Qigong Exercises - Simple Vs Complex
Simple qigong (chi kung) exercises can have a surprising beneficial impact on your health and well-being.
Many controlled scientific studies have confirmed this, and the growing number of people practicing qigong exercises in parks and public spaces around the world attests to their effectiveness.
However, once you enter into conversation with some experienced practitioners, the subject of more complex, advanced exercises will inevitably arise.
It's very easy at this point to begin to feel that the simple exercises you've been enjoying are only 'kid's stuff', and fall short of the 'real thing'.
Let me assure you that this is really nothing more than a form of snobbery.
Simple qigong exercises are in their own way every bit as valuable and effective as the more complex, specialized techniques.
Even people who have practiced for decades (I myself began to learn simple qigong exercises over thirty years ago) still find great value in the simple qigong practices that are often taught to beginners.
There are a number of reasons for this: 1 They can be done anytime, anywhere without any special requirements.
2 They are generally very balanced and safe, avoiding the unnatural build-up of qi that some advanced "packing" and "storing" exercises can produce.
3 These simple exercises have infinite depth.
Their performance can always be improved in some way, producing continued and deepening health benefits.
4 Simple qigong exercises can usually be adapted to individual needs without any danger of violating principles and producing undesirable effects.
5 You don't need an in-person instructor for simple qigong exercises, whereas it is inadvisable to learn advanced, complex exercises without personal supervision by a well-qualified teacher.
Simple qigong exercises work on the principle that the 'qi' is intelligent and self-balancing.
Given the chance, the 'qi' will do the right thing, while too much interference using strong mental intent can cause disruptions of energy flow which can lead to health problems and even to emotional/psychological disturbances.
This is why having a personal instructor is so important if you want to go deeper into the world of advanced qigong practice.
Having someone to answer your questions and tell you when to stop or slow down is very important with the more specialized practices.
On the other hand, the basic principles which govern simple qigong exercises are universally applicable and common to other internal practices such as tai chi (taiji) bagau (pa kua) and xingyi (hsing-i): The suspended head-top, correct structural alignment, relaxation of the shoulders, filling-out of the lower back, breathing with the diaphragm, developing a feeling for the 'dantian' (body's center of gravity below the navel) and the sinking of the 'qi', minimizing of effort, avoiding over-extension or over-bending of the joints, the tongue sticking to the roof of the mouth, lengthening of the neck and the slight tucking in of the chin - all of these principles are equally applicable to all of the Chinese internal arts.
This means that you can do a great deal to prepare yourself for more advanced practices by internalizing and familiarizing yourself with these principles and you will quickly begin to feel the benefits as you start to apply them in your daily life.
Perhaps the best thing about simple qigong exercises is that they can be learned at no cost.
There is a wealth of good information now freely available on the internet that in the not-so-distant past would only have been accessible through secret and often expensive channels.
Until you have found an in-person instructor, you would be well advised to stick to simple qigong exercises that share these basic qigong principles in common with the established, tried-and-tested traditions.
Many controlled scientific studies have confirmed this, and the growing number of people practicing qigong exercises in parks and public spaces around the world attests to their effectiveness.
However, once you enter into conversation with some experienced practitioners, the subject of more complex, advanced exercises will inevitably arise.
It's very easy at this point to begin to feel that the simple exercises you've been enjoying are only 'kid's stuff', and fall short of the 'real thing'.
Let me assure you that this is really nothing more than a form of snobbery.
Simple qigong exercises are in their own way every bit as valuable and effective as the more complex, specialized techniques.
Even people who have practiced for decades (I myself began to learn simple qigong exercises over thirty years ago) still find great value in the simple qigong practices that are often taught to beginners.
There are a number of reasons for this: 1 They can be done anytime, anywhere without any special requirements.
2 They are generally very balanced and safe, avoiding the unnatural build-up of qi that some advanced "packing" and "storing" exercises can produce.
3 These simple exercises have infinite depth.
Their performance can always be improved in some way, producing continued and deepening health benefits.
4 Simple qigong exercises can usually be adapted to individual needs without any danger of violating principles and producing undesirable effects.
5 You don't need an in-person instructor for simple qigong exercises, whereas it is inadvisable to learn advanced, complex exercises without personal supervision by a well-qualified teacher.
Simple qigong exercises work on the principle that the 'qi' is intelligent and self-balancing.
Given the chance, the 'qi' will do the right thing, while too much interference using strong mental intent can cause disruptions of energy flow which can lead to health problems and even to emotional/psychological disturbances.
This is why having a personal instructor is so important if you want to go deeper into the world of advanced qigong practice.
Having someone to answer your questions and tell you when to stop or slow down is very important with the more specialized practices.
On the other hand, the basic principles which govern simple qigong exercises are universally applicable and common to other internal practices such as tai chi (taiji) bagau (pa kua) and xingyi (hsing-i): The suspended head-top, correct structural alignment, relaxation of the shoulders, filling-out of the lower back, breathing with the diaphragm, developing a feeling for the 'dantian' (body's center of gravity below the navel) and the sinking of the 'qi', minimizing of effort, avoiding over-extension or over-bending of the joints, the tongue sticking to the roof of the mouth, lengthening of the neck and the slight tucking in of the chin - all of these principles are equally applicable to all of the Chinese internal arts.
This means that you can do a great deal to prepare yourself for more advanced practices by internalizing and familiarizing yourself with these principles and you will quickly begin to feel the benefits as you start to apply them in your daily life.
Perhaps the best thing about simple qigong exercises is that they can be learned at no cost.
There is a wealth of good information now freely available on the internet that in the not-so-distant past would only have been accessible through secret and often expensive channels.
Until you have found an in-person instructor, you would be well advised to stick to simple qigong exercises that share these basic qigong principles in common with the established, tried-and-tested traditions.
