The non-jarring and integrated movements make Tai Chi and Qigong an excellent recovery and rehabilitation practice for mobility and health
The slow movements can be considered a preventative and therapeutic tool for a variety of health issues relating to body degeneration, chronic diseases and immune conditions
What is Qi (Chi)?
Qi is sometimes simply referred to as the energy in your body or your life-force energy. In scientific terms it is called bio-electrical energy.
What is Tai Chi and what is Qigong?
The word Qigong means the skill and practice of energy flow, energy cultivation and energy circulation. More practice equals greater skill.
Tai Chi was originally practiced as a martial art. As a martial art it is often referred to as Taiji Chuan (Great Ultimate Fist). Taiji being the great ultimate force of Yin and Yang - the condensing & expansion of qi.
As a health exercise it is called Tai Chi Qigong (meaning great energy circulation skill or practice). In modern day this has been shorten to just Tai Chi, and Qigong often remains as a separate practice of energy cultivation and circulation more based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory without using martial arts moves.
Both modern Tai Chi and Qigong are usually classified as a type of health qigong as they are rarely practiced as a martial art (martial qigong).
Tai Chi and Qigong are both thousands of years old and have their roots in Tao philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Yang theory.
Both Tai Chi and Qigong:
Focus on unblocking qi, cultivating qi and circulating qi for optimal health
Have sitting, standing and moving techniques
Use the mind to lead the qi through the meridians and organs in the body
Have healing benefits by loosening joints, stretching muscles, strengthening bones
Are beneficial in massaging the organs through movement to help optimal organ function
Promotes body awareness and natural body alignment
Practices body-mind harmony, balance and coordination
Uses breathing techniques to increase quality of breathing, energising the brain and calming the mind
How can Tai Chi and Qigong improve health and wellbeing?
Tai Chi and Qigong can be used for the 3 main aspects of health and wellbeing:
Preventative health: in Traditional Chinese Medicine theory if the body doesn’t stay balanced (in a state of ease) for optimal function and have good qi circulation the body can become unbalanced (state of dis-ease). By preventing tension, stress and unblocking qi flow, it is believed that Tai Chi and Qigong can help prevent the onset of illness or dis-ease.
Maintaining health: the body and mind are machines with electrical current (qi). Like any machine it needs to be maintained to work at it's optimal level. By practicing Tai Chi and Qigong regularly, optimal health and body mobility can be maintained.
Rehabilitation: the body is self-healing with new cells being replaced every day. This is how we can heal ourselves after injury or illness. Good qi circulation can help in this process of rehabilitation.
Tai Chi and Qigong can be practiced at any level from beginners with simple exercises through to advanced techniques. Tai Chi is called an art form as although it may look simple, it can take a lifetime to master.
The more you practice Tai Chi and Qigong the more you will benefit from the exercises, forms and techniques. The goal of Tai Chi Qigong is to strengthen our body and our mind, making us more in harmony (mind, body and spirit) with ourselves and nature.
An introduction