“Qi Gong is a way of being. Being soft, yet strong. Qi Gong is a way of breathing. Breathing deeply, yet calmly. Qi Gong is a way of standing. Alert, yet relaxed”.

What is actually Qigong? Qigong is an ancient Chinese breathing energy practice consisting of slow gentle movements and meditation. In the traditional Chinese medicine “Qi” means “life energy” or “vital energy”. It can be described as “life force”. “Qi” is also defined as “breath, air, light, electromagnetic energy”. “Gong” in its traditional meaning is “work, practice, skills, mastery, achievement, accomplishment”.

“Qi” and “Gong” in combination define the system of balancing, cultivating life energy, fostering health and wellbeing.

There are different types of Qigong, and I am teaching Health Qi Gong that is meant for healing, maintaining inner balance and inner peace, strengthening immune system. Qigong also has roots in the Chinese martial arts and is used to foster resilience and inner strength.

When practicing Qigong, through deep breathing and gentle movements we let our energy flow in its natural harmonious rhythm, through our meridians – energy channels. Stress, unexpected life challenges, traumas sometimes significantly affect our physical and mental health, and our energy field. When we may feel tension in our body, experience headaches, frequent fatigue, mood changes – this all is affected by the body and mind disbalances.

Qigong helps bring the balance back by activating, awakening our natural energy flow, by letting the stored energy flow. Qigong is also called meditation in motion. When practicing Qigong, we are breathing in healing, restorative life into us, and breathing out, letting it go. Thus, creating a healthy circle of the natural flow.

Qigong could be also called holistic healing. Through deep breathing and meditative movements, we are reuniting with our body, bringing it health and nourishment. Massaging our organs, restoring the inner system of our physical body, renewing our cells. It is a gentle restoration.

Qigong brings health to our mind, by calming down the nervous system and switching off the reactive power within us, the monkey mind. It helps foster and develop the ability to pause in the moments when it is necessary, creating the pause between the stimulus and response. The pause which we all need so much during a busy day.

The third and, in my opinion, most important component of the Qigong holistic healing is unleashing the power of our inner spirit. Qigong, in some way influenced by the Chinese martial arts, helps develop resilience and awaken our inner strength. Qigong is also called a nonfighting way of winning. We are winning not in the moment when we are beating our opponent, but in the moment when we know their presence, when we become aware. Practicing Qigong helps staying alert and present, having more clarity and understanding of yourself, of the situation, of the other person. It develops the ability to stay within in the stormy weather and be open to life. It is about becoming a strong human.

Qigong is an ancient healing art. It is beautiful, slow and gentle, it has its own uniqueness and its own treasure, like any other ancient health practices. It can be complementary to the other type of therapy, or can be its own powerful therapy by itself.

I am inviting you to give yourself time to pause, breath and move where you are willing to.