What is Qigong?

Qi Gong, pronounced (chi Gong) is a form of Chinese exercise that has its roots deep in Daoist philosophy and medical practice. Qi Gong translates as 'energy exercise' although this can be rather misleading as it suggests that chi is not present within the body naturally. This misses the point that chi is everywhere, all the time flowing, permeating and energising every thing in the universe.

There are many branches of Qi Gong , each system has its own exercises with there own special focus , The Longfei Tai Chi Association practises a system from China known as Dao Yin Yang Shen Gong .

This system has various sets of therapeutic exercises designed to work on all aspects of the human body. Exercises can consist of either static postures or postures with flowing movements.

Only in the last twenty to thirty years has Qi Gong practise grown in popularity in the west. The apparent simplicity of many of the postures and movements initially led to a dismissive attitude, but now the effectiveness of Qi Gong has been revealed and people of all ages are beginning to reap its rewards.

Dao Yin Yang Shen Gong

Combining traditional knowledge with modern medical theory, Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong is a system of exercises characterised by gentle twisting motions and involving breath control, the stimulation of key acupressure points in the body and mental development.

Its soft, fluent and harmonious movements aim to improve energy circulation within the whole body, to loosen the joints, tone up and oxygenate the muscles and to relax the nervous system.

The system is an extremely comprehensive one. Some exercises are designed to "soften" the body and develop flexibility, others relate directly to specific organs, while others have a more general effect on the health. There are both standing and sitting forms, making the system accessible to people of all ages and physical conditions.

Dao Yin

"DaoYin" is the original term for health enhancing exercises now more usually referred to as "Qi Gong". In essence, it refers to the ancient body-mind exercises, which formed the physical element of "Yang Sheng" providing health care, physical, and spiritual purification leading to longevity

Their exact historical origins are uncertain, but they are certainly some thousands of years old.

The first historical reference about it appears in Zhuangzi, a Taoist text written between the 4th and 2nd century BC:

"Breathing in and out, exhaling and inhaling, they get rid of the old to absorb the new. They swing like bears and stretch like birds - all this they do in order to have long life. They are DaoYin disciples, people who nourish their form seeking for longevity like Pengzu."

Many different interpretations were given to the word "DaoYin" during the ages. The following two are the most reliable:

Daoqi yinti - guide the Qi and stretch the body Daoqi yinliao - guide the Qi to obtain a healing effect

Both interpretations describe important aspects of the exercise, and do not contradict each other. The first describes the technique while the second refers to one goal of the exercise. Actually, with DaoYin we guide the Qi and move our body in order to obtain a beneficial effect to our health.

Yang Shen Gong

Ancient Chinese texts describe how even as long ago as the feudal age (770-221BC, Yang Shen Gong exercises (life-nourishing ways) were highly regarded and widely practiced. Based on a combination of diet, traditional medicine, physical exercise and spiritual cultivation, "yang Shen gong"" aimed to promote a long and healthy life.

Many varied methods for achieving longevity were developed, each with different emphases, but all agreed that a physical exercise was a vital component. However, the type of exercises created went far beyond the mere physical, involving the body and the mind in a unified way.

The term "Yang Sheng" within the title "Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong" acknowledges both its indebtedness to these original techniques and the central intent of the system to provide the opportunity for serious practitioners to prolong their own lives through dedicated practice.