Qi and Gong: what do they mean, and how can they help your body reach a state of harmony?

Qi: Your Life Force

Qi is the life force that powers you. It is what animates you as a unique being. Your individual Qi is unlike that of anyone else in the Universe—it was there at your creation and will be with you throughout your life.

There are two types of Qi. The first is inborn Qi, or what you inherited from your parents. Regardless of how much Qi you inherited, you have the power to make your life healthy, happy, and peaceful. How? Through the second type of Qi—acquired Qi. This is what you build up through your lifestyle (sleep, stress, eating habits) and energy practices, like Qigong.

Everything we do in life requires Qi. Our goal is to use only the Qi we’ve acquired for our everyday tasks. But when we burn through this bank of acquired Qi, we force the body to turn to the Kidney and use our inheritance. Living within our means—getting enough sleep; keeping our stress at bay; eating warm, seasonal foods; and practicing Qigong daily—allows us to conserve our inheritance.

Gong: Effort and Discipline

Clearly, Qi is an important part of our lives. But what does the other half of Qigong—gong—mean? Gong is effort and discipline. Qigong requires practice. Someone can give you the gift of Qigong movements, but in order to reap the benefits, you must put in gong. You must practice.

How does a baseball player reach the major leagues? Practice, practice, practice!

How does one discover Universal life? Practice, practice, practice!

The Benefit of Qigong?

Qigong’s gentle movements do much more than stretch your ligaments and muscles; they work to harmonize your body. These movements go much deeper than the physical body. They work at the level of Qi to help break up stagnation and allow your Qi to flow smoothly through the various meridians in your body. When your Qi flows freely through your body, you remain as Nature intended—healthy and balanced.

So why should you practice Qigong? What benefit will you receive? The benefit is entirely up to you. It depends on the level you want to achieve. If you want to reach a higher level, you must continue to practice. When Qigong becomes part of your lifestyle, you will notice a shift. As your energy becomes more balanced on the invisible level, it will be reflected in your physical body. You may find that you drop weight, let go of long-standing health issues, have a gentler smile or a softer reactions to others. You may also see a shift in your perspective.

Drop Your Mind

Nowadays, we all live in our minds—our to-do lists are half a mile long, our schedules are jam-packed, and we stare at the computer screens for the majority of our days. Can you let it all go? Can you drop your mind?

Continually living in your mind limits you. At this level, you can only discover the body; you will not see the whole truth. Dropping your mind allows you to discover your spirit. You are a complete being—body, mind, and spirit. Letting go of the mind helps you connect to that higher level, where all parts of your being are connected.

Illness

Most people find Qigong when they’ve been given a dire diagnosis. When they practice, they still receive a benefit. Qigong can benefit and impact every person in every life situation. Why?

Qi is Universal life. Qi has a consciousness and a wisdom. If you practice Qi properly, you can access that wisdom.

So why is your body sick or ill? You lost the information. Your body has fallen out of balance! Practicing Qigong is like going to the source—the Universe—to download the correct information. Once the information is received, your body knows how to heal itself. That’s the gift—Qigong awakens your innate healing powers.

So practice, and then practice some more, and let the beauty of your inner being unfold.

Practice With Us!

Check out our upcoming events:

Tao of Morning Qigong: Start your day with a rejuvenating practice. New session starting in January!

Qi and Soup Cleanse: Allow the body to deeply rest with a Qigong and soup reset in the new year. Starting January 9!

Dragon’s Way Qigong: Qigong, ancient wisdom, lifestyle awareness—new 6-week session starting January 24!