What is qigong (氣功)?
Literally translated qi (氣) means breath or gas in Chinese. The Chinese character for gong (功) can be translated as completed work or an achieved level of expertise. Qigong thus can be translated as the art of working with qi. A more philosophical interpretation of the character qi (氣) is the energy that we retrieve from the air, circulates through our body and keeps us alive, whereas in scientific terms the word qi may be interpreted as the oxygen flow from the air into the body, its distribution into the tissues and the resulting energy through combustion of carbohydrates. However, there is more to it. Those who practice qigong for a long time or who are naturally sensitive will feel a sensation of warmth moving through their body like a wave. With continuing practice this wave can be controlled by the mind. Every living being has qi which is in communication with the qi of other living beings. Qigong aims at making this communication conscious and usable for the benefit of humans and their environment. At the same time qigong promotes the health of body, mind and soul.
There are various techniques used in qigong, some focus on controlled breathing, some on controlled movements, some on meditation and some Masters use a spiritual approach. In martial arts qigong techniques are used to make the body resistant and optimize the use of energy. Master Chen’s particular approach is described here.
