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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is Chi Gung?
What is Chi Gung? Chi Gung (chee gung) is the art and science of gathering, circulating and storing Body/Mind energy which is available from within oneself, nature and the Universe. There are techniques that involve breathing patterns, movements and visualizations while standing, sitting and moving. Tai Chi Chuan (Supreme Ultimate fist), the slow moving dance like martial art, is an example of a moving Chi Gung. Chi Gung is "breath and energy" work. What specific benefits can I expect from training? There are many benefits seen and unseen that are derived from doing Chi Gung. Since Qi Gung is a combination of movements with specific breathing patterns, the benefits are generally specific to the part of the body that is being exercised. If one were to exercise and breath into the waist and lower pelvic area it would benefit structures that are related to the intestines, digestion, and reproductive organs as these are the electromagnetic pathways of energy that circulate through these areas. Is Chi Gung cardiovascular? Yes, it can be cardiovascular though usually the purpose in this type of therapeutic exercise is that it doesn't excite the heart and thereby injure the spirit (shen). The Chinese Taoists believe, as do Hindu Yogis, that an individual only has a designated number of heart beats per lifetime. Therefore it is important to calm the heart and slow its beating. In the west we notice that people who do significant cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis, tend to have a slower radial pulse. This notion of calming the heart through regular exercise is valuable as in America it appears that in order to get to a training level where the pulse is calm it takes intense cardiovascular training. Does this mean that the American population is terribly out of shape? Most likely, yes. In Chi Gung and in the martial arts when one lowers a stance or posture and bends the knees more, the exercise becomes more cardiovascular. Therefore by doing Chi Gung you arrive at a similar place with the objective of cardiovascular health. There is an aphorism in Chinese Medicine that says that Heart strength is leg strength. Can I injure myself doing Chi Gung? Not paying attention to what you are doing when you practice any exercise can be harmful. Doing things that you are not instructed to do in a set of exercises may lead to disaster. Adding in other practices from other exercise sets can be confusing to your body, especially if you are a beginner. In the west, most of us are beginners even if we practice every day for 5 years. The Chinese have a different exercise ethic. They believe more is better. If you feel that there is a reason to change something, confer with a Qi Gung master. Mastery of this art takes sincerity, and training. Green eggs and ham may be great on a special occasion, but then again may not be. How often should I practice? You should practice as often as possible or as specifically directed by the Master or the type of Chi Gung you are doing. Let common sense prevail. In the west we tend to under train these kind of exercises, because they appear to be too slow and boring. Admittedly the standing static postures in the beginning are more than tedious, however, they do develop a unique kind of inner strength. The ability to stand quietly and calmly is a useful attribute in many situations. Remember, you have to learn to walk before you can run, and that it takes time to cultivate your Qi. Where is the best place to practice Chi Gung? The best place to practice Chi Gung is outside in nature and the open air, say a favorite park, out of direct wind or weather influences, and amongst the trees. Meditation per sec is best practiced inside, Chi Gung outside. The types of exceptions to this rule include situations like if you are bedridden or that you live on the 25th floor of a high-rise and you can't go outside. A solution would be to open a window or go out onto the balcony. Qi is energy and breath, fresh air is important in the cultivation of this energy process. Can I loose weight and or inches doing Chi Gung? Yes, you can loose weight or inches or even gain weight or inches. Certainly you can get better muscle tone. It usually depends on the type of set of movements and the purpose you practice, your eating habits and what you eat. There are many Chi Gung sets that strengthen the digestive power. What is the best time of the day to practice Chi Gung? Anytime is good to practice, especially if you get the inspiration to do it. Sometimes the body will crave the exercise and this is when you can derive great benefit. There are also traditional and designated times to practice depending on the type of Chi Gung. Generally practice at sunrise, midday and sunset yield the best results, unless the exercise you need to do is directed at a specific organ/meridian complex. If this is the case then doing Chi Gung at the time of day when the natural circadian moment may be more beneficial. Do I need special equipment to practice? No special equipment is needed. Lightweight natural cotton or silk clothing in the summer time is appropriate practice attire. Lightweight sweat clothes in the winter with silk long underwear is a good uniform if the weather demands it. Natural fabrics are best, and silk is traditional as it is living (spun from silk worm cocoons) and collects Qi. It is important not to get chilled when training, if you train in a cold climate, however it is also important not to have your movement restricted by your clothing. Outside training is recommended, so whatever is appropriate for the weather is best. If you heavily perspire then change your clothes directly after practice so that the toxins in your sweat don't go back into the body. How does Chi Gung help my healing process? Chi Gung helps the healing process by balancing the body according to an ancient template which has been time tested by millions upon millions of people over the last three milleniums. These techniques are far beyond the experimental stages. Effectiveness of a particular exercise depends upon the appropriateness of the exercise for the problem, practice, and about 5% luck. Can Chi Gung be practiced with other forms of exercise? Yes, it will add agility and ability to any form of sport or exercise. Sometimes the ability of the practitioner elevates to such a high level that actions can have global as well as immediate individual consequence. The reason for this is that when you do Chi Gung you are harmonizing with your environment and blending with nature. |
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