Qigong Video Resources

The Healing Power of Qigong

QiGong, pronounced "Chee kung," is a 4000-year-old conscious movement practice traditionally used throughout Asia for health maintenance, healing, and longevity. This ancient practice, known for its healing power of Qigong, promotes relaxation, reduces stress through effective stress relief techniques by lowering cortisol levels, increases blood and lymphatic flow, and enhances oxygenation of blood.

The movements in Qigong exercises are performed mindfully and slowly, allowing the practitioner to cultivate awareness and align with the greater cycle of Life. Each practice involves movements that expand and contract, reconnecting consciousness with its natural rhythms. The origin of the characters for yin and yang comes from the concept of the sunny and shady sides of a hill.

Yin/Yang symbolizes the polarities of nature within the natural rhythms of the Universe. Yin is linked to the earth, darkness, receptivity, and absorption, while Yang is associated with heaven, light, activity, and penetration. Yin movements return to the center, condensing energy, whereas Yang movements expand outward.

Research has demonstrated that the healing power of Qigong fosters resilience, autonomy, competence, relatedness, well-being, health, and self-efficacy. Incorporating Qigong as a complementary practice has shown to benefit individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, CFS, arthritis, pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and cancer, ultimately improving Quality of Life (QOL), reducing chemotherapy side effects, enhancing self-efficacy, and promoting better overall health.

During Qigong practice, you might feel warmth in your hands or in areas like your belly, heart, feet, or the top of your head. This sensation is normal and indicates that your Qi is moving. If you feel lightheaded, it's advisable to pause or perform the movements while seated on a bench or chair.

I have sequenced the practices below to build upon each other. While you can certainly practice them individually, following the sequence will create a powerful calling of your destiny in this order: Spreading the Waters; Te (Empowering); Falling Leaves; The Greeting; Carry Tiger/Phoenix Rising; Heaven Slicing; Iron Bridge.

For relaxation, Spreading the Waters or Falling Leaves are excellent choices.

Woman practicing Tai Chi in a green park.

Spreading the Waters

Spreading the Waters harnesses the healing power of Qigong to quiet fear and anxiety, while promoting peace and calm equanimity. This practice aligns with the Chinese element Water, which supports the Kidneys and Bladder, and addresses the emotions of fear and anxiety through Qigong exercises. As a form of moving meditation, it serves as an effective stress relief technique.

"De" Inner Power Qigong Exercise

"De" suggests Integrity, Inner Power, & Strength. This moving meditation exercise transitions from the Yin stance of ambiguity & uncertainty into the Yang stance of clarity, decision, & empowerment. Utilize these Qigong exercises to build confidence and strengthen your Qi, harnessing the healing power of Qigong as a valuable tool for stress relief techniques focused on the Heart (Fire element) & Lung (Metal element) systems.

Falling Leaves Qigong

The Falling Leaves Qigong practice harnesses the healing power of Qigong, making it an excellent method for letting go, managing transitions, and processing grief. Autumn is an ideal season for these Qigong exercises, as it aligns with the Chinese element Metal, which connects to the Lungs and Large Intestine, emphasizing sorting, grief, and the act of letting go. Incorporating this moving meditation into your routine can also serve as effective stress relief techniques.

Shadow Work: "The Greeting"

This practice utilizes the healing power of Qigong, focusing on the Wood element (Liver/Gallbladder - Anger) and the Earth element (Stomach/Spleen - Worry). It serves as an effective moving meditation that connects with anger as a positive, necessary energy, helping to transition out of the stagnation of depression and promote clarity. This approach brings to light what has been relegated to the unconscious and encourages action, effectively utilizing Qigong exercises to break the spell of trauma-induced paralysis (flight/freeze/collapse) and offering valuable stress relief techniques.

Carry Tiger to the Mountain & Phoenix Rising

A letting go, processing grief & trauma 2 part practice, Carry Tiger to the Mountain & Phoenix Rising are performed as a set, utilizing the healing power of Qigong. This moving meditation aligns with the Chinese elements of Metal (Lungs & Large Intestine/Grief), Fire (Heart & Small Intestine/Joy), and Earth (Stomach & Spleen/Worry). These Qigong exercises serve as effective stress relief techniques.

Heaven Slicing: Release Stagnation, Move through Anger

The Taoist Qigong practice focusing on the Wood Element, which relates to the Liver and Gallbladder, emphasizes the healing power of Qigong in addressing emotions like anger, expression, and creativity. This moving meditation is particularly effective for gaining clarity around boundaries and releasing pent-up anger. Additionally, these Qigong exercises help to cut through stagnation and feelings of being stuck. To enhance the benefits of this practice, it is advisable to prepare and conclude with three repetitions of Spreading the Waters, a technique recognized as one of the effective stress relief techniques.

Iron Bridge Destiny Practice

Iron Bridge Qigong engages the healing power of Qigong by connecting with Earth (stomach/spleen), Metal (lungs/large intestine), and Fire (heart/small intestine) energies. Through this moving meditation, the practitioner creates one half of a bridge, symbolically calling their future toward them. Behind the practitioner, envision their ancestors, whose own bridges culminated in the practitioner's present existence. As part of this practice, the practitioner casts their own seed and destiny into the future, utilizing Qigong exercises as effective stress relief techniques.