FAQ

What is Qigong? (pronounced chee-gung)

Qigong, sometimes called the grandmother of tai chi, is one of the four major branches of  Traditional Chinese Medicine. Because Qigong incorporates a variety of gentle breathing  methods, flowing movements, and mindfulness meditation, it can be practiced by absolutely  anyone, regardless of their age, health, religion, or fitness level.

What are the benefits?

At present, there are over 500 research studies on qigong, and over 1800 studies on tai chi. 

Here is a created free infographic with a list of the 13 proven benefits, as well as links to the  research. (BELOW LINK) unsure if we can use this in the advanced form….  

https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts production/sites/2806/downloads/26YXQgmhRWKtbP4nxm0g_13_Proven_Benefits_of_Qigong _and_Tai_Chi.pdf

What Does the Word Mean?

Qi means “vital energy”, and gong means “cultivation”. The Chinese characters are as follows: 

氣 功 

qì gōngIn essence, it means “vital-energy cultivation”. To make it more poetic, we might translate  Qigong to “the art of vital-energy cultivation”.

What is Qi?

You’ll find all sorts of definitions out there. 

You’ll even find people who are upset that qi has all sorts of definitions. 

Me, I like things simple. 

Qi is energy. Whether it is the energy that moves food through your digestive system, or the energy that  mobilizes your immune system, or the energy that powers your cells — all of that is qi to me.

Are there different types of Qigong?

There are several hundred different styles of qigong, but there are 5 historical categories of  qigong: 

1. Medical Qigong for healing pain and illness. 

2. Longevity Qigong for prolonging life. 

3. Scholarly Qigong for boosting intelligence. 

4. Martial Qigong for internal power. 

5. Spiritual Qigong for enlightenment. 

Many styles of qigong incorporate more than one category. For example, Flowing Zen Qigong  includes all 5 categories (starting with Medical Qigong). It’s important to clarify what type of qigong you are learning, and to match it with your personal  goals.

How Old Is Qigong?

Qigong history dates back at least 3000 years. 

The early era of qigong history began in roughly 1100 B.C.

Tai chi came much later. There are endless debates about the origins of tai chi, but the 2 main  arguments either put the origins in 12th century or the 17th century A.D. 

Either way, qigong is older than tai chi by a few thousand years.

Is Qi like a force?

Well, sort of. 

Actually, George Lucas loosely based his concept of the Force off ancient kung fu  legends. So, the connection is not coincidental. 

Just about every superpower you see in Star Wars can be found in the old kung-fu novels. Whether these powers are real, or fantasy is another subject. The superpowers that I’ve developed — health, vitality, mental clarity, resilience, fortitude,  happiness — have worked well enough for me.

How does grounding work in Deep Earth Pulsing?

As you get more into the practice we teach, you are going to imagine your qi will gravitate down  to the center of the Earth. There is nothing more grounding than that, connecting to the heart and  womb of Mother Earth. You need to focus on this and not allow the mind to go up, instead you  reach deep down into Mother Earth.

Are herbs and acupuncture less effective than Deep Earth Pulsing?

Once you learn how to shift your weight relaxing your upper body. You are activating some deep  channels in the left and right sides of the body. These are deeper than acupuncture meridians.  This is the reason for using qigong which is more effective than herbs and acupuncture. Qigong  is much deeper levels, which makes it more powerful if you practice. The answer is yes, in the  event you practice it will become much more powerful.

Why do you recommend the forms that are available on this site?

After training in various forms, none have been as effective as the Primordial Tai Chi for  Enlightened Self-Love and Deep Earth Pulsing. The forms are easy to learn and practice, and the  energy levels attained from the practices are useful in everyday life. For the morning training the  energy levels support any individual for various activities over the course of the day. For the  nighttime practice it allows the individual to sleep more sound over time.