One of the main purposes for people to learn Chinese martial arts is that it can help people to keep healthy, and they can make themselves full of energy. Among the various kinds of Chinese martial arts, Qigong can be regarded as a useful method for health-building. Then what is Qigong?
What is Qigong?
Qigong (also spelled Ch'i Kung) is a powerful system of healing and energy medicine in China. It is the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (qi). Qigong practice leads to better health and vitality and a tranquil state of mind. In the past, qigong was also called nei gong (inner work) and dao yin (guiding energy).
How old is Qigong?
The documented history of Qigong goes back approximately 2,500 years. However Chinese archaeologists and historians have found references to qigong-like techniques at least five thousand years old.
Benefits of practicing Qigong
Qigong (also spelled Ch'i Kung) is a powerful system of healing and energy medicine in China. It is the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (qi). Qigong practice leads to better health and vitality and a tranquil state of mind. In the past, qigong was also called nei gong (inner work) and dao yin (guiding energy).
How old is Qigong?
The documented history of Qigong goes back approximately 2,500 years. However Chinese archaeologists and historians have found references to qigong-like techniques at least five thousand years old.
Benefits of practicing Qigong
Qigong can affect the complex mechanism of the human body in various ways. Contemporary research has further proven that Qigong is a holistic exercise, which requires little of the environment but produces a positive effect on the functions of all body organs and systems or tracts.
1. Effects on the respiration system
The effect of Qigong is very obvious on the respiratory system. Most people can deepen, prolong, invigorate and slow down their breathing after from 10-20 times per minute to 4-5 times or even fewer. When Qigong practice is effective, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide decrease. This indicates that Qigong increases alveolar ventilation by activating gas exchange. Reduction in the number of respiration does not cause shortage of oxygen but saves much bio-physiological energy which otherwise would be consumed in more respiratory movement.
2. Effects on the blood function
Qigong can dramatically change the peripheral blood picture. Measuring Qigong effects on blood shows white cells increase 13 to 23 percent on average. The phagocyte index of white cells may also increase from 40 percent to over 90 percent after Qigong practice.
3. Effects on cardiovascular function static
Qigong (also known as Quiescent Exercise) is particularly effective in slowing the rate of heartbeat. Qigong can significantly reduce pulmonary pressure, of which the effect is better than intravenous injection. After Qigong practice, the systolic pressure dropped 18 millimeters and the diastolic dropped 16 millimeters.
4. Effects on metabolism
It has been proved that a practitioner’s gas metabolism is reduced when one enters the quiescent state of Qigong, but change in the quantity of oxygen while doing Qigong exercise can reduce gas metabolism to the minimum level required by the human body ordinarily, which is lower than simply lying.
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