This ancient practice can be practiced at any age and is accessible to complete beginners. In this blog, you will find out about what it is and the benefits for your body and mind.
With increasing demands placed upon us, it is essential to find time to resource and reenergise. Qigong is well documented for lowering stress levels and improving the health of the practitioners. Research has demonstrated that this gentle yet powerful practice can have a profound impact on your mental and physical health, helping to regulate your emotions, reduce stress and promote a state of relaxation.
What is Qigong?
Qi means energy, gong means practice or movement. Qigong is an energy practice. Qigong combines coordinated movement, breathing exercises and meditation techniques. In short, it is meditation in motion.
Qigong is the foundation for martial arts. Some say qigong is older that yoga. Yoga started about 5,000 years ago. Qigong has its sources in shamanic practices where humans mimicked animals through rituals. We can see the reminiscence of those practices in many animal forms practiced during qigong.
The underlying principle is that the practitioner is part of nature and therefore the practice adapts with the seasons, realigning the body internally but also externally with its environment. In China, qigong is considered as a preventative medicine. The practice is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy and medicine. Qigong works with the meridians or energy lines, clearing blockages.
What are the benefits of qigong?
There have been many studies explaining the benefits of qigong. The National Library of Medicine published a research on the physiological and psychological benefits of qigong. They reported an improvement in the following categories: bone density, cardiopulmonary effects, physical function, quality of life, self-efficacy, immune functions.
In the sections below, we will look at the key benefits of qigong for the health, body and mind.
Improves flexibility
A study in 2016 https://shorturl.at/QQSIR highlighted the benefits of qigong. Researchers looked at previous studies to learn how this activity might affect general fitness. Overall, they found evidence that qigong can improve: balance, hand grip strength, torso flexibility, blood pressure, resting heart rate.
Back pain
A study published in April 2019 in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies that focused on office workers suffering from chronic lower back pain revealed that qigong played a role in alleviating back pain and improved range of motion.
Chronic fatigue
A study published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine in June 2012 mentioned qigong can help ease fatigue symptoms and improve mental functioning in people living with chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Qigong and anxiety, depression
Qigong primary purpose is to realign the body in terms of energy or qi. Because the mind-body practice of qigong is so closely tied to emotional regulation, it can be a powerful tool for those impacted by stress, anxiety and depression.
The National Library of Medicine study found that qigong could reduce symptoms of depression. In this study, those who practiced qigong also experienced less anxiety and better moods as compared to those who didn’t.
A study published in April 2018 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine demonstrated that just one session of qigong reduced anxiety and improved balance in both the nervous system and the body.
Qigong requires slow, gentle movements and mindful breathing. Those counteract the effects of an overstimulated nervous system, which is responsible for your stress response. Through its practice, qigong activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This system controls our ability to relax, it is also called “rest and digest” state.
Benefits for cancer patients
Many studies investigated qigong’s benefits for cancer patients. A review published in March 2017 in the journal Medicines found evidence that qigong could positively influence the quality of life, immune function and cortisol levels, and cognition in individuals with cancer.
Later that year, research published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed that qigong has promise for improving symptoms in cancer patients.
Those findings highlight the transformative power of qigong as part of a holistic approach to health and its positive effects on the mind-body. Perhaps the best test is to try it and observe for yourself the benefits happening from their own accord.
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