Qi Gong

Qi Gong: An Ancient Chinese Art
What is Qi Gong? Chi-gung (qi-gong) is a Chinese practice consisting of many systems of exercise designed to free up the flow of internal energy (chi) in the body. The balance of this energy is the basis of Chinese medicine. The exercises range from being still postures to simple movements to more vigorous exercises such as "zookinesis" (a modern translation of "animal exercises"), which also increases flexibility, mobility of the joints and improves breathing. ''' Why do Qi Gong? ''' Qi Gong is a great practice that can increace you longevity, help lose weight, and increase the flow of internal energy in your body thus making it stronger.  Basic concepts of Qi Gong - Qi means "breath" and refers to universal spiritual energy. It can also be written C'hi and is pronounced "chee". - Neiqi (naychee) is the original Qi from conception and controls and regulates Qi in the body - Jing (pronounced 'jean') means "force" or "power", is separate from Qi yet born from it, and is developed through the neijia (internal arts like Taiji or Qigong). - Qi and Neiqi are centered in the middle Dantien (dan-dyin) whereas Jing and Neijing are centered in the Lower Dantien - A Dantien, or 'elixir field', is a spiritual center in the body. In most Qigong there are three- one in the 3rd Eye, one in the heart, and one 3 inches below the naval (respectively the Upper or Higher Dantien, Middle and Lower Dantien). - Qi moves through the body in a series of pathways called meridians. Now before you practice Qigong you need to learn how to breath, thats right i said breath. Here is a short exercise called Buddist Breathing.Buddhist breathing Right now, you want to train your qi to follow the mind. However, one of the translations of "qi" is breath. Therefore, it could be said that qi following breath is a mechanism developed to draw in and promote qi flow. This way of breathing is a way of training the mind to be more in tune with the body and it's surroundings, and to allow qi to flow through the body fully. Buddhist breathing draws qi down into the dantian. It is done as follows: As you breathe in deeply for 5 seconds, push your stomach out at the end of the inhalation [to allow more air to fill the bottom of the lungs]. Hold for a second or two. On exhalation, simply exhale for about 5 seconds. Breathing should be clear and slow, with no noise heard in the nostrils. Breathing should always be smooth, consistent, and natural. No hissing or noise should be heard; the breath should be totally silent. This meditation should always be the one you do before any of the more advanced meditations. It helps to figuratively "warm up the body" to the energy flow.

Now after you have completed this you are ready for the real deal! Here are two beginner exercises.

. Lifting the Sky The next exercise is the first exercise to involve movement while meditating. It is called Lifting the Sky. <span style="font-family:arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:italic;">Stand with feet shoulder width apart, toes pointing forward. Breath deeply and calmly, and feel the tension in your body sink away into the ground. Now, move your hands from your sides to be directly in front of you, palms up, with the middle fingers on each hand touching. (You may also just keep your hands at your sides as if standing normally). Your hands should be loose and relaxed, and they should be in front of you at about the same level as the dantian is (in front of your waist). Now, take a deep inhalation, and move both your arms upwards and over your head until the palms are facing towards the sky. Your neck should be craned back and looking upwards. Exhale, and bring your hands down in front of you again to the starting position. As you do this, meditate in a fashion similar to Void meditation; there is no focus on qi, as the form itself causes qi movement in the body, and any focus on qi on your behalf will only impede the purpose of the form. Repeat this qigong form as much as you want to.

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<span style="font-family:arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:italic;">. Pushing Water <span style="font-family:arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:italic;">This exercise is another one involving movement, and practiced within a mindset of Void meditation. It is called Pushing Water. <span style="font-family:arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:italic;">Begin by standing with feet a little more than shoulder width apart with your feet diagonally opposite (toes pointing outward, think of it like a horse stance with the legs straight at the knees - ed). As you breath in, bend at the knees and sink your weight downward while still keeping the back straight. Your knees should be facing outwards at about a 45 degree angle and you should be up on the balls of your feet as you sink your weight lower. Simultaneously raise the hands outward to the side until the palms and arms are parallel to the ground. Exhale, and return to the starting position, slowly lowering your arms back to their sides and raising the weight upward, completing the Wuji stance again. Repeat this form as many times as you feel comfortable doing, and once again, the exercise is to be done in a Void mindset. Don't focus on the Dantien at all, or try and move qi into your system, as the exercise itself does that for you. Instead, simply focus on your breath and the exercise itself.

If you wish to continue Qigong visit the site below

http://forums.vsociety.net/index.php/topic,20707.0.html <span style="font-family:arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;font-style:italic;">