What is Qigong? What is Zhineng Qigong?

Qi or Chi-Qi – Life Force or Bio-energy

Gong – Movement/Exercise.

Qigong is the the art of energy cultivation

In different cultures the Bio energetic force is called:

Ether - esoterically speaking,

Prana - in the yoga tradition of India and Tibet,

Yesod in the Jewish cabalistic tradition,

Ki in Korean and Japanese tradition, 

Baraka  by the Sufis,

Wakan by the Lakotas, 

Orenda by the Iropquis, and

The Holy Spirit  in Christian tradition.

So life force – Bioenergy is a subtle counterpart of the physical body. Does this subtle counterpart contain electromagnetic forces? Yes, it does. But a lot more: other energetic forces which are part of Life Force and are considered today a matrix of vibrational subtle energies that hold our body composed   and animated, designed to maintained its health balance. Qi is a type of subtle energy which permeates our environment. As humans, we are continually bathed in unseen radiations of diverse vibrational environments, from the more common cell phone radio, television, and radio frequencies, to more subtle aspects of solar energy outside the visible spectrum.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, supported by thousands years of experience considers that QI energy is absorbed into the human body via pathways of  twelve meridians directing Qi flows into bodily organs to provide them with life-giving energy.

Qigong is defined as the art of the three alignments: body, breathing and mind. Practicing QIGONG means experience the three alignments simultaneously  and understanding this very important.

First alignment, Physical Posture, Standing, Sitting or Lying down:

Our physical body compose of five primordial elements holds positional alignment to gravity, physiological, chemical means sustained by food, medicine, herbs and supplements. The human body can hold the posture, make movements and do a lot of skillful exercises.

Going to gym or getting a massage are in this category, taking care of your physical body.

Second alignment, Breathing:

“Exhalation sends Qi out, being opening of Yang; inhalation brings Qi in, being the closing of Yin” (Treasured Mirror of Oriental Medicine).

Normal rhythmical breathing provides us with life force. To a degree we can increase or decrease frequency and duration of breathing thus regulating life force.

When our breathing is normal , getting enough nutrients (gases providing us LIFE force) and rhythmical, we are balanced. One can hold breath for a short time, but then a compensatory deep breath follows. Breathing alignment is typically maintaining deep slow abdominal breath coordinating inhales and exhales to movements. There are other types of specialized breathings, besides normal and abdominal such as reverse abdominal and fire breathing.

Third Alignment, Mind/Consciousness/Spirit:

Practicing QIGONG, one learns to live in the present by following the first two alignments consciously, mindfully. Chinese medicine and Western psychologists agree that mind (soul in some traditions) is composed of conscious and subconscious aspects, thinking and emotions. Why should mind  be aligned with physical and breathing to enhance life force? Because our mind is intelligent, but also prone to emotional fluctuations, conscience driven moral choices and responsibilities. By practicing the three alignments, QIGONG is a form of standing meditation where simultaneously one can experience complete harmony and awareness in the present.