The Benefits of Qigong Practice
Qigong is a thousands year old Chinese philosophy and practice of movement and meditation that, when practiced regularly, will give you 
tranquility of mind and spirit. Additional benefits of Qigong include improved performance in intellectual and creative endeavours and sports, better overall health and well-being, and extended longevity.
Here are some of the major benefits that can be yours with the regular practice of Qigong.
Benefits of Qigong #1 – Qigong is Easy to Learn
Qigong movements range from simple sets of movements which take only a few minutes of your time to longer routines that can take more than an hour to complete. How much time should you spend? It’s up to you. Beginners’ movements and routines are easy to perform and, because most routines are repetitive, are easy to remember.
Benefits of Qigong #2 – Qigong is Inexpensive to Learn and Practice
Due to the complexity of some Qigong routines, it’s best that you start your Qigong practice by taking a few classes taught by an experienced Qigong practitioner. Most instructors offer Qigong classes at reasonable rates.
Benefits of Qigong #3 – You Can Practice Qigong Aywhere
Qigong requires no equipment whatsoever and only very little space, so you can practice Qigong anywhere. Many Qigong teachers recommend that you practice outdoors so you can benefit from the fresh air and energies found in nature.
Benefits of Qigong #4 – The Practice of Qigong Develops Will Power, Concentration and Self Discipline
Like all new activities, the practice of Qigong may feel unfamiliar at first, but, with regular practice, your Qigong routines will become a habitual part of your life. You will soon find that by practicing Qigong regularly your overall sense of well-being will improve. This will further reinforce your desire to incorporate your Qigong practice as a normal part of your everyday life.
Benefits of Qigong #5 – Get Benefits of Qigong in Only Minutes a Day
You can get the benefits of qigong from practicing only a few minutes each day. There are hundreds of Qigong routines to choose from. Once you have learned some routines, you can select from those you know to suit your needs at any given time. If you only have a short amount of time available, you can practice for as little as 20 minutes a day and still reap the benefits of Qigong. On the other hand, if you have a particular objective in mind, and have the time, you can practice for several hours a day.
Benefits of Qigong #6 – Learn Visualization and Focused Intent
An additional benefit of Qigong is that when you learn Qigong, you also learn how to use visualization and focused intent to guide and circulate your chi or qi energy. The more that you practice, the easier you will find it to focus and concentrate your chi energy. You can use this new ability to focus and concentrate on any task or activity that is important to you.
Benefits of Qigong #7 – Qigong is More Than Physical Exercise
Qigong has a hidden advantage. Qigong is not only a form of exercise, it is also a form of meditation. More specifically, it has been shown that while you are practicing Qigong, your brainwaves function the same patterns as when meditating – and meditation yields tremendous benefits. While it’s not possible to provide an in-depth discussion about meditation and its benefits in this short article, the following brief overview explains a few of the benefits of meditation and how qigong enhances your ability to meditate.
The Benefits of Qigong Meditation
It is widely accepted that meditation is a great stress reliever. One of the reasons why meditation is so effective in reducing stress levels is that meditation has been shown to slow brain wave patterns. Brain waves are measured in cycles per second, or Hertz; (Hz). This is also referred to as the “frequency” of brain wave activity. The lower the number of Hz, the slower the brain wave activity.
Four major types of brain wave activity have been identified:
- Delta waves (below 4 hz) which occur during deep sleep
- Theta waves (4-7 hz) which are associated with light sleep, deep relaxation (such as that which occurs during hypnosis), and visualization
- Beta waves (13-38 hz) occur when we are actively thinking, problem-solving, and engaging in our normal daily activities.
- Alpha waves (8-13 hz) occur when we are relaxed and calm. The alpha brain wave state is ideal for reducing stress, learning, memory and the performance mental tasks. reducing stress, learning, memory and the performance mental tasks.
Meditation slows brain wave patterns until Alpha brainwaves are predominant. Meditation also increases the neural pathways connecting left and right brain hemispheres thereby increasing the communication between left and right brain and resulting in more “whole-brain functioning. This type of “whole brain” activity is associated with regular meditation has been shown to enhance creativity, intuition, and learning ability.
Benefits of Qigong #8 – Qigong Will Improve Your Sensory Abilities
It has been reported by many Qigong practitioners that one of the first things they notice after practicing Qigong for a few months is that their senses became more acute. They report an improved sense of smell, increased visual acuity, and hearing. Many Qigong masters are reported to have developed or improved their abilities as claivoyants, psychic and distance healers, and telepaths.When your qi (energy) is abundant, clear, and flowing, all your senses are more acute.
Benefits of Qigong #9 – Qigong Can Help You Connect With Spirit
Qigong is not typically considered a form of spiritual practice in and of itself. However, many individuals who regularly practice Qigong state that they benefit spiritually from practicing Qigong and that progress in their Qigong practice is often accompanied by a variety of spiritual experiences. For example, synchronicity, or meaningful coincidences, may become more common. Another frequent effect is said to be the experience of a sense of oneness with the universe.
Qigong Enhances Your Overall Health
Learning and regularly practicing Qigong will not only decrease your stress levels, improve your mental functioning and enhance your spirituality, it will enhance your health and your ability to deal with health challenges when they arise. Qigong embraces good health and the healthy functioning of the entire body. While it is true that Qigong may cure specific ills, this should not be the primary reason that you decide to learn and practice Qigong.
Benefits of Qigong #10 – Enhanced Metabolism
The skin, like the intestines, is an organ which assists with the elimination of toxins. According to Chinese medicine, as Qigong improves the flow of your chi or energy, your body will more efficiently eliminate toxins. Your whole metabolism will function more efficiently, with improvement in your digestion, clearer skin, brighter eyes and hair and nails which grow more quickly.
Benefits of Qigong #11 – Increased Energy, Sexual Vitality and Fertility
It has been shown that those individuals who regularly practice Qigong report that they have more energy feel and look more youthful overall. Many have also reported that their circulation seems to have improved and that they now have an internal warmth so that hands and feet that would typically be cold are now regularly warm.
Benefits of Qigong #12 – Greater Physiological Balance
The regular practice of Qigong will affect all your physiological systems, particularly those that may be imbalanced. This is particularly true of such physiological functions such as heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, hormone levels, basal metabolic rate and any chronic inflammation or depletion.
Benefits of Qigong #13 – Deeper, More Restorative Sleep
Regularly practicing Qigong will help you achieve the relaxation and mental quiet necessary for a deep and restful sleep.
Benefits of Qigong #14 – Qigong Promotes a Clear and Tranquil Mind
When your mind is at peace, your whole world seems at peace. You make better decisions and have the discernment to know when to act and when to be still. You are less flustered or thrown off balance when faced with hardships, frustrations and when things go wrong. The regular practice of Qigong helps you maintain your mental and spiritual equilibrium.
Conclusion
There is no doubt as to the multitude of health benefits you will get from the regular practice of Qigong. As with all things, however, the extent of the health benefits you experience will be determined by the amount of time you devote to your Qigong practice. The best place to start is to take a few lessons to make sure that you get started on the right foot. Then take what you have learned, practice everyday and get ready to reap the benefits.
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