This is probably the most common questions that I get and a very valid one. Qigong (typically pronounced Chi Gung) is a word written this way in its most common and typical format, which is Romanized Chinese. 

Simply put, Qigong is a slow-movement based exercise that applies a lot of weight-bearing techniques to your body which actually builds muscle incredibly well and all while helping you to keep (or create) your calm.

These are two very important facets of maintaining a healthy body and any age or capability. Qigong will strain your muscles. We are talking achy, shaky legs and arms! This is accompanied with increased body temperature to the point of sweating a lot. Not bad for an exercise that moves really slow!

So, Qigong builds muscle. Muscles can aid in stabilizing your body to hold, protect and maintain better posture

I mentioned that it also aids in becoming calmer and maintaining a level of calm within yourself. This is important for it is really that much better for your overall health to find some calm at least some of the time. 

There are two things that work toward this calming effect: 

Breathing. Unlike many other forms of “breath training techniques”, Qigong has you “giving your breath a task” as I tend to express within my classes. This is an exercise that places the breath first, rather than second as most exercises do. This means that there is a slow, even breath that you create and then have your arms and / or legs follow. For example, inhalation may raise your arms and exhalation will lower them. This forms a pattern of breath and movement which brings me to:

Patterns. The human brain loves patterns. It seeks them out as if programmed to do so. When immersed in a pattern, the brain tends to relax more. So when you consider that there is a pattern of movement and a pattern of breath together, you will undoubtedly relax at some point.

Not all of Qigong’s movements are the type of exercise I have been writing about thus far. Some of them are very meditative as well. Sitting while moving and breathing slowly can become as a moving meditation, just simply slowing things down. I have had a great deal of success over the years in aiding people diagnosed with conditions such as PTSD with this technique. More on that another time.

Give Qigong a try but keep an open mind.