The latest kid on the block in terms of therapeutic exercise is Qi Gong. Practised for thousands of years in China,it is now slowly becoming recognized for its health benefits outside China.

For people who want to combine a form of exercise that also has meditative and spiritual elements, Qi Gong could be what you are looking for. One of the other great advantages Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Gong) has over other more strenuous forms of exercise, is that it can be practised by any one at any level of fitness and you still see benefits. Allison Davis, who teaches Qi Gong at the DaVinci centre says, “ It is very versatile and the exercises can even be done sitting down.”

What exactly is Qi Gong? 

Qigong comes from the Chinese words Qi meaning energy, plus Gong, meaning work or practice, and it is a Chinese Exercise system. which through movements and breathing focuses on cultivating and attracting Qi or life force energies.

As with most Chinese disciplines the central belief is that energy runs along pathways through the body and if the energy gets blocked, stagnation sets in which in turn causes illness. The key, then, is to keep the energy flowing by postures and breathing that work on the meridians.

Allison explains: “In Qi Gong the postures are static but not in the same way as yoga. It can involve just moving one arm and with a slight bend, or moving your head from side to side.”

She adds: ”While in the postures there is a concentration on breathing and a meditative focus which helps build up the body’s own energy resources.”

The Postures

The postures have wonderful names that evoke Chinese imagery and history. There are the Eight Silk Brocade Exercises. Looking Backwards is about simple, head movements coupled with breathing that have health benefits, such as lowering stress and revitalising the nervous system. Another exercise called Drawing The Bow, is probably self explanatory. This particular movement as well as helping posture also improves blood circulation. Yet another one, my own particular favourite, is picturesquely called Punching With Tiger Eyes! And yet another is simply entitled Lifting One Arm.

Allison says initially people who are expecting some type of martial arts or strenuous system are disappointed because Qi Gong is so static, but she says once people stick with it, they recognize the benefits and even though it looks comparatively simple you get a very good physical workout.

The benefits

As well as the stretching and strengthening that is happening within the postures, Allison explains that Qi Gong also works at a deeper therapeutic level, on circulation, cardiovascular, and on the internal organs.

The breathing is an essential part of Qi Gong. Allison says: “ Most of us are used to very shallow breathing not using our whole lungs or diaphragm. In Qi Gong you use deep abdominal breathing right down to below the belly button where in Chinese medicine they believe a lot of our energy is stored.”

Because you are also working so much with the diaphragm, the whole core of the body is strengthened and this in turn helps the internal organs.

Allison says the health benefits are numerous. “People sleep better, digestion is improved and the spine becomes more flexible.”

Because of the breathing there is also a meditative spiritual side to Qi Gong that helps calm and de-stress.