Qi Gong developed in ancient China more than four thousand years ago for healing, preventing illness and spiritual development. It combines movement, breathing and meditation, and emphasizes natural posture and relaxation. Through practice we gradually strengthen the physical body and mental focus. With conscious breathing we establish a strong connection between mind and body, gradually develop sensitivity for the energy of our body and learn to work with it. Through Qi Gong practice we cultivate the body, breath, energy, mind and spirit. Traditionally, the practice is understood as a path toward a high level of health and general well-being. In Qi Gong, bodily sensations are a means of exploring the body and mind. These were studied in different ways, especially within Taoist and Buddhist communities.
What is Qi?
Qi, also written chi or Ki, is the life force that is part of all living organisms. The symbol for Qi comes from old Taoist and shamanic teachings. Around the world we can find different names for this force, although they describe a similar idea. In Indian martial arts, yoga and traditional Indian medicine it is known as Prana. In Japan the word Ki is used. Some Native American traditions use the word manitou. In Hellenistic Greek philosophy, the word is pneuma. Every organism — human, animal and plant — has its own energetic field, which constantly seeks balance. In traditional understanding, a loss of Qi balance causes the individual to become ill, die and decay. Qi is defined as any energy that demonstrates power, whether electricity, magnetism, heat or light.
In old Chinese medical and Qi Gong documents, the word Qi was defined as “without fire.” “Without fire” can be understood as the unmanifest potential of possibilities. Each internal organ needs a certain amount of Qi for proper functioning. If it receives an unsuitable amount, usually too much, it becomes too Yang or fiery, and as a result the organ functions less well and can eventually become physically damaged. Fortunately, the human body has an exceptional ability to adapt. In this way, Qi imbalances in one organ are compensated between other organs. The aim of Qigong was to reach the state of “without fire.” In more recent times, Qi has been understood as bioelectricity, and human bodies as living electromagnetic fields. In this sense, Qi is influenced by our thoughts, feelings, lifestyle, the food we eat, the quality of the air we breathe, the energy around us and so on.
What is Gong?
In China, the word “Gong” is often used instead of “Gongfu” or “Kung Fu,” meaning energy and time. Any study or training that requires energy and time is called Gongfu. It can be used for any skill or study that requires time, energy and patience.
Qigong as a science
Qigong is a science focused on working with the inner energy of individuals. The Chinese studied Qi for thousands of years and recorded information about the patterns and cycles of nature. Many different aspects of human Qi were explored, including acupuncture, massage, herbal healing, meditation and Qigong exercises. Their use in adjusting the flow of human Qi became a foundation of traditional Chinese medical science. Meditation and Qigong movement exercises are used to support health and, in some traditional contexts, to address certain illnesses. Among Taoists and Buddhists, meditation and Qigong are considered important tools on the path toward enlightenment. A more precise definition of Qi, specifically in relation to the human being, is the energy that circulates through the human body. Qigong studies and guides this energy. Qi Gong was also called Dao-Yin, which means that the mind and physical movement are used to guide and direct Qi. The movements imitate the natural movement of animals, which is why some movements and styles are named after animals.
Balance
According to traditional Chinese medicine, imbalance is the cause of many illnesses, and it first appears in the mind or in longer-lasting, unresolved difficult emotional states. Excessive stress can cause excessive excitation of the muscles, which leads to greater stiffness and reduced flexibility of the body. Because of this, more frequent injuries, posture problems and similar issues may occur. Conversely, lower exposure to stress, or emotional arousal, has a positive effect on metabolism in the muscles, and therefore on greater elasticity and mobility. To avoid the negative consequences of imbalance, we must balance our thoughts and emotions. The body has an exceptional ability to compensate, and if we are not attentive, we do not notice symptoms or do not take them seriously. The listed causes, emotional states, belong to internal factors that we can regulate, while external factors are most often outside our control, for example when bad weather surprises us and we catch a cold.
In life, changes happen every second; the only question is in which direction the change will go. The more attentive we are and the more aware we are of change, the sooner we can influence it. There are only two possibilities: change toward the good side or change toward the bad side. By becoming aware of ourselves and our body, we have the possibility to influence changes earlier in our favor.
Depth
With slow, relaxed movements and mental focus, we can guide Qi deeper into the ligaments, bone marrow and internal organs. Perhaps as something to consider: pain from injuries such as broken bones or torn ligaments forces us to redirect attention to a certain part of an internal or external injury. At a deeper level of practice, the mind becomes even more important. It participates actively while we are in a relaxed state. Active work of the mind should not be equated with logical thinking.
Health
According to medical research, Qigong is said to improve health and well-being with many possible benefits, such as improved cardiovascular function, treatment of certain acute illnesses and the prolonging of life. However, many such claims are supported only by anecdotes and oral tradition, or by information that teachers passed on to selected students. The number of Qigong studies is increasing, but the financial resources devoted to its research are still relatively modest, and only a limited number of studies meet medical and scientific research standards using control groups.
In 2010, a very extensive review of Qigong and Taiji was carried out, based on a search of relevant literature and the use of medical databases from the period 1993–2007. It showed that there were only 77 relevant studies of Qigong and Taiji that used control groups in their methodology. Based on this review, Qigong practice was said to show favorable results in nine areas: bone density, effects on the circulatory system, physical functions, falls and related risk factors, quality of life, self-efficacy, pain and symptoms, psychological symptoms, and immune functions and inflammation.
Visualization
When we begin practicing Qi Gong, we can only imagine Qi. By reinforcing the movements and observing the body in motion, we can also begin to feel it. Top athletes and successful people use visualization to achieve their goals. Successful tennis player Andre Agassi, winner of Wimbledon in 1992, said in an interview that the victory felt like a “deja vu experience,” because he had imagined it countless times since childhood. In medicine, researchers have found convincing evidence suggesting that with sufficiently strong visualization of movements, the same neural pathways can be activated as during the actual performance of movements.
Qi Gong is not a secret; it only requires regular practice. One of the first things you will notice in Qi Gong practice is your deep breathing. Qi Gong teaches us to breathe with the whole body, so that breath, body and mind are in balance. Take a moment right now and make three deep inhalations and exhalations. You will feel calmness in the mind and body. This calmness is strengthened through Qi Gong.
A special feature of Qi Gong is that through thousands of years it had to adapt and change. Different circumstances, such as the collapse of many dynasties, civil wars, oppression of people and so on, required suitable adaptations through which this treasury of knowledge could be preserved. It is still very useful regardless of the age of the art. This shows the greatest difference between Qi Gong and more modern approaches to practice, which certainly have great potential and from which we can learn a lot, but which still await the thousand-year tests of existence and the development of human civilization.
NOTES
[1] may the force be with you 
[2] ki pa niso edini način