Introduction to Qigong

Qigong (Qigong) is a traditional Chinese method of health care, health preservation, and disease relief. It is a physical and mental exercise method that uses the adjustment of breathing, physical activity and consciousness (breath adjustment, shape adjustment, and mind adjustment) as a means to strengthen the body, prevent and treat diseases, keep fit and prolong life, and develop potential. . The following is an introduction to Qigong that I have compiled just for you.

Qigong

Qigong (Qigong) is a traditional Chinese method of health care, health preservation and disease elimination. It is a physical and mental exercise method that uses the adjustment of breathing, physical activity and consciousness (breath adjustment, shape adjustment, and mind adjustment) as a means to strengthen the body, prevent and treat diseases, keep fit and prolong life, and develop potential. .

It mainly focuses on adjusting the harmonious relationship between natural Qi and innate Qi. In Chinese Qigong, innate Qi is the original Qi endowed by parents and circulates in the twelve meridians and eight extraordinary meridians of the human body.

There are many types of Qigong, which can be mainly divided into dynamic Qigong and static Qigong.

Donggong refers to qigong that focuses on physical activities. For example, Daoyin School focuses on qigong, which is characterized by an emphasis on body operations combined with mind and Qi. Quiet Gong refers to Qigong that does not move the body and relies only on consciousness and self-control of breathing. Most Qigong methods alternate between movement and stillness.

There is a vast amount of qigong literature in ancient my country, and there are a large number of qigong literature records in Taoism, Buddhist medicine, Confucian medicine, and medical records. Excavation and sorting work is an important and arduous task. It not only requires researchers to have high knowledge of medicine, qigong, ancient Chinese, modern Chinese, etc., but also requires high qigong skills.

Balance exists among all things. Everything has yin and yang.

A basic introduction to Qigong

Qigong (Qigong) is performed through the adjustment of breathing, physical activity and consciousness (breath adjustment, shape adjustment, and heart adjustment) It is an exercise method to achieve the goals of strengthening the body, keeping the body and mind healthy, resisting diseases and prolonging life, and developing potential.

There are many types of Qigong, which can be mainly divided into dynamic Qigong and static Qigong. Dynamic Qigong refers to Qigong that focuses on physical activities. For example, Daoyin School focuses on dynamic Qigong, and its characteristic is that it emphasizes body operations combined with mind and Qi. Quiet Gong refers to Qigong that does not move the body and relies only on consciousness and self-control of breathing. Most Qigong methods alternate between movement and stillness. In religion, Taoist priests often practice Daoyin and inner alchemy qigong. Meditation and meditation in Buddhism also include qigong.

Qigong is often practiced in conjunction with martial arts or meditation. Hua Tuo, a famous doctor in the Han Dynasty, created the Wu Qin Xi Gong method and spread it to later generations.

The development history of Qigong

The birthplace of Qigong is China. Qigong has a long history in China. In ancient times, the content of qigong was usually divided into breathing, moving qi, spreading qi, convincing qi, guiding, refining alchemy, cultivating Taoism, sitting in meditation, etc. Classical Chinese Qigong theory is based on the theory of health and fitness of traditional Chinese medicine and has been circulating since ancient times. A part of the original Qigong is called "Dance". As mentioned in "Lu Shi Chun Qiu", "the muscles and bones are shrinking and not reaching, so it is used as dance to promote it". The Heart Method of Qigong - Tai Chi Qigong Heart Method_

The Heart Method of Qigong - Tai Chi Qigong Heart Method_

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, part of Qigong was summarized in the "Daoyin Shit". The traditional Chinese medicine treatise "Huangdi Neijing" records the cultivation methods of "grasping the heaven and earth, grasping the yin and yang, breathing the essence, guarding the mind independently, keeping the muscles together", "accumulating the essence and concentrating the mind", and "the spirit does not scatter". "Laozi" mentions the breathing and breathing technique of "hush" or "blow". "Zhuangzi" also says: boasting about breathing, spitting out the old and hearing the new, the bear's meridian and the bird's stretching, just for longevity. This is a record of a person who guides people, a person who cultivates the body, and is the favorite of Peng Zushou examiner. Among the cultural relics unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb in Changsha, Hunan are the silk book "Que Gu Shi Qi Pian" and the color silk painting "Guide Picture". "Que Gu Shi Qi Pian" is a work that mainly introduces breathing and breathing methods. "Guidance Map" can be called the earliest Qigong atlas, with 44 images drawn in it, which is a portrayal of ancient people's use of Qigong to prevent and treat diseases.

