Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
That said, theRed Thread International Instituterefers to qigong as the worlds oldest healthcare system.
Qigong is a mind-body practice that utilizes postures, coordinated breaths, and intention setting.
According to theNQA, the term qigong is made up of two words or concepts.
Theres qi, which means vital energy, and gong, which translates to skill cultivated through steady practice.
TCMs core theories and their practitioners believe that qi flows through the bodies of all living beings.
If this energy becomes stagnant or blocked, health problems may appear.
With improved qi flow may come better health overall.
Researchers have studied qigong and found that the ancient mind-body practice potentially offers many mind-body benefits.
Possible Health and Wellness Benefits of Qigong
1.
In addition, qigongs intentional breathwork may help lower blood pressure and stress levels.
In turn, it stimulates your bodys parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) response.
When your parasympathetic side kicks in, your heart rate and blood pressure decrease.
Areview and meta-analysisof randomized, controlled trials revealed that qigong can help relieve anxiety and stress in healthy people.
It found that in five of the nine studies, participants saw improvements in depression levels.
The remaining four studies observed no change in participants.
Those who saw improvements in depression generally practiced qigong at least twice a week.
By increasing movement, you increase circulation to facilitate healing, Bouguyon says.
Some guidelines support Bouguyons claims.
Qigong may help with chronic low back pain, too.
The other office workers were given general advice for managing low back pain.
The control group didnt experience changes within these parameters.
Research suggests that qigong may be an effective option.
These results are consistent with other research linking mindfulness, breathing, and yoga practices to stress reduction.
They found that qigong led to significant improvements in psychological and physiological symptoms related to cancer and cancer treatment.
They found evidence that practicing qigong may positively affect immune system function and inflammatory responses.
The authors note that it took participants four weeks of practicing qigong to notice changes in their immune response.
Improves Fitness
Qigong is generally a gentle, low-impact activity with aerobic and strength components.
Some studies exist, yet are specific to certain types of qigong and are overall limited.
A control group of 21 young sedentary women did not participate in the qigong sessions.
The Bottom Line: Is It Reasonable to Start a Qigong Practice?
Qigong may be a safe and effective activity for many people.
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