Basic Questions and Answers:

What are “Taiji” and “Qi Gong” and how do you say the words?

What are some of the health benefits of QiGong and Taiji?

Who should practice QiGong and Taiji?

What are “Taiji” and “Qi Gong” and how do you say the words?

Taiji = ty-chee

Taijiquan = ty-chee-chwon

Qi Gong = chee-goong  

“Qi” basically means our life force energy and “Gong” means to exercise and cultivate, so QiGong means exercises that cultivate our life force energy. QiGong exercises are normally done in either a seated or standing position and use the breath, mind intention, and hands to guide the flow of energy throughout our body with the purpose of healing disease or maintaining health.  

Qi Gong can mean:  

• seated or standing meditation where the body is completely still but the breath and energy flow are moving  

• seated or stationary standing where the body, breath and energy move together  

• dynamic movement, such as Taiji, which combines a higher degree of movement with breath and energy flow.

• Taiji, also known as Taiji Chuan or Taijiquan, is an Ancient Chinese martial art form which was developed as a meditation and health maintenance system for Taoist monks. 

Taiji is also known as “moving meditation”. It is an exercise in Qi (energy) flow, and is the Feng Shui of the body as we learn to move our energy like wind and water throughout ourselves. With its combination of meditation and exercise, Taiji is a graceful, flowing, and spiritual martial art.

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What are some of the health benefits of QiGong and Taiji?

Research done in both the U.S. and China has shown QiGong and Taiji to have some of the following effects: · 

• Reduces high blood pressure · Improves breathing capacity and patterns  

• Reduces stress and enhances mood states including anxiety  

• Improves the immune system and markedly increases T-Cell counts  

• Improves balance, coordination, and increases body strength  

• Helps to alleviate migraines, insomnia, and chronic low back pain  

• Relaxation therapy for chronically ill  

• Weight bearing exercise good for preventing osteoporosis  

• Improves arthritis  

• Prescribed as rehabilitation for traumatic injuries  

• Balances the metabolism to adjust fat to muscle ratios

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Who should practice QiGong and Taiji?

These are beautiful, harmonious, graceful exercise forms for anyone to practice. They are a great low-impact activity for seniors, or others who want to improve their health without the high intensity of aerobics. If you have chronic pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, stress, or just want to add more flow to your life, QiGong and Taiji are for you.

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