Qigong

Qigong, literally “Energy or Life Force Cultivation," is an ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, visualizations and meditations that are designed to enhance Qi or life force energy.  Qi is the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality.  One of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qigong brings the benefits of a tradition of exercise and healing that has been used in China for thousands of years.

Qigong views a person as an energy system in which body, mind and spirit are unified, each influencing and balancing the other.  The Qigong system thus emphasizes a holistic approach of wellness that treats the whole person, and helps the body to heal itself.  Many people have found Qigong methods of healing and exercise to be excellent tools for restoring and maintaining optimum health, preventing illness and enhancing well-being of body, mind and spirit.   Qigong exercises look similar to Tai Qi, but the movements are medically designed to boost the immune system and open energy channels.

Qigong can complement Western medicine to improve health care.  Western medicine has special value for treating acute conditions and Qigong can be especially valuable when treating chronic conditions and as preventive medicine.   Anyone can practice Qigong exercises to help strengthen the Qi in the body and remove obstructions to Qi flow that may have developed due to injury, emotional stress, diet, disease or other factors.