Qi Gong: Moving meditation, energy building and healing all on one. What's not to like?

Image by bikkhu.

In the world of energy healing, Qi Gong is interesting. (Sometimes it's called Chi Kung, or any variation between the two.) It doesn't like to be pigeon-holed into one category.

At first glance, it looks like a simple series of stretching exercises. Looking closer, you find energy movements and a moving meditation. Looking closer still, you find techniques for removing energy blockages not only on oneself, but even in others (with the right training).

The stretching exercises in Qi Gong are excellent in that (if done properly) they are gentle and doable for most folks. Even putting aside the energy work angle, it might be worthwhile if only for the gentle stretching aspect.

Of course, what's happening on beyond that is that you are also moving your energy around. You're not just exercising the body, you are circulating your energy, making sure that your system is balanced and no part of you is starved for energy. This is twofold: First there's the fact that you're circulating your energy around. Second, by actively working your energy system, you're revving it up so you can operate better. In my meditative practice, energy movements are recommended often for just such a purpose.

What's more, Qi Gong is very much like a moving meditation. The same kinds of skills come into play: attention, non-thought (thinking without words), paying attention to the body in order to expand awareness beyond it. All very very good things.

I've not experienced this directly, but my understanding is that practitioners learn to clear blockages of energy, thus enabling better flow. This generally seems to be for themselves specifically, but I've also seen at least one curriculum which teaches how to use the skills for someone else.

I haven't gone very far into Qi Gong yet. It seems more a practice of lifestyle (albeit a healing lifestyle) than a healing technique. Still, certainly worth checking out and trying out. The energy system you buff out just might be your own!  :-D

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For further reading:

• Return from Qi Gong to the main Energy Healing page.
• Check out some of the other energy healing schools out there.