by Western medicine to manage stress, including visualization and breathing exercises, are adopted from qigong.
The word qigong translates to energy (qi) and cultivate (gong). Qi is also known as "life force" or "spirit", an idea that is accepted and described by nearly all cultures. The Chinese believe that this life force circulates through our body on pathways called "meridians." These meridians can become blocked due to a build up of stress, and illness can result.
The purpose of qigong is to restore and balance the qi in the body.
The deep breathing and gentle, rhythmic movements of qigong help to un-block meridian path-ways and get qi moving freely again. In the process, brain chemistry is changed and the nervous system is soothed.
Qigong is related to meditation, and a well-known benefit of meditation is a slowing down of brain waves to alpha, the waking state in which we are at our most relaxed. When our brains are in the alpha state, stress levels are significantly reduced, and our minds and bodies function better.
In fact, research in Germany and New Zealand has recently shown that stress can be managed effectively through a regular qigong practice. Highly stressed individuals tend to maintain very rigid postures, holding their stomachs in tightly and taking shallow breaths. Qigong opens up the chest, releasing tension from the whole body, so that a person experiences deep relaxation on all levels. Stress hormones decrease and blood pressure drops.
Tai chi is a variety of qigong and a well-known form of stress management.
Tai chi has been used to alleviate severe forms of stress, such as post traumatic stress disorder, as well as help people manage everyday stress like fear of heights or flying.
Another qigong method is Liu Qi Fa, also known as "the six healing sounds." This form of qigong involves positive healing imagery and visualization.
Qinway Qigong, founded by Master Qinyin, is an "accelerated" form of qigong that helps manage stress by opening pathways of energy between the human body and the universe. Medical Qigong combines meditation with qi exercises in order to rid the body of stress toxins and anxiety.
On a personal note, I have practiced a method of qigong known as Pan Gu Shengong, also known as Pan Gu Mystical Qigong, on a daily basis for the past five years. It was developed by Master Ou, Wen Wei and requires visualization of the sun and moon in harmony with slow, repetitious movements. It only takes 15-20 minutes to complete one form, and yet it is the most successful stress management I've ever experienced. I no longer suffer the anxiety attacks that once plagued me.
Although other exercises, such as jogging and aerobics, are known to manage stress, qigong takes exercise to a new level by bringing the body into a deep, restorative state of relaxation. Also, no special equipment is necessary in order to practice qigong, so it is a tool that can be used for stress management by anyone at anytime. This makes qigong a stress-free way to manage stress!
To learn more about the ancient practice of qigong and discover what it and/or Tai chi can do for you, consult a reputable expert or instructor. There are many tutorials online and instructional classes may be available in your area.
For more information on qigong, visit the EnvyMyHealth.com Stress Management Channel!
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