QIGONG

Chinese Energy Medicine

What is Qigong?

Qigong is a powerful system of energy medicine and healing from China and dates back 5,000 years. It as shown to be effective in the prevention and cure of many diseases or conditions.

In Chinese ‘Qi’ means air, breath or vital energy and ‘Gong’ means work. Qigong works by unblocking and balancing energy in the body (similar  to acupuncture practice). In Chinese Medicine it is believed that low, stagnated and imbalances in energy are the cause of illness and sickness in the human body.

Once an energy blockage is formed, energy cannot flow freely in our energy channels, (meridians). These energy channels run throughout the body to keep it fully functioning. We have 12 main channels and 8 reservoir channels, each channel serving a specific purpose. Blockages in the main and reservoir channels prevent energy getting to all parts of the body; this is when we start to feel unwell physically or emotionally. Qigong removes the blockages and opens the channels rebalancing the energy and thereby improving our health.

Medical Qigong  

Medical Qigong can be divided into two main categories, internal qigong –which is practised by clients themselves to preserve and promote health and external qigong which is performed by a qigong therapist on a person with health problems.

External Qigong

In this the therapist scans the body by holding the hands a few inches above the body and assesses the health and balance of qi. The treatment is non –evasive i.e. non- touch and enables the therapist to increase energy levels, disperse stagnated energy and rebalance the body thereby promoting healing.

Internal Qigong

This consists of gentle exercise and breathing movements, this practise increases energy in the body and opens up the energy channels as well as removing energy blockages.

Clients are taught specific qigong exercises/ movements; these include Eight Piece Brocade (Ba Duan Jin), Five Animal qigong (Wu Qin Xi) both of which date back to the Song Dynasty and were created by Hua Tuo the founder of Chinese Medicine.

Treatment Sessions

First treatment session is approximately 45 minutes and consists of initial assessment as well as treatment, with follow up sessions of 30 or 45 mins. These sessions consist of either external qigong treatment or external qigong treatment and qigong exercise. Although benefits of qigong can be noticed following the first session it is recommended that 3 sessions are undertaken. More chronic long term problems may take longer. Once energy balance is achieved health can be maintained by regular qigong practice and intermittent qigong therapy.

Qigong Research –Health Benefits

There is now a lot of scientific evidence to prove the health benefits of Qigong. The following is some of the most researched:-

• Cardiovascular- improvements shown to alter blood pressure and lower cholesterol
• Respiratory- improvements in conditions such as asthma
• Immune System disorders –improvements in range of immune system illnesses
• Circulatory- improves circulation and helps with related conditions linked to poor circulation
• Acute/chronic pain-significant reduction in pain
• Musculoskeletal-improves posture, balance, strength and flexibility 
• Mental Health- decreases stress response, anxiety and depression

Sue Hindle, our Qigong therapist, has studied for many years under world renowned Chinese Qigong Masters and continues her studies in China every year. Recently she received qualifications awarded by the Chinese Health Qigong Association, the Government body regulating Qigong in China.