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The Best Qi Gong System for You.
There are many different Qi Gong systems. These systems can be vastly different in their practice methods and in their goals. It would be false to assume that one Qi Gong system is the best for everyone. Instead it is up to you to find a system that best suits your needs and gaols.
The first thing you should think about is what you want to get out of your Qi Gong practice. You should choose a system that will give you what it is that you want.
You should clearly define what is that wish to gain, how much time you have to devote per day, and what types of practice you are interested.
While many Qi Gong systems have the goal of enhancing your overall health there are also many systems that are for developing specific skills or reaching specific goals. An example would be Iron Body Qi Gong. These types of systems are designed to increase the body’s ability to withstand blows. This is great training for people interested in martial arts but might not be for everyone. There are also other systems are geared more to enhancing or strengthening a specific organ system. These systems are great if you have an imbalance that needs to be addressed or an underlying health issue that would benefit from this type of training. The most important thing is to be clear about what it is that you want and know what it is that you can expect from your practice.
The next thing to think about is how much time per day you have to devote to your practice. Some practices take only a few minutes to go through while others can take several hours or more. If you’re very busy it would be unrealistic to choose a system that does not fit into your daily schedule. You should also take into account that when first starting there is a certain enthusiasm that tends to fade with time. This means we should be realistic in assessing the motivation and the amount of time that are willing to devote to the practice. We might be enthusiastic about an hour and a half of practice per day for several weeks but then we might start finding excuses for why we cannot practice that day. It would be more realistic to find a system to practice in the beginning that takes less time. Then when we start to see results, the results and benefits will motivate us to continue.
The third thing to think about is what type of things we’re interested in. Not all Qi Gong systems are the same. If you find it boring to sit still for long periods of time then you should not choose a system that requires this. If you’re not able to move vigorously than a system that requires that will be unsuitable for you. You should choose something that you find interesting and fun to practice
If you choose a system that you enjoy practicing, fits into your daily schedule, and provides the benefits that you’re looking for then you have found the best Qi Gong system for you. Finding the best system for yourself is very important.
Qi Gong- Should you Mix and Match?
A common question that beginners have is, "Can I mix this Qi Gong movement with that Qi Gong movement from another system?" Because beginners are usually eager for results, this type of reasoning seems logical. They believe that by combining certain movements or even entire Qi Gong systems they can achieve the results that they want faster and easier. This type of thinking is incorrect and sometimes it can be damaging to the body. As a general rule you should not mix movements from different systems or even complete systems together.
Each Qi Gong system works with the body’s energy in a certain way. The movements of a set are designed to move the energy, to accomplish a certain goal, or achieve a certain result. Sometimes it can also be bad to practice just a certain movement of a Qi Gong set outside of the complete set.
Traditional sets are designed to be balanced and healthy. They should be seen as whole and complete things. They should not be seen as a Lego set which can be broken down and combined to build something new. To accomplish something like this would require a vast amount of knowledge and skill.
Of course people will argue that the Qi Gong sets that we have today had to have been created at some point by someone. This is true. But, many of the sets we have today have a very long history. This history includes refinements that have taken place over the generations both making the sets safer and more effective. This long history also gives lots of data pertaining to how these sets work and what results they produce.
Now some Qi Gong sets or movements can be practiced together without doing any damage to the body. The type of sets that are safe to practice alongside other sets usually contain milder practices or practices for general health maintenance. When two sets like this are practiced together in the same day they are not practiced back to back. Instead you allow some time between the sets for the body to normalize or "cool down", much in the same way you should cool down after any exercise as it allows the body to return to a normal state. This prevents the exercises from confusing your body or contradicting each other.
Qi Gong has a long history with a proven track record. Always practice safely and when in doubt seek advice and guidance from someone with the experience and knowledge to give it. Sometimes is is better not to try to reinvent the wheel.
Qi Gong- The Best Place to Practice
Qi Gong is a great addition to everybody’s daily routine because of the many benefits that only a couple minutes of practice can give. It doesn’t require any fancy equipment, special practice area, or a great deal of time.
The most ideal place to practice Qi Gong is outside in a natural setting. A place with plenty of fresh air and beautiful natural scenery is the most ideal but Qi Gong can also be practiced indoors or almost anywhere for that matter.
There are some general guidelines that make a place suitable or unsuitable for Qi Gong practice.
First the practice area should not be too hot or too cold. You can adjust your body’s reaction to the area by wearing appropriate clothing. If your practice area is colder then you should wear more clothes. If your practice area is warmer then you should wear less clothes. It is important that you never expose yourself to any draft. This means that a place that is windy is not appropriate for practicing Qi Gong. It also means that in warmer climates you should not practice without a shirt or expose your body to the wind.
Second your practice area should have plenty of fresh air. If you are outside it is good to practice in nature but you should try to be away from major sources of pollution such as industry or traffic. If you’re indoors you should have some windows open so that air can circulate but be careful not to expose yourself to a draft. Practicing in the city, while not ideal, can still be done in outside in parks or indoors.
Third you should practice in an area where you’re less likely to be disturbed. Qi Gong requires concentration. If you’re practicing indoors you might want to turn off the phone, use a room where there is less traffic, and let people know not to disturb you for a certain amount of time. If you’re practicing outside choose an area where people will be less likely to interrupt your practice.
With these simple guidelines you can find many places suitable for your Qi Gong practice.
Qi Gong is Not Complicated
A big myth about Qi Gong is that it is complicated. This just is not the case. In fact it is the complete opposite. Qi Gong is simple. If you find someone that is trying to promote Qi Gong as being complicated it is probably best to keep looking.
Qi Gong is based on nature. Ancient people observed nature. They noticed natural rhythms and patterns. These natural laws form the basis for the energy practices that we have today.
Ancient people noticed that flowing water does not get stagnant and dirty. They devised exercises that move the body and circulate the energy in the body imitating the flowing water they observed in nature. Other systems of exercise are based on the movements of different animals. A good example would be the Five Animal Frolics. Animals know how to keep themselves healthy. Just watch a cat stretch when it wakes up from a nap.
So why do some people promote Qi Gong as being complicated? I feel it is because they need to differentiate themselves- maybe from other teachers or maybe to differentiate their system from other systems. Sometimes this can be more about the business aspect of teaching Qi Gong then anything else.
Some of these teachers try to impress students with theories. Now the theory of Qi Gong can be very complicated and intricate but the practice always starts form the basics and works up. The practice is what gives the benefits. The theory is to guide you as you advance and continued practice helps you understand the theory.
Now there are systems that do have very complicated practice methods. These systems often contain forced practice methods. The more complicated and forceful the training methods means that there are more things that can go wrong with the training. This type of training needs careful guidance and supervision. Other then this type of system, many styles of Qi Gong can be easy to learn and safe to practice.
Remember, nature is simple. It is not contrived. Qi Gong should be the same.