Qigong Meditation
What is Qigong Meditation?
Qigong meditation is a form of meditation and exercise that is designed to calm the mind and spirit and promote long term health of both the body and the mind. It is based on an ancient method of well being and long life practiced by Chinese, Buddhist and Taoist shamans. These shamans develop a disciplined form of exercise and breathing that is spiritually based and designed to create a sense of harmony and peace within the mind. Introduced to China around 1100 BC through the Yi Jing book, also known as the Book of Changes, it is a form of altering one’s Chi or internal energy. This allows the person to practice movement and meditation of the mind in order to obtain self healing and inner peace. The name Qigong stands for moving the fundamental chi or energy within the body. Qi means energy or the ‘breath of life’ and gong stands for having the ability to move this energy.
What are the Three Types of Qigong?
Qigong can be separated into three different categories: spiritual Qigong, healing Qigong and sports Qigong. Spiritual Qigong is meant to return the mind to the essence of being one with nature. Essentially the mind is a manifestation of nature and using the spiritual art of Qigong meditation to feel the synchronicity with nature will help the person rediscover their oneness with nature. This is performed by practicing the art of Qigong meditation in such a way where the person’s Chi becomes flowing and clear and advancing this feeling until certain spiritual experiences occur. Using Qigong in sports was designed to increase the effectiveness of martial arts. Today using this form of meditation and precise exercise movements can help any athlete increase their flexibility, stamina, strength, speed and coordination. This can also be used to help treat and prevent sports related injuries.
The key to sports Qigong is the practice of breathing and movements to move the body’s energy in such a way as to promote these athletic attributes. Healing Qigong uses the practice of moving and controlling the body’s energy to control both the mental and physical aspects of the body. This can be used to improve overall health, cure health problems and increase the body’s resistance to disease. There have been numerous scientific studies that have shown the power of such forms of meditation and exercise in altering the brain’s hormone levels and the body’s healing process. The practice of healing Qigong has been used by the Chinese people for thousands of years.
How do you Learn Qigong Mediation?
Learning Qigong takes time and patience, but most importantly it takes commitment. Meditation means different things for different people. Some feel that it is a form self-hypnosis, while others feel that it is a form of communicating with nature or one’s creator. Choosing the right environment, either a quiet one or one with soft music is the first step. Then learning the process of breathing from the belly is next. Many people choose to sit in the lotus position, or with their legs crossed on top of one another. The body is held straight during Qigong meditation as it helps with the flow of energy. The focus of the mind and body is then placed on breathing and reducing stress. In order to fully master the art of Qigong, it is necessary to learn from a master or instructor. By performing some research into how to begin the process of teach oneself Qigong, you will begin to make rapid progress once an instructor begins to teach you. Learning Qigong could have a vast amount of positive effects for both your body and your mind.