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The Ear in Qigong
Using the ear is an example of how even a 2-inch part of the body can be put to good use for healing. Western bodywork has something it calls ‘reflexology,’ such as what was called ‘nerve reflexes’ for the feet. This is based on an ancient and profound Chinese concept that each part reflects the…
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What is Qi?
The term Qi–pronounced ‘Chee’–in Qigong, is loosely translated in English as ‘Energy.’ This is sufficient for a general understanding of Qigong. At a deeper level, Energy is a very specific term in Physics. One of its hallmarks is that it diminishes over space. Research was done on long-distance transmission of Qi in the United States…
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Science & Qigong
Scientific research is enormously positive on Qigong. A great website to peruse is the Qigong Institute. This free resource was the brainchild of a scientific researcher who took up the practice of Qigong. You can scroll down the home page to find interesting research portals, such as Harvard Medical School. Or click the research tab…
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Mental Health & Chinese Medicine
Psychology and Psychiatry struggle for respect in the West. They are seen as less relevant and definitive as other professions and sciences. However the need for them has grown rapidly. This is seen even in the bastions of rationalist thought, our medical schools and halls of medicine. The statistics on student and clinician burnout are…
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Forms and Formlessness
Why do the same form every day? Could we relax into some type of liberation without all that fuss and bother? Answer: The point of doing a Qigong form is to enter a state of formlessness. Hallmarks of this may include losing a sense of time or space, forgetting oneself, or experiencing a wave of…
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What is the Gong in Qigong?
This is usually translated as Work or Cultivation. Some healers call themselves ‘energy workers.’ Cultivation is a common term for meditative, energetic exercises, one that is used in farming as an effective metaphor. To cultivate a plant is to plan, water, weed, prune, and then harvest. Cultivating Qi requires many aspects as well, a comprehensive…
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What is the ‘Q’ in Qi?
Why is Qigong spelled with a Q? Qi is pronounced ‘Chee’. English speakers often ask why it is spelled with a ‘Q.’ The enormous task of converting Chinese characters to alphabet was attempted by western missionaries in the 1800s. A system known as ‘Wade-Giles’ was popular in academia for a time, but it was far…
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How I got started in Qigong
I started learning Qigong in 1992–just after my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My first teacher, Chen Hui-Xian, was herself a cancer survivor who thrived on Qigong as part of her recovery. My father was enthusiastic for my practice; it was one of the few things he ever encouraged me to do. I was…
Qigong Meditation
Qigong with an experienced practitioner
Qigong Meditation 