Frequently Asked Questions About Chi Kung

Also called Qi Gong & "Chinese Yoga ®"

Traditional Chinese Medicine Exercise (TCM Exercise)

Choose a question to learn more about Chi Kung:

• What is Chi Kung?
• What are the health benefits of Chi Kung?
• Why is Chi Kung used for relaxation and stress management?
• Am I too old/young to learn Chi Kung?
• What equipment do I need to practice Chi Kung?
• Where does Chi Kung come from?
• Where should I begin when learning Chi Kung?
• Is Chi Kung easy?
• What happens after I've learned the set?
• How does Chi Kung compare to Tai Chi?

What is Chi Kung ( Qi Gong)?
Chi Kung (sometimes written "Qi Gong" or "Qigong"), is an invaluable component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Over 60 million people in China practice Chi Kung every day, making it the most popular health exercise in that country.

The important features and aims of Chi Kung are relaxation, quietness, naturalness, unity of breath and mind, gradual development and practicing to the individual's state of health. Chi Kung is ideal for practitioners of other modalities, to facilitate relaxation and energy in clinics.

What are the health benefits of practicing Chi Kung?
The learning and regular practice of Chi Kung can:

• Reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being through calming the mind and deepening the respiration,
• Improve digestion, respiration, cardio-vascular and nervous systems,
• Improve sleep quality and relieve fatigue,
• Improve health and resistance to illness,
• Strengthen the practitioner both physically and mentally.

Why is Chi Kung used for relaxation and stress management?
The "Three Essentials of Chi Kung" are posture, mind and breathing. Because of the emphasis on these essentials, relaxation benefits are most often felt in the very first lesson. Where gentle movement, attention to posture and the deepening of the breath leads, a calm mind follows.

Am I too old/young to learn Chi Kung?
There is no age limit with Chi Kung - both young and old can practice and gain health benefits from it. The beginning set of Chi Kung taught by the Institute (Taiji Chi Kung Shibashi) can even be performed while seated!

The Institute does do provide specially tailored classes to meet the needs of children in primary schools and older persons. As classes are conducted for the purpose of relaxation, it is not appropriate to have anyone in a public class who may cause distractions (such as young, noisy children).

What equipment do I need to practice Chi Kung?
As no sports equipment, uniform or special grounds are required, Chi Kung can be done at any time and in any place. All you need is a small amount of open space, some loose, comfortable clothing and some comfortable shoes.

Where does Chi Kung come from?
The term "Chi Kung" is an accepted English equivalent of the Chinese word "Qigong", where "Qi" ("Chi" or "Ki") means "breath" (as a conceptual term, this refers to the energy in the human body) and "gong" ("Kung") means "acheivement" or "skill" (the Chinese characters for this word are shown to the right).

Chi Kung's history dates back several thousand years. In the Zhen Dynasty (11th Century BC-771 BCE) records on Chi Kung were inscribed on bronze objects. In the Spring and Warring States Period (770 BCE-221 BCE) the "Jade Pendant Inscription on Chi Kung" recorded its training methods and theory. Other relics from the third century BC are the silk book "On Abandoning Food and Living On Chi" and a silk painting "Daoyin Illustrations", which illustrates training exercises. They were found at the Number Three Han Tomb at Mawangdui, Chang Sha, Hunan Province (dating 100 BCE).

The theory and practice of Chi Kung has continued to this day. In the past Chi Kung was referred to by various names, such as Tu-Na, Daoyin and Neigong. In 1953 Liu Guizheng from Beidaihe Chi Kung Hospital wrote and published "Practice on Chi Kung Therapy". This was the first time that Chi Kung was named formally.

Since the mid 1980's Chi Kung has regained popularity in China, to the point where it is now the most popular health exercise there. This is because it is a non-competitive exercise and it is suitable for all ages. In the mornings in China, people can be seen in parks and on roadsides absorbed in the practice of Chi Kung.

TCM Exercise - Traditional Chinese Medicine Exercise.

Today, most of the colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China encourage acupuncturists and their patients to practise Chi Kung in conjunction with their other treatments. TCM Exercise (Chi kung / Qi Gong) are easy exercise routine which improve health, build up Chi ( Qi) and cirulates it through the acupuncture meridians.

Where should I begin when learning Chi Kung?
Beginning students at the Tai Chi & Chi Kung Institute are taught the Taiji Chi Kung Shibashi in 18 Forms, a set designed to improve general health and wellbeing. We've found that this is a good place to start, because the set is simple to learn and provides health and relaxation benefits, usually from the very first lesson.

We believe that this set provides a good foundation for our students which they can build upon in our more advanced classes.

Is Chi Kung easy?
Yes! The Chi Kung movements are not physically hard on the body or strenuous, and while there are a few movements that the beginning student may find challenging at first, on the whole Chi Kung is easy to learn and requires less from the student in independent practice time.

This is reflected in our classes, where the emphasis is on relaxation and learning through practising the movements in sequence. Most of the lesson consisting of following the Instructor through the movements.

What happens after I've learned the set?
Once the set is learned, the student can continue to practice their Chi Kung for refinement and relaxation. With our emphasis being on health and medical Chi Kung, we offer a second set of Taiji Chi Kung Shibashi, along with a number of other health, wellbeing and medical sets:

• Da Yan (Wild Goose) Chi Kung - the old, traditional set,
• Goulin (Walking) Chi Kung,
• Dao Yin,
• Meridian Patting.

We also offer Shaolin and martial arts Chi Kung sets to advanced students:

• Yi Jin Jing,
• Ba Duan Jin,
• Static Chi Kung in 5 Forms,
• Chi Kung Ball Meditation,
• Yang Chi Kung.

In addition, the Institute also offers Tai Chi, which you can learn at the same time as Chi Kung if you wish.

How does Chi Kung compare to Tai Chi?

Chi Kung is much easier to learn & less complicated than Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is more challenging & requires regular hope practice between classes.

Chi Kung is a health exercise based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. It emphasises the flow of Chi through the acupuncture meridians and is excellent for calming the mind and regulating the breath. On the other hand, Tai Chi emphasises the natural movement of the joints and muscles and increases circulation and is excellent for improving the focus of the mind.

For the beginning student, Tai Chi forms and movements are more complicated than Chi Kung forms and movements, therefore requiring more effort to learn them. You will need time to practice, patience with yourself and perseverance.

The classes are structured quite differently. Chi Kung students are guided through the exercises by the Instructor, while Tai Chi classes place a greater emphasis on the student, who first watches the Instructor, practices the movement and then tries out the movement on their own.