qui gong

[cbraves85]

I know what it is but could someone explain it to me in some depth?

[David]

Breathing and visualisation as a catalyst for active relaxation, leading to toning, strength and increased vitality.

I'll use a metaphor for this active relaxation because it's not what you might think. Take someone with long hair who never brushes it. Before long it has knots and dreadlocks in it, yes? Well, that's what all your muscles are like throughout your entire body.

Qigong is the "100 brushes per day" formula for your muscles. Now, when you use your muscles, pretend that it's like combing your fingers through that hair. You are constantly fouled up in the knotted hair whilst the 100 brushes (tm) hair is smooth, fast and gives you access to your complete power.

It goes further than loosening up, warmups and stretching because your awareness is involved and, well there's no excaping it, the Chinese meridian method means that you'll be working on health and vitality in deeper ways.

There are many kinds of practice for many outcomes.

What's your story/reason for asking?

Rgds,
David

[Mike Flanagan]

Most (but not all) qi gong practitioners consider it to be a method of strengthening and appropriately channelling your 'qi', ie. internal energy. There are many different forms of qi gong. Most are directed at improving and maintaining health, are few are directed at martial effectiveness in different ways.

Whatever your views regarding qi I believe that many qi gong exercises are good for you as well in anatomical, physiological and psychological ways.

Mike

[sindo]

I have pasted an explanation of Inner Energy from our website which you may find helpful (Sindo Methodology page):

Initially, through breathing, fresh oxygen is consumed and delivered to all the different inner muscles of the body including the entire nervous system. Oxygen is used via the breathing system to neutralise abnormal chemical reactions triggered by the nerves within the body. The student is able to use the technique to overcome shock or surprise from unexpected or undesirable situations. This method is also used to control anger, emotion, or mis-interpretation. Gradually the nervous system and the inner muscles get stronger enabling the Inner Energy to develop. With the help of focusing the mind, one can use the breathing system to increase Inner Energy.
As the Inner Energy and inner muscles get stronger, automatically the organs such as the heart, kidney and liver function more efficiently. This means that if someone has a heart problem (non-disease related), the problem will invariably be cured by using the breathing system taught by SINDO Self Defence. Due to the entire nervous system being strengthened, the 5 senses of the human body are enhanced which results in added sharpness including eyesight.
Inner Energy enables the body to contract the inner muscles, which can effectively prevent vibrations penetrating to the delicate organs of the body. This is why men or women, young or old who practice this system can protect themselves if their body is hit.