Chi Kung is the world’s most popular form of exercise! Yes, it’s true, more people in the world on any given day will be doing Chi Kung than aerobics, jogging, cycling or any other exercise we commonly do in the United States. Millions of people in China do Chi Kung and Tai Chi as part of their regular daily health regimen.

When I first heard of Chi Kung, I thought it sounded strange and foreign, and I had no idea what it was. Little did I know that Chi Kung, along with its sister art Tai Chi, would change my life, providing me with a way of healing myself and with a lifelong practice to help me stay energized and healthy.  I’ve been practicing it since 1996 and find that the breathing and movements that seem so simple on the surface are deep and profound, teaching me something new about myself each day.

Below is a description of what Chi Kung is and how it relates to Tai Chi. I am delighted to introduce you to this wonderful, ancient art.

Chi Kung Is an Ancient Chinese art

•Oldest records date to a practitioner named Peng Zu in the reign of Emperor Yao in 2356 B.C. 

•There are records of a set of movements called The Five Animal Sports, which include movements of the tiger, deer, bear, ape and bird. (Yang Jwing Ming, Qigong Meditation, 8)

•Other styles and types developed over the centuries and millennia until there are thousands today.

Chi is energy

•Life energy that is in all living things, such as plants, animals, birds and humans.

•Energy in all of nature, in water, mountains, wind, earth and heaven.

Human chi

•Humans have some chi when they are born

•Draw in chi from the universe around them through food, air, water, sunlight.

•Can store chi and disperse it.

•Need to balance chi in order to be healthy and live a long life.

Chi Kung is “energy work”

•“Kung” means “work” or “benefits acquired through perseverance and practice.” (Cohen, 3)

•Chi Kung is the discipline of learning how to control and balance energy for a long, healthy life.

•Life skill--not just a set of prescribed exercises you do—progressive, long practice

Several Categories of Chi Kung

•Medical chi kung for treating illness

•Health maintenance chi kung for health and prevention of disease

•Meditative or spiritual chi kung for a clear mind, awareness and harmony

•Martial chi kung for fighting

Basic Chi Kung Practice

•Practicing and controlling breath

•Meditation, calming the mind and emotions

•Controlling flow of energy

•Posture

•Slow, gentle healing movement

•Balance and harmony (yin and yang)

•Healing visualization

Difference between Chi Kung and Tai Chi

Chi kung, dating back to 2356 B.C., is much older than Tai Chi, which probably dates back to some time in the 13th century A.D., about 3500 years later.  Tai Chi began as a martial practice built on the same principles of breath, energy work and movement that are so powerful in Chi Kung. In the 17th century A.D., a practitioner named Chen Wang-Ting created several martial forms of Tai Chi that he kept secret in his family for generations. Eventually, an outsider began revealing the practices to the world.

After the advent of firearms, Tai Chi began to transition toward being a health practice, which is its dominant use today, although the martial aspect is still practiced as well. Tai Chi is practiced with a specific series of sequential movements, and there are several styles. Classically, Chi Kung was practiced for some years before beginning Tai Chi training, in order to build the foundations of breath, energy, movement and meditation. Today, Chi Kung is part of many Tai Chi classes and millions of people around the world experience the healing benefits of these sister arts. 

Documented Benefits of Chi Kung

There is a large body of research that has been done in China on the health effects of the tai chi and chi kung (qigong). Western scientific research is also proliferating that reveals a great variety of beneficial physiological, social and psychological benefits. Some of these are summarized below:

•Improves posture

•Increases balance and coordination

•Increases flexibility, range of motion

•Improves respiration and circulation

•Enhances micro-circulation

•Stress relief, induces relaxation response

•Lowers stress hormones

•Improves flow of energy through straight spine

•Oxygenates the body

•Improves digestion

•Lowers blood pressure

•Enhances immune system function

•Balances brain hemisphere dominance, increasing balance of activity on each side of body.

•Raises awareness of the body and the way it functions

•Improves awareness of body position (proprioreception)

•Provides mental practice for recovery of physical function

•Increases physical strength

•Improves sleep

Emotional and spiritual benefits: The practice of Chi Kung has always included physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits. New Creation Body Prayer continues this tradition, providing an emotional and spiritual uplift through a Genesis Creation Story narrative. Acting out the creation of the earth, the sky and animals and birds inspires us with the beauty of Creation and helps us feel connected with all of life, no matter what its form; breathing fills us with the healing spirit of God. Emotional and spiritual benefits reinforce participation and practice and help incorporate practice as part of lifestyle and values.

Who can benefit?

¬If you can breathe, you can benefit.

¬If you can visualize, you can do the energy work.

¬Instructions and modeling for seated and standing

¬We provide assistance and instruction—Dr. Kirschner, RIC staff and research people, spouses, personal assistants, volunteers from RIC.

Documentation for various conditions

•Conditions with problems of balance and coordination

•Cardiorespiratory

•Elderly

•Arthritis

•Parkinson’s

•Stroke

•Multiple sclerosis

•Brain injury

•Much more

DVD Available

This is a 30-minute practice DVD by Anna York and group with seated and standing demonstrations.

E-mail anna@annayork.com or call 773-955-4961.

Books on Chi Kung

Chia, Mantak and Li, Juan. The Inner Structure of Tai Chi: Mastering the Classic Forms of Tai Chi Chi Kung. Destiny Books; Rochester, Vermont, 2005.

Chia, Mantak. Chi Self Massage: The Taoist Way of Rejuvenation. Healing Tao Books, Huntington, New York, 1986.

Cohen, Kenneth S. The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. Ballantine Books, New York, 1997.

Jahnke, Roger. The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi. McGraw Hill, New York, 2002.

Quarta, Cynthia. Tai Chi in a Chair. Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 2001.

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, Arthritis Relief: Chinese Qigong for Healing and Prevention, YMAA Publication Center, Boston, 1991.