ABOUT TCM, TAI CHI & QI GONG
Frequently
Asked Questions
FAQ about TCM, Acupuncture, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a history of thousands of years, is a unique and integrated theoretical system. Rich practical experience and good clinical results have made a great contribution to the Chinese peoples’ mental and physical health care. TCM is a summary of the Chinese peoples’ experience in their struggle against disease and the prevention of illness.
Over the past few decades, it has been attracting increasing attention from all over the world. The principles of TCM use Yin and Yang to connect the inner body and the natural environment to look at the human body as a holistic unit. The priority is to treat the cause and then the symptoms.
What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese exercise for health improvement, spiritual growth, disease prevention, healing assistance, and self defence. It involves slow, circular movements; mental concentration; breath control; relaxation; and meditation.
It has been proven that the practice of tai chi offers great health benefits, including improvements in circulation, metabolism, balance, flexibility, posture, mental focus, immune function, daily energy levels, organ function, emotional balance, self-awareness, and brain health.
Tai Chi is an exercise for all ages and all fitness levels. It is a sophisticated form of exercise that works on internal energy and manifests externally. It is a gift from the Chinese culture.
By Dr Aihan Kuhn
What is Qi Gong?
Qi Gong is a mental and physical practising skill that integrates the body, breath and mind together in a natural manner. It brings the body’s self-potential into being and enhances physical and mental health by bringing the human autonomic system to its optimum state.
‘Qi’, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is the most essential substance to constitute the human body and sustain its life activity. It is described as life energy and life force, and it is the most important function of the body. Without it we would not exist.
‘Gong’ means to work or exercise.
‘Qi Gong’ is energy work or energy exercise.
The word ‘Qi Gong’ is often misspelt because it sounds like ‘Chi Gong/Gung’.
What is Health Qi Gong?
Health Qi Gong is the predominant use of Chi, the body’s vital energy, and the softness of the art. Its origins date back over 700 years, some say even up to 1500 years.
There are many forms of Health Qi Gong to help us keep stronger, healthier and have mental tranquillity and composure.
We teach the following forms:
Medical Qi Gong
Strengthen Brain Qi Gong
Enhance Mental Health Tai Chi Qi Gong
Ba Duan Jin (8 Pieces Brocade)
Tai Chi Qi Gong ShiBaShi
Do Sun Qi Gong for Fabulous Abs
Fragrant Qi Gong (Xiang Gong)
Yi Jin Jing
What is Medical Xin Qi Gong?
Also known as Walking Qi Gong and Gou Lin Qi Gong, it is one type of Medical Qi Gong that forms part of the curriculum in every TCM university in China. Medical Xin Qi Gong is widely practised in China and around the world and it has helped thousands of cancer sufferers and people with serious mental and physical disease.
Medical Xin Qi Gong is exercise with the breath, movement, sounds and walking in a special way which enables the intake of more oxygen in order to strengthen the immune system, improve blood circulation and the flow of Qi. This reduces stagnation in the body (which can cause cancer cells) and balances the body’s inner environment. It also helps reduce the side effects from radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
How to practice Qi Gong & Tai Chi at home?
Qi Gong or Tai Chi needs to be practised every day. It is the same as taking medication every day but Qi Gong and Tai Chi are organic self-healing. It is safe and effective, especially if you are unable to go out.
Try to practice for 20 minutes every day and it will build up your mental and physical strength, as well as confidence. As you gain strength, aim to do 45 minutes each day.
Do:
Do what you can do.
Do it in a safe place.
Relax all joints.
Try to do it every day.
Can do it any time of day.
Do it with an empty mind.
Use the mind, not strength.
Move your body from the Dan Tian.
Breathing in and out from the Dan Tian.
Don’t:
Don’t force yourself to do a movement if you can’t do it.
Don’t do it with a full stomach.
Don’t do it when you are hungry.
Don’t do it near a draft or in rain.
Don’t do it in a rush.
Don’t think negative things.
Don’t talk.