Qigong, pronounced 'chee gong' and sometimes seen as Chi Kung or Chi Gong, is quickly gaining popularity in the west. Qigong's wide-ranging health benefits, both physical and mental, and the simplicity of the practice make it appealing to all ages and mobility levels.

What is Qigong? Qi translates as 'life force energy' and gong translates as 'work or effort.' Very simply it is the ancient Chinese art and science of cultivating life force energy or qi/chi through movement and visualization. When the qi is cultivated the acupuncture meridians become open and flowing thus creating health and well being. Qigong is sometimes called needleless acupuncture. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine when qi is either stagnant or deficient people get sick. When the meridians are open and the qi is flowing sickness and disease happen less and people live longer and healthier.

(ED: This is very similar to the purpose of practices such as Reiki)

Psychoneuroimmunology, a newly coined medical term, is the study of how the mind (psycho) and the body (neuro) affect the health or immune function (immunology). It is well known that the mind has amazing healing capabilities affecting the body. For example, when you smile your body instantly creates a powerful, healing, biochemical response and you physically feel different; and tears of joy or sorrow have a different biochemical makeup.

Imagine having a lifestyle practice that offers the benefits of psychoneuroimmunology for greater health and you have Qigong. I define Qigong as the art and science of cultivating your life force energy for physical, mental and spiritual health.

(ED: Claims are made it is not spiritual yet they talk about it leading to spiritual health?)

The art is how good you get at sending this natural biochemical healing drug/elixir through your body using your 'yi' or mind/intent. The science is the study of that biochemical elixir and how it flows through the body (acupuncture meridians).

Becky Kalinowski's healing story is one worth hearing because it is so typical of many people who 'find Qigong' and become dedicated to a personal practice. Becky was involved in a car accident resulting in chronic neck and back pain and fibromyalgia. Becky clearly remembers the "devastating fatigue" she had from the fibermyalgia and the lack of support she received. For the next four years she went through every conceivable western medical therapy available to her including a host of medical specialist, a well known pain clinic, chiropractic and physical therapy. Nothing helped.

One day after a particularly negative and depressing encounter with her doctor she went to a bookstore where a book nearly fell on her. She picked it up and decided to get it. It was The Root of Chinese Qigong by Yang, Jwing Ming. She read it all the way home, ordered his book and video on The Eight Brocades and taught herself the exercises.

Becky began learning Qigong alone in the northern woods of rural Embarrass, Minnesota. A true pioneering spirit with determination and dedication, she committed to practice the Eight Brocades everyday. She stated that gradually her level of energy increased and her pain levels decreased. The more she did the practice the more she benefited. If she stopped the practice the symptoms would come back. This kept her highly motivated to keep doing her Qigong.

I asked Becky what she noticed after one year of practice. She said, "I no longer suffered constant fatigue, my energy was restored and the chronic pain was no longer a problem. Not that it wasn't there, it just wasn't debilitating like it had been." Becky has now practiced Qigong for 31/2 years and "I feel fantastic! I have more energy than people twenty years younger! I have my life back." About the fibromyalgia Becky states, "Qigong effectively controls my symptoms. As long as I do my daily practice I don't deal with any symptoms. Sometimes that means I have to get up really early."

Part of an article written by Ellie Christianson, Vice President of the National Qigong Association.

Becky Kalinowski is the National Qigong Association, Administrative Director. If you wish to talk to her about Qigong or NQA programs, activities, or membership you may contact her at the National Qigong (Chi Kung) Association * USA.
phone: (218) 365-6330
email: info@nqa.org