Qi Gong ("chee gong") is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine practice of self-balancing the natural energy within and around the body for health maintenance. Qi Gong lung meridian exercises are designed to apply conscious breathing, physical movement in specific postures and meditative mind states to foster a positive and balancing effect on the first of the 12 organ meridians of Chinese medicine.
Energy
Qi means "breath" in Chinese and also translates loosely to the energy inherent in humans and all other living things--the universal connecting life force. This energy moves like a flow of water through all elements of matter, including humans, nourishing as it goes. When the energy is insufficient or imbalanced, illness may occur. The quality of this energy in humans is regulated by the breath, and in turn the quality of the breath is regulated by the health of the lung meridian.
Meridians
In Chinese medicine, there are 12 meridians, each related to the energy of a major organ, as in bladder, kidney, liver, heart or small intestine. These organ meridians traverse the length of the body vertically, and the system starts where life begins, with the lungs. The lung meridian in this system is in charge of physical energy, circulation, the nasal passages, lung function, skin health, disease resistance and regulating the voice and speech. Lung meridian exercises are done to keep these systems functioning properly and restore balance where needed.
Movement
Qi Gong postures consist of coordinated movements placed in a certain sequence to achieve an overall result. Lung meridian movements are powerful and vary in pace, with parts of the body moving in unison with the breath. Movement itself is seen as a way to increase the oxygen level in the system, thereby helping to balance it. Focus is placed on flexing and twisting the torso, along with lifting, opening, lowering and closing the arms to allow for maximum strengthening movement in the area around the lungs.
Breath
Human life begins and ends with the breath. The lungs allow the function of breathing, feed all the cells of the body with oxygen through the blood and remove carbon dioxide and other gaseous wastes from the system. This filtration process is essential to overall mental, physical and emotional health. Accordingly, lung meridian exercise focuses on moving while taking deep, powerful breaths so that the mind becomes calm, any stress is pacified, and the life force energy can be properly raised and distributed throughout the system for healthy balance.
Implications
Qi Gong lung meridian exercise can benefit the overall system mentally, physically and emotionally. Research funded in part by the National Institutes of Health has shown its applications in preventative health maintenance and decreasing overall stress levels. Lung meridian exercise, in particular, actively works to aid circulation, which can clear muscle tension, increase levels of oxygen in the blood and brain to promote mental relaxation and, through exercise movement, produce natural chemical responses in the body to bolster a sense of healthy well-being.
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