Basic classification of Qigong

Hard Qigong

In Chinese martial arts, it is often practiced while sitting and standing. It mainly tightens the muscles of the whole body to Consciously control each group of voluntary muscles and semi-voluntary muscles, and the Qi needs to sink to the Dantian area (see concept? Acupoints?). The modern term is abdominal breathing. Pull down the diaphragm as much as possible, tighten the lowest part of the abdominal muscles, and I felt the energy in my body sinking to my Dantian.

Inner Qigong

Buddhism’s sitting meditation and Taoist health-preserving exercises (and modern soft exercise) all fall into this category. No need to tighten muscles. Focus your mind on breathing deeply and without distraction. The slow Tai Chi style and the introductory boxing of Wing Chun of the Chinese martial arts Nan Quan sect, Xiao Niang, fall into this category. Soft Qigong can strengthen the lungs without consuming a lot of physical energy. It can also exercise various muscles, including the semi-voluntary muscles inside the human body, and move (passively) the internal organs of the human body.

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The basic elements of Qigong

The word "Tuna" often appears A term for breathing in traditional health-preserving methods such as meditation and qigong, it is a method of adjusting breathing, in which "exhalation" is interpreted as exhalation, release, and assimilation; "na" is interpreted as inhalation, absorption, and restraint; press Each school is subdivided into practice methods based on speed, depth, frequency, intentionality, unintentional and other methods. It is a compulsory course for introductory Qigong. The breath in Qigong refers not only to breathing, but also to a deeper level. It is a way for humans to blend and communicate with nature, and it can be understood as a way for the biological magnetic field to synchronize with the cosmic magnetic field.

Thinking

Thinking is a way to adjust the mind. Imagine a scene and keep it, and train yourself in the process of integrating and feeling this state. It is a way to strengthen your mental power, and it is also a way to calm your mood before meditating, sitting in meditation, and practicing Qi.

Shape adjustment

? Shape adjustment? It can be understood as a benign adjustment of the body through a systematic method. It uses certain movements and consciousness to guide the muscles, organs, and blood vessels in the body. , biological energy moves according to certain rules and is mainly divided into two categories: movement and stillness. It is one of the necessary courses for introductory Qigong.

Qigong health maintenance

Qigong health maintenance is an exercise method to achieve health care, disease prevention and treatment through conscious self-physical and mental adjustment. Before learning Qigong for health preservation, you must first understand and master the taboos of Qigong for health preservation, so that you can achieve twice the result with half the effort in future practice. [1]

1. Avoid false thoughts and behaviors.

Qigong pays attention to the practice of true energy, and false thoughts and behaviors are taboo. Therefore, when learning Qigong to maintain health, you must first learn to be a real person and tell the truth. Only those who are sincere and sincere can practice "True Qi".

2. Avoid greed

Greed is the disaster of the six impure roots. During the practice, you must avoid greed. If you are greedy, your mind will be unclean, which will cause a lot of trouble and prevent you from entering the state of practice.

3. Avoid being impatient

Many diseases of the human body are caused by emotions. The reason is that people’s emotions can affect the normal physiological functions of the human body. Once the functions are imbalanced, they will Cause disease. Therefore, those who practice Qigong should maintain a peaceful mind and should not get angry, otherwise the practice will fall short.

4. Avoid boasting

Practitioners should avoid boasting and leave room for self-speech and deeds. This should not interfere with their own practice and cause adverse consequences.

5. Avoid having sex too frequently

Only when the human body's essence, qi, and spirit are strong can the body be kept healthy. If there is no abstinence in life, it will inevitably damage the essence and cause insufficient kidney qi. Therefore, It is advisable to reduce sexual intercourse when practicing Qigong.

How to practice Qigong

Is it suitable for patients with high blood pressure to practice Qigong?_

1. Practicing posture: mainly sitting flat, with a stool and a chair A soft cushion can be added to the stool, and the seat surface of the stool must be at the same height as the calf; sit with 1/2-1/3 of the buttocks on the stool surface, with the feet parallel, the soles of the feet touching the ground, and perpendicular to the calves, the calves perpendicular to the thighs, and the thighs to The upper body is vertical; the distance between the knees is two fists wide, the palms of the two hands naturally cover the thighs, the shoulders are loose, the chest is lifted up, the top of the head is like hanging, the lower jaw is slightly retracted, the tongue is against the roof of the mouth, the mouth and eyes are lightly closed, and the eyes are looking inward. Listen to your breathing. If you are used to sitting cross-legged, you can also sit cross-legged. When the practice is proficient, you can stand, lie down, sit, or walk.

