Tai Chi/Qigong

Qigong, also known as "Chi Gong" and pronounced "Chee Gong", is a gentle movement of the body using breathing techniques and gentle movement to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate energy in the body. It is from the same family as Tai Chi and originated in China as a very popular practice to promote healing in the body, as it balances the physical and emotional systems.

Qigong is like a moving meditation which connects body, mind and spirit; flowing through the different poses helps to keep your breath moving, your mind present, and heightens awareness of your body. It is considered a form of self-healing energy work.

It is best practiced outside, near water and in the morning...the reason for this is it allows us to connect with the energy and rhythms of nature, and in the morning our energy is fresh and alive after a good night's sleep. Being near water really helps to get our bodies and minds in harmony with the flow of nature.

The central principle behind Qigong and Tai Chi is the concept of Yin and Yang. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yin and Yang are two energy systems used to describe opposite forces which exist in the world, such as light and dark; male and female; fire and water. The duality is thought of as complementary; for example Yin is female and represents the moon while Yang is male and represents the sun. One does not exist without the other - rather, in harmony with each other.

Qigong and Tai Chi help to balance the Yin and Yang in our bodies and promote a balanced flow of Qi (Chi) by helping the energy flow through the body along pathways called meridians. These meridians are the same meridians that Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on -there are twelve meridians associated with specific organs (i.e. stomach, spleen, lung, liver etc.).

If the flow of Qi is blocked or unbalanced at any point along a pathway, it is thought that you may become ill as it can cause dis-ease. Since the body has a natural intelligence and an ability to heal, when Qigong or Tai Chi is practiced the body will flow the Qi to wherever needs healing. It is very similar to acupuncture without the needles as it opens up our body’s meridians. The movements of Qigong stimulate the energy flow through these twelve meridians, bringing balance and harmony to the inner organs such as the spleen, liver, heart, lungs and kidneys.