Derived from the root word "qi" for vital energy and "gong," or skill and working, qigong is a traditional Chinese meditative practice that utilizes bodily movement and breathing techniques to promote the healthy circulation of qi. Perceiving the body as a series of interconnecting energy channels, or "meridians," qigong practitioners access and utilize bodily energy to stimulate the organs and promote overall bodily health. Thanks to a multitude of scientific tests performed in China and internationally, the beneficial effects of qigong have been credibly linked to benefits as diverse as anti-aging and reducing blood pressure.
Anti-Aging
According to Dr. Kenneth Sancier of the Qigong Institute, more than 800 scientific abstracts on the medical benefits of qigong have been translated into the English language. One of the primary studies that he cites refers to an experiment wherein 200 retired workers were given a daily practice regimen of Emei Nei Gong, a basic qigong exercise. By the end of the study, the group who practiced basic qigong exhibited a significant increase in superoxide dismutase, the bodily enzyme that monitors and eliminates free radicals. In addition to promoting anti-aging enzymes, the fluid and meditative movements practiced in qigong increase flexibility of the spine, allowing both a healthy stimulation of spinal nerves and preventing immobilizing disorders associated with aging.
Blood Pressure
One of the studies cited by Sancier refers to a series of experiments conducted at the Shanghai Institute of Hypertension over a period of 20 years. The study monitored the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in millimeters mercury taken from 242 patients over 20 years. According to the findings, individuals who regularly practiced qigong experienced a stable and significant drop in blood pressure levels compared to a group that was administered a hypotensive drug. While the meditative bodily movements utilized in qigong were devised for the healthy movement of qi through the body's organs, the practice has also been regarded as effective in improving cardiovascular function and disorders associated with the heart.
Qi Building and Wellness
While a number of Western medical practitioners remain dubious of the Chinese concept of "qi," the philosophy of qigong associates much of the body's vitality and overall wellness to a proper circulation and stimulation of the vital life energy. Corresponding to the philosophies of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, the qigong system claims to access various energy meridians along the body where various channels of qi intersect. Similar to an acupuncture treatment, many qigong movements focus on stimulating or tonifying meridians in order to promote the health of bodily organs associated with each meridian point. The result is a curriculum that teaches students natural ways of cultivating their qi: an energy that is not only associated with longevity and health, but also experiences of happiness, strength and overall well-being.
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