Qi Gong: Lessons in Health

"In Qi Gong we believe that we are constantly being charged with energy. This energy comes from the earth and the sky, our workplace and home, even other people. It also comes from the things we eat, our activities, and even our psychological state. The combination of yin (passive) and yang (active) energy is Qi. The practice and study of Qi is Qi Gong."

- 'Mastering Miracles: The Healing Art of Qi Gong', by Master (Dr) Hong Liu
* N.B. All quotes in this post are from the book, 'Mastering Miracles.'

I'm going to share with you some Qi Gong exercises, as taught by Master Hong Liu (" is the first person to fully integrate extensive apprenticeships in both Eastern and Western Medicine"). The reason I've decided to share this, so that you, like me, can hopefully benefit from its' practice. Firstly, I want to tell you that I'm not an expert on Qi Gong. I've practiced it over the years, and have fleetingly taught it during my years as a martial arts instructor. Regardless of whether Qi Gong is taught specifically for martial arts, or general health, you will find that the basis of many of the exercises are grounded in the same origins.

Like most things, you never know what you have until you lose it, and that goes for the Qi Gong skills I learned during those many years of martial arts training. Now, as I'm getting older (and my body is telling me as such), I'm only starting to realise the signficance of what I've learnt, and I'm now choosing to delve into my chosen art and all its' wonders with a thirst for deeper knowledge, and also in the hope that it will yield its' secrets (and benefits) to me over time.

When you really start to look beneath the surface, you realise how amazing our bodies are, and its' ability to heal itself, especially through something as simple as breathing and movement, and what I believe Qi Gong is - a form of (moving) meditation.

"Imbalances in five main areas will cause cancer," I told Raymond. "Environmental, physical, chemical, biological and psychological. To prevent a disease like cancer, one must watch his diet, maintain emotional stability, avoid pollution, and increase physical fitness. This will result in a high level of immune strength, which will get rid of the bad energy.

It is the mention of "good" and "bad" energy that usually makes Western doctors flinch. They are accustomed to thinking in terms of tissue and blood, and not the energy that permeates it. In Qi Gong it is the other way around. We look at this energy as the source of both health and illness."

The exercises I'd like to share with you are called 'The Golden Eight Exercises', as per Master Hong Liu's book. I will explain one or two exercises at a time, starting tomorrow. They are quite simple, however, when you first attempt them, they will take a little practice to do them correctly. Persevere, because you'll have them down pat in no time, and once you've learnt them, they will comfortably slot into your day.

These exercises can be done by anyone of any age, however, there are particular exercises, depending on whether you have a particular condition (pregnancy, etc), where it is recommended to either avoid them altogether or adjust the exercise (I will include any warnings). Even people who are extremely ill and hospitalised can do these exercises from a sitting or lying position. You just do what you can, without tiring yourself unnecessarily, especially if you are chronically ill. Of course, if you are extremely ill, or have a medical condition, I would recommend that you still check with your physician whether you are able to do these exercises.

I would recommend that when you begin, only do two to three repetitions to begin with, and concentrate on the quality of your technique. Try to get the breathing and movements correct, so that you will derive the maximum benefit from the exercise, and it's always best to learn things correctly before habitually practicing them incorrectly anyway.

I have also scanned diagrams of the steps of the exercises, to help you do the movements correctly. I will also be including an explanation of what and how, these specific exercises will improve your health, as per 'Mastering Miracles'.

Tomorrow I will share the first of the Golden Eight Exercises, called 'Reach for Happiness'.

"Although Chinese medicine uses different terms and philosophies than its' Western counterpart, its goal is essentially the same: to rid the body of illness and disease. It is in the approach to this common goal that the two systems show their differences.

In Western medicine, the patient is often passive and merely receives treatment. In Chinese medicine, the patient must be actively involved in his healing. We believe that if the patient will not participate in the fight against his disease, then the illness will likely take whatever course it wishes. It is that simple."