The run down
Chi gung, sometimes spelled qigong or chi kung, is an ancient Chinese meditative movement practice that purportedly promotes healing, heightened awareness, physical recovery, increased energy, and is also known to have some pretty potent anti-aging effects.
Its main tenet is that all life contains chi, which is literally translated as the "internal life energy". Practitioners of chi gung believe that by practicing certain movements, breathing, and visualization techniques they can dramatically influence their own health and well-being through circulation of chi energy. Some even believe that certain chi gung masters have border line mystical or metaphysical powers, but let's not dig too deeply into that...
What it can do for you
While there is little research done on the efficacy of chi gung in itself, the benefits of certain breathing and visualization techniques involved in chi gung have been found to be beneficial.
For example, the breathing and movement techniques involved have been shown to flush and the lymphatic system. Essentially, the lymphatic system is your body's waste system. Uniquely, it does not have its own circulatory pump, like the cardiovascular system has the heart. Instead, the lymphatic system relies on the body's muscular contractions and movement of the diaphragm in order to generate circulation.
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Basically what I am saying here is that, when done properly, one can literally detoxify your body simply by performing the specific movement and breathing techniques involved in chi gung practice.
My practice of chi gung
While there are several different types and styles of chi gung, the one I practice is called Zhan Zhuang. I practice this style because it was the first one I was exposed to, not because I find it any more beneficial than the others.
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This style is comprised of 8 basic movements and breathing techniques that can be performed at any time of the day. I tend to practice chi gung every morning immediately after I have zombie walked my way out of bed and into the shower.
The difference I feel in energy levels and overall well-being after I do chi gung is profound. It really makes me feel a lot more energized and focused for the entire day. I honestly would not start my day any other way.
I am not sure why it makes people feel so good. Maybe it is simply because they are circulating the night's toxins out of their lymphatic system. Maybe it is because they are releasing chi energy into the rest of their body. Regardless of the reason, chi gung has the power to make everyone feel fantastic!
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