Hi Everyone,
I hope you all are thriving and enjoying the summer and hopefully having some time off to rest or travel after this hard year and a half. I myself am not traveling, but taking a little extra time to start routines that had fallen by the wayside. I just this week started back to practicing Qi Gong for the first time in years (something I used to do regularly years ago), so I wanted to write a little bit about the practice for those that don't know what it is.
Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice that is about 4,000 years old, it is similar to Tai Qi, except without a martial arts aspect. It centers around traditional Chinese medicine principles and the concept of qi or energy in the body. Everyone has qi/lifeforce energy flowing through the body and it must flow unimpeded for optimal health, Qi Gong helps to unblock the energy or qi where it has become blocked or stagnant helping the body to heal and maintain homeostasis.
There are many different forms of Qi Gong that all use breathing exercises and poses (some moving and some not) to enhance the qi and keep it moving. I personally do Crane Style Qi Gong. It takes about 10 minutes a day and has many health benefits. Some of these benefits include better digestion, increased energy, better sleep, more balanced moods, and increased clarity and focus among others.
Have a peaceful and balanced rest of July! lillian