What is Health Qigong?

    Qigong was one of the traditional Chinese exercises and healing techniques, originally part of the traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese wuhsu in ancient China. Confucianists practiced qigong to cultivate their mind and body, Daoists and Buddhists did it to transcend worldliness; Chinese medical physicians use it to cure illness and to keep fit; and wushu learners practice it for self-defense. Qigong is a set of psychosomatic practicing skills that integrate body, breathing and mind into one.

    Qigong comes from two separate words, “qi” and “gong”. Qi means breathing, meditation, imagination and energy. Gong means movement, exercise, and practice. The two words together mean using the mental power or imagination to help your breathing and physical movement, thus to help one keep fit. The movements include physical exercise with controlled breathing to lead the Qi energy to flow in the body following the acupuncture channels, in order to balance the body functions and to improve the mental and physical functions. They are very simple and practical self-healing techniques.

   The Chinese Health Qigong Association after many years of studies and research is now able to introduce 4 simplified forms of Health Qigong purely for fitness purposes. The Chinese Health Qigong Association is trying to introduce these techniques worldwide.

    The four types of Health Qigong are:

    - Ba Duan Jin (Eight excellent movements),

    - Wu Qin Xi (Frolics of five animals),

    - Yi Jin Jing (Tendon changing classic),

    - Liu Zi Jue (The art of expiration in producing six different sounds)

    Take Ba Duan Jin as example:

Ba Duan Jin, a traditional Chinese health and fitness qigong exercise routine dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is a gem in China's health and fitness culture.

    As a safe aerobic exercise, it features a movement of intensity and format in line with the theories of kinetics and physiology. Added to the traditional eight movements, are sections on the preparatory posture and closing form, making the exercises more complete, standardized and rational.

    It has been proven that practicing Ba Duan Jin improves the respiratory system, the strength of the limbs, and the flexibility of the joints, and enhances the nerves and your general balance. It improves the function of the cardiovascular system and helps to cure illnesses such as coronary artery sclerosis and osteoporosis. To a certain extent, it strengthens one's immune system, and delays the aging process, thus increasing the life span. It also improves one's mental health.

   气功，中国传统健身、医疗方式之一，原属中医和武术。儒家用以修身养性，道家和佛家用其超凡脱俗，中医以此来治病保健，武术则通过练习气功获得御敌防身的功力。气功是锻炼身心的功法，练习气功可以调节为身体、呼吸及大脑的活动，使其协调统一。

   气功由“气”和“功”两个字组成。“气”是指呼吸、冥想、幻想，亦指精力、能量。“功”是指运动、练习、锻炼。因此合起来意为用意念或想象来指导呼吸和身体运动已达到健身之目的。它包括控制气息的身体锻炼，引导精气在体内顺经络而流动，这样便可以平衡体内的各器官系统机能并增强神经系统功能和身体素质。气功是一种简单易练、实用有效的健身方法。

 经过多年调查研究，中国气功协会创编出四套简化健身气功套路，并力图在世界范围内广泛传播。

 以下为四种健身气功：

 -八段锦（八个经典动作）

 -五禽戏（模仿五种动物的动作）

 -易筋经（调节筋腱的功法）

 -六字诀（有六种不同声音组成的吐纳术）

    以八段锦为例：

    八段锦，源于宋代（960—1279）的中国传统健身养生气功，是中国健身养生文化中的一支奇葩。作为一种安全有效的有氧健身方法,以力学和生理学为理论基础，其动作规范、强度适中。在传统八段锦套路中加上了预备式和收式使其更加完善、标准、合理了。

    研究证明，练习八段锦可以增强呼吸系统功能，加强四肢力量，提高关节灵活性，强化神经系统机能并提高一般平衡能力。还可以改善心血管机能状态并有助于治疗冠状动脉硬化和骨质疏松等病症。此外，人体免疫系统也会被加强，延缓衰老，延长寿命。