The Mind-body Connection in Classical Chinese Medicine
“Qi Gong” is a modern term for practices that use movement and visualization to cultivate our innate ability to gather and move Qi. The simple, flowing movements are done in both sitting and standing postures. Through practicing regularly, we can increase well-being and optimal functioning in the body and mind. General benefits include better sleep, increased energy, a calmer mind, and relief from aches and pains. Over time, we can learn to use the exercises to heal ourselves, prevent illness, and heal others.
Qigong Methods
Qi Gong is the branch of Chinese medicine that makes direct use of the Qi flowing in the body, the mind, the immediate environment, and the larger universe. It can be practiced alone or in groups or with a practitioner/teacher, but it always involves activating the natural healing processes that all human are endowed with.
It is important to remember that all of these methods work because Qi is both “energy” and “matter.” Qi is not some mysterious force discovered by the Chinese. Neither is it something that only highly-realized people can perceive. Qi is simply a way of understanding, and talking about, how and why all things and events in the universe are connected.
Develop a greater, on-going sense of well-being with Qigong
When we think about healing with our minds, we may run into some roadblocks because not all of the cause and effect relationships are observable. We may initially find the claim that we can move the Qi in our bodies, and even in other people, simply by focusing or activating our consciousness, to be implausible or explainable only by resorting to vague, mystical assumptions. However, Qi Gong practices also stand on the firm ground of direct, repeatable experience. Recent research has shown the relationship between practices Qigong postures and developing a greater, on-going sense of well-being. Click on the link below for a more complete explanation and feel free to contact Acupuncture Works for more information about upcoming classes and individual treatment sessions.
Osypiuk, K., Thompson, E., & Wayne, P. M. (2018). Can Tai Chi and Qigong postures shape our mood? Toward an embodied cognition framework for mind-body research. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, Article 174. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00174
