What is Qigong?

Qigong is also written as Chi Kung, Qi Gung, Chi Gong and similar variations, Qi or Chi means

energy, In Yoga it is called Prana. Gong or Kung means work or practice. Therefore, Qiqong

can be translated as energy work.

This term is relatively modern, originating in the 1950s in china, and is given to specific

breathing exercises that are designed to maintain, or improve, health and well-being. Each

movement benefits a particular area of the body but also helps many other areas-at the

same time .

Thee are 5 major traditions of Qigong, each having a different focus. Taoist Qigong aims to

preserve physical the body and develop “virtue” where as Buddhist Qigong aims to liberate

the mind and develop enlightened wisdom, Confucian Qigong aims to improve intelligence

and martial Qigong aims to use Qi to enhance martial arts skills. Medical Qigong emphasises

the free flow and balance of Qi with in the body to help treat illness, cure disease, and

maintain good physical health.

Medical Qigong is the tradition from which Shibashi set has been drawn from .

In older times these movements were taught as individual exercises. Some movements were

specially designed to loosen the physical body, the joints and the spine. others were used for

internal issues. The Chinese doctor would prescribe one or two different movements to

help with an illness or a weak health condition such as a cough or constipation. Some can

be traced back several hundred , if not thousands of years .

Traditional Tai chi training involves the study, and practice, of all forms (traditions of Qigong

in our sessions we will be focussing on medical Qigong using set on of 18 movements that

flow from one to the next. This single set of exercises which will have the ability to

transform the physical, emotional and mental well being of those who practice these

movements