2. Breathing and thoughts: The breathing method of this therapy is to inhale and exhale through the nose. In the early stages of practicing, you only need to focus on exhaling, making it as deep, long, thin, and even as possible. When inhaling, just let it happen naturally without any thoughts. As your practice progresses, your breathing and thoughts must be adjusted appropriately.

3. End the exercise: Before each exercise, relax your mind, rub your palms against each other until it is hot, and massage your face as if washing your face for several weeks. After the spirit returns to normal, slowly get up and move around.

Introduction to Qigong

Qigong practitioners are natural. Use your own tranquility to conform to the tranquility of heaven and earth.

What people see is Yang.

Qigong, tranquility, is the embodiment of yin.

Qigong practice is like the flow of water. Don’t flow high, just follow the low. And silence is the magic weapon to connect to the natural magnetic field.

When practicing Qigong, you only practice one breath. This tone is exactly the cosmic magnetic field explored by modern science. Whether it is electromagnetic waves, the earth's magnetic field, gravity or pyramid energy, they are all manifestations of Yin. Using your own natural relaxation to connect to the magnetic field of the universe is the secret of Qigong.

Application

Therapy

Including psychotherapy, but it is different from psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy generally refers to doctors using language, expressions, postures, attitudes, etc. to reason with and suggest treatments to patients in an awakened state; or use some special induction methods to cause patients to induce a hypnotic state that is superficially similar to sleep. , and then perform suggestion therapy on the patient under hypnosis. Therefore, the patient is always passive. The characteristic of Qigong therapy is to give full play to the patient's subjective initiative. Under the guidance of a doctor, the patient can strengthen his self-control ability through self-exercise and achieve results.

Relationship with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Qigong is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. In the Huangdi Neijing, my country's earliest existing medical classic, written more than 2,000 years ago, the methods, theories and therapeutic effects of Qigong exercises are recorded. Among the eighty-one articles in "Suwen", more than a dozen directly or indirectly talk about Qigong. It can be seen that before the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Qigong had become an important medical and health care method.

Judging from the history of the development of traditional Chinese medicine, doctors of all generations in our country have attached great importance to Qigong. Not only are Qigong discussed in books, but many famous doctors themselves are Qigong practitioners. For example, Zhang Zhongjing, a famous doctor in the Han Dynasty, said in his famous book "Synopsis of the Golden Chamber": "When the limbs feel heavy and sluggish, they should induce vomiting and use acupuncture and ointment to prevent the nine orifices from being blocked." What is referred to here as "Daoyin Tuna" is a method of Qigong. The famous "Five Animals Play" is said to have been created by Hua Tuo, a famous doctor in the Han Dynasty. It is still loved by qigong enthusiasts today. Later, "Baopuzi" was written by Ge Hong in the Jin Dynasty, "Nourishing Nature and Prolonging Life" written by Tao Hongjing in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, "Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases" written by Chao Yuanfang in the Sui Dynasty, and "A Thousand Gold Prescriptions for Emergency" written by Sun Simiao in the Tang Dynasty. There are discussions on qigong in "The Secret of Waitai" written by Wang Tao, "Sheng Ji Zong Lu" of the Song Dynasty, and the works of the four great masters of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Li Shizhen, a famous medical scientist in the Ming Dynasty, pointed out in "A Study of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians": "The inner tunnel can only be observed by those who return." It means that during the process of practicing certain static exercises, the changes in the meridians of the human body can be detected. Ye Tianshi and Wu Jutong, both famous febrile disease experts in the Qing Dynasty, both practiced and discussed Qigong. Zhang Xichun, a famous doctor in modern times, also has a chapter dedicated to Qigong in "Medicine Zhongzhongshenxilu", and points out that those who study medicine should participate in meditation. From the relationship between the famous doctors and treatises mentioned above and Qigong, we can see that Qigong has a long history of health preservation, and it can also be seen that Qigong plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine.

