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Chi Kung exercises are short, gentle, simple sequences of moves coordinated with the breath. Chi Kung is suitable for adults of any age—like Tai Chi, which is a longer and more complex form of Chi Kung. For those reasons, Chi Kung exercises are easier for the beginner to learn. And because there are so many forms or exercise routines from which to choose, it is easy to find a routine that suits your physical condition. The images below show a sequence of 5 moves from the "Swimming Breaths" form. Click on the image below to see a video clip of these moves taken from Lawrence Galante's "Five Element Chi Kung" video.
[click to view Quicktime video]
BREATH CONTROL
"Breath control"—known as Chi Kung in China and pranayama to the yogis of India—is basic to the Chinese healing arts, spiritual arts, and martial arts. The National Qigong Association (www.nqa.org) states on their website:
All styles have three things in common: they all involve a posture, (whether moving or stationary), breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase the [Chi]; others circulate it, use it to cleanse and heal the body, store it, or emit [Chi] to help heal others.
HEALTH BENEFITS
In Chinese martial arts training, Chi Kung makes the practitioners impervious to punches and kicks. But today in China, Chi Kung is mainly practiced as a therapeutic exercise in homes, hospitals and parks throughout the country. The deep breathing oxygenates the blood, organs, and cells of the body at the same time relaxing the mind and promoting a state of well-being essential to boosting the immune system. Like Tai Chi, Chi Kung reduces joint and muscle pain, and improves mobility, balance and posture.
In the United States, the healing powers of Chi Kung were widely reported by Bill Moyers in his popular Public Television broadcast "Healing and the Mind." Traditional Chinese Medicine uses Chi Kung along with acupuncture, herbs, and massage to address imbalances of yin and yang in the body that manifest as disease. For more on the principles of yin and yang, and energy healing see Lawrence Galante's book "Energy Healing."
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