Qi Kong Exercises for Energy

Qi Kong (pronounced "chee gong" and also referred to as Chi Gong or Chi Kong) is an ancient Chinese technique designed to release the body's natural energy. "Qi" means energy in Chinese; "Kong" is "cultivation." Practiced regularly, Qi Gong frees energy trapped by stress, sadness, trauma, worry or any negative emotion.
Qi Kong's gentle movements and breathing techniques can shift the nervous system from a "fight or flight" mode to one of restoration, according to Lee Holden, a licensed acupuncturist and Qi Kong instructor. Qi Kong can open deep wellsprings of energy.

Freeing Trapped Energy

• A difficult day at work, a hurtful statement, a painful loss or memory--common experiences such as these can create feelings of exhaustion more intense than hard physical work, notes Roy Lucianna, PhD., who teaches Qi Gong through the Multiple Sclerosis Society and at the Englewood (New Jersey) Hospital's Center for Integrative Healing.
  By releasing the mental distress trapped in various parts of the body, Qi Gong taps into the body's own deep reservoirs of energy. "The basic idea is to get energy moving and keep it moving," says Lucianna. "It's a mind-body connection, which simply means being mindful of the movements and using your mind to direct your energy. When the body is in motion, the emotions are usually freed and a normal level of energy is restored."
  Although almost any form of exercise, from walking to running on a gym treadmill, will release energy, Qi Gong is guided by the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM has mapped 12 main pathways or meridians along which energy moves. (Acupuncture uses the same meridians.) Qi Gong movements specifically target the flow of energy along these meridians.

A Starter Exercise

• One of the easiest Qi Gong exercises is called "Qi Bath." If you want to give it a try, begin by standing with your legs comfortably apart. Inhale as you slowly open your arms to the side. Without releasing the breath, take another inhale, forcing more air into your lungs as you gently raise your arms until your hands are slightly over your head, about 6 inches apart with your elbows bent. Exhale as you float your hands over your head toward the back (almost as if you were grooming your hair). Continue down along the back of your neck, then to the front of your shoulders and down to your sides. Inhale as you open your arms, palms down, forming a semi-circle. Complete the exercise by exhaling as you slowly return your hands to a point just below the navel.
  Performed softly and slowly, Qi Bath relaxes and calms the mind and energizes the body. It also helps move energy from the mind to the belly, providing a balancing effect.

Is Qi Gong Safe?

• Studied with an experienced, accredited teacher, Qi Gong is safe enough for almost anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. However, as with any exercise program, it's safest to check with your doctor first. For those who have health problems, it's not advisable to rely solely on Qi Gong; rather, your physician may suggest it as an adjunct to traditional treatment.