Qigong, as a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, is theoretically mainly based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. The theories of yin and yang, five elements, zang-fu, meridians, essence, qi, and spirit are also used as guidance in the creation of exercises and qigong exercises. ; The understanding of the effects of qigong exercise and the mechanism of qigong has so far been mainly explained by the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Of course, since ancient times, the practice of Qigong has not only been exclusive to medical practitioners. Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and martial arts have each formed their own understanding of Qigong in their different practices, which also forms part of Qigong theory.

The results of qigong practice have also provided new content for traditional Chinese medicine. For example, the Ming Dynasty medical scientists Li Shizhen and Zhang Jingyue have systematically elucidated the eight extraordinary meridians and the Dantian Mingmen theory, to a large extent. Based on Qigong practice. Qigong emphasizes the use of thoughts, which is a supplement and development to the theory of regulating the mind and emotions of traditional Chinese medicine. Mastering the characteristics of qigong's simultaneous practice of mind and body will help to deeply understand the overall view of "the unity of form and spirit" and "the unity of nature and man" in traditional Chinese medicine. The discussion of the mechanism of qigong will also be beneficial to the "qi transformation theory" of traditional Chinese medicine. In-depth understanding of the theory of "Essence, Qi and Shen" and the psychological correlation between Zang and Fu organs. Discovering and sorting out the combined application of Qigong and medicine, traditional treatment methods such as Qigong acupuncture and Qigong massage can also improve clinical efficacy and open up new treatment avenues.

Similarities

Qigong and physical exercise are both human self-body and mind exercise methods, and both have fitness effects. Qigong, especially Qigong, is also a special kind of physical exercise. If the special requirements for thoughts and breathing are removed, it is no different from gymnastics in physical exercise, except that the movements are gentle and slow. Physical exercise also includes corresponding content in three aspects: "body adjustment", "breath adjustment", and "mind adjustment". For example, "body adjustment" is originally the main content of physical exercise, and the adjustment of breathing is also very important for physical exercise, just like long-distance runners must coordinate their breathing with their steps. The correct breathing method is the guarantee for adjusting the body to achieve a perfect state. Physical exercise also attaches great importance to the influence of psychological state. The competitive performance of almost all sports is related to the mental stability of athletes, but the degree of impact is different. For example, in shooting and archery, any fluctuation in mood may greatly affect the performance.

Martial arts in traditional sports are inseparable from Qigong. The so-called "training the muscles, bones and skin externally, practicing one breath internally" refers to the combination of martial arts and qigong. With the development of martial arts to this day, the most eye-catching thing is its fitness and therapeutic effect combined with Qigong. Many exercises in traditional Qigong, such as Wu Qin Xi and Ba Duan Jin, are often included in physical exercise.

Differences

1. Physical exercise focuses on body adjustment, that is, physical exercise. The purpose of breath adjustment is to obtain sufficient energy during intense physical exercise. Oxygen is supplied and carbon dioxide is continuously removed from the body to ensure that the energy consumed by the brain and muscles can be replenished in time, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of sports competitions.

That is to say, its purpose is to make full use of physical exercise. And "aligning the heart" is also to ensure the perfect performance of the body. Qigong is different from this. Among the three elements of Qigong, "mind adjustment" plays a decisive and leading role. "Body adjustment" is only an important condition for smooth mind adjustment and breath adjustment. "Bath adjustment" helps to relax the body posture. and mental tranquility. The three are organically combined to gradually achieve a state of tranquility through Qigong. Under the guidance of consciousness, the body's internal functions are self-adjusted and exercised, and its own physiological state is changed through special psychological processes to achieve the purpose of curing diseases and strengthening the body.

2. Compared with physical exercise, Qigong places more emphasis on the impact of people's psychological state on human health, and emphasizes on adjusting one's own physiological activities through active self-spiritual activities. Qigong mobilizes and cultivates the physiological potential of the human body in a quiet state, which plays a role in strengthening the body and curing diseases.

3. Qigong exercise is a breath-requiring exercise performed in the quiet state of Qigong. It requires coordinated movement of the whole body on the basis of maintaining relaxation and naturalness, breathing softly and slowly, and increasing oxygen consumption. Lower, the heart rate slows down, the blood pressure decreases, and the overall physical fitness is improved; this is the same as general physical exercise, which speeds up breathing, increases oxygen consumption, speeds up the heart rate, and increases blood pressure, thereby accelerating the metabolism of certain parts of the body and making the body shape according to specific There is a big difference between the requirements for perfect development and so on. It is a traditional skill unique to our country.