Qigong, do you practice and if so, why?

[Haoran]

I'm interested in who might practice qigong here, perhaps the style/type, and why. Why do you include qigong in your practice?

[Formosa Neijia]

I practice various forms of qigong like the 8 brocades, etc. One reason to do them is the structure is simpler than doing a full blown IMA system. People like to say that IMA systems themselves are qigong so why do it, but those IMA systems tend to be complicated and involve lots of form work.

Qigong can express internal movement without the need for complicated forms or fighting concerns.

I mention fighting because when people are sparring/fighting or training for it, they tend to close up. That can be very detrimental to your IMA development. Learning how to open up as well as close, is vital and qigong is one very good way to do it.

Dave C.

[edededed]

I do a few, including both separate styles and methods included in certain IMA, and both moving and sitting methods.

Why? Mostly simply because I like it, but also to get an idea of "the whole picture."

[chicagoTaiJi]

I practice tai chi chuan, which is a kind of chi gong.

[Daniel]

Several different ones from two main systems.

It is the most effective way to learn the internal form-work and then put it into IMA. Without it, you increase your training-time unnecessarily. It is also quite common that the real power in a style comes from a qigong or neigong-set that fuels the MA part.

Haoran, if you want a more detailed answer, please make the question more precise. Right now it´s a bit like asking a group of painters whether they use paint.

Edited: also on the same line as Dave comments above. Having just IMA will often create tension in you and close your system down a bit. Ideally, you need some kind of stable qigong/neigong to open your system up, balance it, and balance your mind outside a martial framework. This will make the process of the IMA itself go faster and deeper, safer.



D.

Sarcasm. Oh yeah, like that´ll work.

[Haoran]

Oh, ok....

Do you practice Qigong for health, martial arts, spiritual reasons, medical etc? What kind of qigong do you practice?

If it's for:

1 Health: How does qigong help your health? Does this practice increase qi? If so, what are the mechanics of increasing qi, how does it work?

2. IMA: How does qigong help your IMA? Does the practice help structure? How does qigong help your IMA?

3. Spiritual: Big question here but feel free to answer.

4. Medical: Do you use qigong in a medical sense? To help ppl regain their health?

Thanks,

[mixjourneyman]

I sometimes do zhineng qigong (not as much as I used to though) and I've done a couple other systems of Qi Gong in the past.
I do it to clear my mind and to feel at one with the universe (I know how lame that sounds, but thats basically what a good qi gong session feels like to me)

[neijia_boxer]

you can make your neijia (taichi, pakua, hsingyi,yiquan) practice to be like qigong in many ways.

[Darth Rock&Roll]

I enjoy it #1.

It is a great addition to anyone martial practice as it works with other attribute development methods.

It provides me with expanded health.

regulation of breath is hugely important to your physical well being. I'm grateful that so many generations have taken the time and made the effort to catalog
the various permutations of breath work.

[klonk]

I do relaxed zhan zhuang, with natural breathing. This is useful as a health practice and also for martial conditioning. It promotes body awareness, improves balance and teaches relaxation.

There is more besides that you can do with ZZ, but I think most of the benefits are found in the basic practice.

[Ben]

I practice it. Some Daoist and energy cultivation stuff mainly.

I do it because I enjoy it.

[Adj]

I practice Daoist Chi gong for the goal of immortality.

[klonk]

I practice Daoist Chi gong for the goal of immortality.

Be sure to tell us how that works out, m'kay?

[Michael]

xxxxx

[edededed]

Hopefully qigong will make me healthier I think I have to practice more, though.

Certain qigong methods are required for certain IMA. I think structure is first, and then qi follows.

There are Daoist qigong methods, and then there are Buddhist qigong methods, so I guess there is some spirituality (or maybe just religion) there.

Haven't learned medical qigong yet, but I am pretty interested in it. Various methods out there.