Many are interested in the question of qigong - what is it. You need to understand the meaning of this term. In Chinese, the words "qigong" is denoted by two characters. Each of them has its own content and features.
There is energy even in oxygen
The most common translation of the character “Qi” from Chinese into other languages is “energy”. But in the culture of this country, a symbol is understood as a broader and deeper concept. In order to understand this term in more detail, you will need to connect the semantic characteristics of the hieroglyph directly with the person and his surrounding nature. Everything else, this will help to understand the question of qigong - what is it.
The oxygen that a person inhales is also called qi. We breathe them constantly. Therefore, everyone regularly takes qi and exhales qi. Do not forget that quite often breathing is closely associated with people's health. If a person becomes ill, his breathing is no longer harmonious and even. There is a short breath, after which there is a slow exhale. Respiratory problems can cause illnesses such as asthma and heart disease.
Naturally, the quality of the Qi we receive will depend primarily on the environment and on the period of the year. Dirty air with a small amount of oxygen in it can cause health problems. It should be noted that many Chinese people are prone to asthma. However, during travel it was noticed that the manifestations of this disease are completely absent, for example, in Spain or California. This is due to a change in the environment and climate.
The hieroglyph that is present throughout
So, to sum up a peculiar result, answering the question of qigong - what is it. By qi is meant what takes place in every component of the universe. This can be explained by the fact that everything is capable of not only absorbing, but also generating energy. Everything is material and everything has certain information.
Need for action
Now we should move on to the second character - “Gun”. This symbol can be translated as "action, work." We are talking about the work that needs to be done in order to acquire the skill in managing your "Qi" - energy. Moreover, to manage the way we do it with our feet or hands.
Ancient Chinese art
Qigong - what is it? After considering all of the above, we can say that this concept means the ability to receive energy from the outside world in order to use it for the benefit of your body. Under this concept should be understood science, philosophy, which has a thousand-year history. This is a peculiar method of exchanging energy and information with the outside world and the Universe.
Over the course of a large number of years, qigong has come forward from the position of ancient Chinese art, with the help of which it becomes possible to get rid of various diseases. Qigong allows you to extend your life, strengthen your physical and spiritual condition. More recently, the practice was a secret. There were a large number of schools that, through borrowing and mixing different ideologies with practitioners, created certain trends in the art of qigong.
A large number of different directions
At the present stage, there are quite a few types of this direction. But the largest development in Russia has gained healing qigong. In China, the only form of this art that is officially recognized is wellness practice.
There are such practices that can be used to improve mental abilities. Some directions help to understand what people are, where they came from to this world and for what purpose. This is a kind of system that promotes spiritual and physical improvement. Qigong is not connected with religious teachings and ideas. In this regard, people of any faith can engage in it. However, the primary goal of practice is to improve the body, get rid of various stresses, achieve internal balance.
The practical part of the wellness area
What areas does qigong based on Chinese philosophy include? These are breathing, mental and physical practices. All forms of art are mainly formed on four types of practices:
- Dynamic.
- Static
- Meditation.
- A practice that requires external exposure.
What is the practice?
One of the areas of qigong is dynamic training. This type of training consists in fluid movements, in coordination with breathing, in the development of sensitivity of the mind. Among the main poses, one can distinguish “five animals”, “wild crane”, and “wild goose”. This is only a small part of the poses of Chinese art. A person who practices qigong is trying to achieve activation and control of qi energy.
Qigong therapy involves static training. This practice is to hold the pose for a while. Something like yoga. This direction helps to achieve unity of mind, spirit, body, control of Qi energy and its activation.
Meditation involves observing breathing, visualization, and philosophical ideas, among which are the circulation of Qi energy.
Qigong therapy involves the use of external means. Among these, herbal preparations, massage, physical manipulations, etc.
