{"id":2197,"date":"2018-02-13T20:24:36","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T20:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/?page_id=2197"},"modified":"2018-08-14T06:24:14","modified_gmt":"2018-08-14T06:24:14","slug":"what-is-qigong-meditation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/goodnights.rest\/meditation-for-better-sleep\/what-is-qigong-meditation\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Qigong Meditation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve known it for some time now: sleep is integral to our health. Over the years, numerous studies have shown the adverse effects<\/a> of sleep deprivation and poor-quality sleep on our mental faculties, physical abilities, and even our psychological state. Regular doses of ample shuteye<\/a>, it seems, deserve a place alongside our pillboxes and prescriptions.<\/p>\n

But what can you do when our body’s self-healing mechanism needs curing, too? Do you need more supplements<\/a> for that? While vitamins and supplements can help repair your sleep<\/a>, there are also several natural remedies<\/a> you can try. One of these is meditation, which has been shown to have restorative effects on both our minds and bodies. And when it comes to meditation techniques, Chinese tradition can teach us something about their use as a healing art.<\/p>\n

What is Qigong Meditation?<\/h2>\n

Qigong, <\/em>or qi gong\/chi gong, <\/em>is a system of practices centered around developing one’s overall well-being. Translated literally, “qigong” means “cultivation of life energy,” which points to its core philosophy: the qigong system aims to facilitate the flow of qi, <\/em>or life energy, within a practitioner’s body. In turn, this leads to a more balanced outlook, enhanced vitality, mental agility and resilience, and improved physical health.<\/p>\n

While meditation is an essential part of qigong, the system traditionally combines meditation practice with other techniques like gentle movement sequences, specific poses, and regulated breathing. Though qigong might share some meditation methods’ emphasis on correct posture or alignment, qigong stands apart with its equal attention to the notion of flow <\/em>as an essential aspect of balance and tranquility. <\/em>With qigong, stillness and movement are two sides of the same coin.<\/p>\n

Where Did Qigong Come From?<\/h2>\n

As with many ancient traditions, pinpointing qigong’s exact origins can be a difficult, if not impossible, task. Qigong weaves through the histories of many aspects of Chinese culture: traditional medicine; belief systems like Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism; and even social health policies championed by various iterations of the country’s government over the years.<\/p>\n

As such, there are many different strains of qigong. It resembled many Chinese martial arts in that there grew to be numerous “lineages” of qigong methods and philosophical schools which were often passed down from master to student. (This is also why you might hear of people practicing forms or techniques from a particular “school.”)<\/p>\n

Around the 1940s, however, the Chinese government started using routines for citizens’ “self-cultivation” and rehabilitation, and with this came a state-backed initiative to unify the disparate qigong practices into one standard system. The qigong that comes to us today, with its emphasis more on health and medicinal benefits rather than philosophy or spirituality, is heavily shaped by this history.<\/p>\n

This isn’t to say that qigong has been stripped of its philosophical or spiritual dimensions entirely. Many of the core principles that qigong carried over from Daoist and Buddhist philosophy endure in modern practice. Though practitioners no longer need to seek tutelage from, say, secretive masters or forego society to practice qigong in mountain hermitages, qigong still serves as more than just a set of exercises. As an example, today, qigong practices still anchor their purpose on the notion of qi <\/em>or life energy.<\/p>\n

What is Qi?<\/h2>\n

Qi <\/em>or chi <\/em>finds its roots in Daoist philosophy. Like the idea of the prana <\/em>in yoga, qi <\/em>is often correlated to the breath, but it signifies a lot more than just inhaling and exhaling. Qi <\/em>is also widely understood as energy, <\/em>and it refers to the vital energy or life force that permeates all of creation, including people.<\/p>\n

According to Chinese traditions, that energy circulates within each of our bodies through pathways called “meridians.” This circulation of qi<\/em> is responsible for the energy that infuses our limbs, our organs, our minds. Qi’s continuous and balanced flow along your internal pathways means good health and vitality; conversely, any blockages, stagnation, or disparities in concentration can bring pain, weakness, and illness.<\/p>\n

For practitioners, qigong<\/em>—including qigong <\/em>meditation—is a way to develop your qi <\/em>reserves and ensure that it flows well along your internal pathways. The idea is to keep the flow of energy within you strong, balanced, and steady—hence qigong’s emphasis on equanimity and relaxation. If you’ve ever suffered a cramp from keeping your fist clenched or your shoulders tensed, you know why qigong sees an inability to relax as one of the many factors that can crimp or impair your body’s normal functions.<\/p>\n

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What Are the Benefits of Qigong Meditation?<\/h2>\n

Many practitioners have credited qigong with bringing about remarkable improvements in their health and outlook. These benefits go beyond word-of-mouth, however, as scientific research over the years also indicates some merit to qigong’s storied medical effects:<\/p>\n