How Qigong Can Heal You

I hope to translate into clear language, understandable to the mind that has been educated by western medicine, how qigong can greatly improve health.

Cardio Vascular System
The Western approach to heart health is to increase the strength of the heart as a pump by performing cardio vascular exercises including aerobics. The problem is if a person has problems with their heart, they have to be very careful when performing these types of exercises. Qigong uses a different approach, working to increase flexibility of veins, arteries, and capillaries in order to optimize microcirculation.
Qigong students learn to let go of tension by sinking their qi. This actually opens up the blood vessels so that blood pressure is lowered. Students learn how to feel this “sinking” and how to make it happen. They feel wetness inside and a heaviness and/or warmth in the hands and feet as their qi sinks. None of these activities require over-exertion of the heart or lungs.

Arthritis and Joint Pain
Qigong students learn how to pump their joints to increase synovial fluid. Proper body alignments are outlined and practiced. Pronated feet and inverted or extroverted knees are worked with to come into alignment.
Qigong works with hydraulics in the body to make sure your bursa and synovial sacs are properly aligned and functioning with fluidity.

Nervous System, Cognitive Decline (including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
Qigong works with alignments between the limbs and spine. Opening the body to efficiently get messages from the central nervous system to peripheral areas and back. The student learns how to activate the relaxation response (the parasympathetic nervous system) using breath and slow body movements. This puts the body into a healing state.
Completely relaxed arm swings are practiced with an awareness of the connection to the spine and the central nervous system. This can increase the flow of neurons that are so often interrupted in a disease like Parkinson’s.
There have been studies showing that there is an increase in brain size for those seniors who practice Tai Chi (the more complex martial aspect of qigong). https://www.nextavenue.org/tai-chi-new-weapon-battle-against-alzheimers/
Qigong trains the student in body awareness so that the skin, organs, and internal energy gates are all felt and worked with.

Overall Energy and Vitality
The student collects energy from the environment and stores it in the lower dantien (or personal battery below the navel).
Sinking the qi down from the head and chest area to the feet and under the feet helps increase overall strength.
To combat disease sinking qi is combined with dissolving blockages that the practitioner starts to feel within the body. Over time and consistent practice, the blocks are slowly reduced and often completely removed allowing for free flow of health-giving qi within the physical body.

Emotional Stability
Over time as qigong is practiced the student learns to truly relax and be in the moment. Leaving the churning of the mind behind can bring much needed energy into the body so that it is not drained by the brain.
Emotions can be viewed more objectively and with less attachment. Stuck emotional patterns can be recognized and released.

Spiritual Awareness
Slowing your breath and quieting your mind can help you discern the whisperings and leadings of the divine.
As you strengthen your whole physical, emotional and mental systems you can be a cleaner, clearer conduit for divinity to move through without causing burn out.
Qigong and Tai Chi moving meditation can help teach a practitioner how to flow with change and not balk and stumble so that serendipitous opportunities are not missed.

Athletic Ability and Sports
Qigong and Tai Chi help a person strengthen the body internally with qi so that movement is more efficient and effective in any sport.
The skill of listening to the body allows the athlete to know when to rest and when to push the limits.
Qigong, of course, is a great foundation for becoming excellent at martial arts.