Art application
Qigong can be resorted to in a variety of situations. The most popular ones should be listed. They are as follows:
- External treatment through Qi. In this case, the health complex involves the infusion of the life-giving energy of nature, followed by its passage through your body. This technique can be used both separately and in conjunction with other methods of treatment.
- Healing qigong practice. The direction is based on the preventive and healing aspects of Chinese medicine. Qigong helps you learn how to control the reactions of the mind and body in response to stressful situations. This can be achieved by preventing high blood pressure, anger, and irritation.
- Sports practice. In sports or martial arts, direction is a kind of key in coordination, endurance, strength, etc. Using qigong, you can achieve the most significant results in almost any kind of sporting event.
- Spiritual lessons of qigong. For novice art practitioners it is useful to use art to achieve self-awareness, tranquility and harmony with nature. Spiritual practices can be traced to Taoism and Buddhism.
The first steps towards comprehending qigong
- Try to feel the vitality. In the first classes, beginners are taught how to find the hidden power of Qi in themselves. At the same stage, a beginner is trained to use it in order to restore overall vital energy and accelerate the process of recovery of the body. Using powerful and simple techniques, you can wake up your internal energy.
- The second lesson for beginners is learning how to activate latent life force. Over a sufficiently long period of time, exercises were developed that contributed to the activation of the internal energy of life. Performing exercises, you can restore the healing abilities of the body.
- The third lesson involves learning how to use life force. Classes at this stage demonstrate how to extend your life and make it healthier.
A brief description of the complex exercises
- Starting position and regulation of respiration. It is necessary to stand upright, legs apart at shoulder width apart. The chest should be slightly bent, the body should be straight. Hands should be directed downward, the look - in front of you. One must slowly begin to raise arms up and forward to shoulder level. The palms should be pointing down. After this, you should begin to lower your hands, as if pushing palms down. The legs will need to be slightly bent. Breathing and consciousness should be relaxed. Exercise helps stabilize natural breathing.
- Let's move on to the next training from the qigong complex. This exercise is similar to the previous one. It is necessary to raise arms to the shoulders. The palms should be pointing down. After this, the palms will need to be deployed to the middle and spread your arms apart. Then the hands should be brought to the center and lowered down, slightly bending the legs at the knees.
- You have to keep your hands up. The palms should be pointing down. First, hands should be brought to shoulder level, and then begin to raise higher, above the head. Body weight must be transferred to the right leg, slightly bending it. The left hand must be lowered down. The palm should be pointing up. At the moment when the left hand takes a horizontal position, the same will need to be repeated with the right.
- Do not stop doing the previous exercise. In this case, the center of gravity should be moved to the middle, slightly bending the legs and taking the “rider” pose. You will need to cross your arms in front of your stomach, turning your palms to the lower abdomen. Crossed arms should be turned with palms up, legs straightened. Then the limbs rise above the head. Palms go back. After this, the arms of the crossed arms should be turned to the sides, straightened and lowered through the different sides, with the palms pointing down and slightly bending the limbs at the elbows.
What are the most common art reviews?
Analyzing numerous reviews, it can be noted that there are both positive comments and negative ones. The most common of them should be given.
- After exercise, health is significantly improved. The practice of movement helps balance the mind, body and spirit.
- Sleep improves. Qigong, reviews of which are quite common, promotes relaxation, which leads to better sleep.
- Resistance to low temperatures increases. In addition, the likelihood of stressful situations is reduced.
- Significantly improved metabolism.
- The state of mind improves.
- Self-control ability is greatly improved.
Many are interested in such practices as qigong. Reviews, which are widely distributed about her, fully demonstrate this.
What else plays an important role?
During the execution of exercises, it is important not only to concentrate on one’s feelings and on the posture held. What else is important in qigong practice? Breath. It is necessary to constantly monitor and control it. Only in this case will all the exercises performed become the most effective.
Conclusion
This review examined the question of qigong - what it is. We hope that the review will help you make your choice. But if you decide to study this practice, then you should understand that without a thorough and regular approach, nothing can be achieved.