Chi Kung (also written as “Qigong”) descibes various systems of mental and physical training, primarily for health benefits. This ancient Eastern Practice is daily routine for many citizens around the world.
Chi Kung exercises also have a cumulative effect in that your effectiveness increases as you practice through the year. As a consequence, your body becomes stronger, more relaxed, your health will improve and your spirits will lift. As with most Eastern martial arts, the basics to the practice is to have the correct posture. Everything else stems from this; it is important that the posture be relaxed and natural, which promotes smooth breathing and freedom of movement. The most common postures to use are: normal sitting posture; cross-legged posture; half-lotus posture; supine posture; sideways lying posture; standing posture and walking posture.
Another basic skill to be mastered is how to concentrate and regulate your mental activity in order to enter a quiet, meditative state. For us in the modern world, the latter can prove the most challenging. As Stress Relief Techniques go however, it’s a worthwhile practice to engage in. You should find a school near you and see if they have any beginners or try-out classes.
