Qigong has an extensive history in China as a form of exercise for supporting health and fitness. The Qigong exercises known as the “Six Healing Sounds” are an excellent traditional Qigong practice, involving the use of sounds and their vibrations, combined with specific postures, in order to cleanse, revitalize, and harmonize the internal organs. The goal of this ancient practice is to promote optimal health.

 

Mental training is also an important aspect of Qigong practice. Da Mo, the first Buddhist Patriarch (Bodhidharma), came from India to preach Buddhism in China during the Liang dynasty (502-557 A.D.). He is considered the ancestor of the Chinese Chan division of Buddhism. Later, the Chan branch of Buddhism and its training methods were transmitted to Japan. In Japan, the practices of Chan Buddhism became known as Zen meditation. Meditation is a central practice in Qigong training because it trains the mind to direct and regulate the energy flow within the body. Qigong helps the body to create additional amounts of internal energy. Once your internal energy is activated it must be coordinated with the activities of the mind. Once these practices are harmonized, the mind and body can benefit from their synchronization and harness much more power and potential. The mind, when trained by meditation, is able to perceive the subtle levels at which internal energy functions, both at the level of the mind and at the level of the body.

 

Qigong has also been known as “Dao Yin,” which means “guiding and directing the Qi flow” through combinations of specific movements and breathing. For example, the “Eight Pieces of Brocade”, is a well-known form of Dao Yin styles of Qigong practice. Tai Chi is also a well-known form of Qigong.

 

Recently many forms of Qigong have been offered to the public. Though they may have many different names and appearances, the core fundamentals of proper posture and breathing method are their foundations.  At the Jade Dragon Qigong School, we focus on building a firm foundation of skills that can be transferred over to any method of mind-body exercise. We do this by combining traditional practices with the support of modern research & science.  We honor our past ancestors and traditions, by introducing and analyzing their methods and practices with modern scientific methods.