qi gong
One study found that qigong could reduce symptoms of depression. In this study, those who practiced qigong also experienced less anxiety and better moods as compared to those who didn't. Qigong was also shown to have positive effects on bone and cardiovascular health and improve balance.
There is an increasing number of articles about the use of Qigong and Tai Chi to complement the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Qigong exercises are simple and easy to learn and do. The benefit to pulmonary and immune function health by doing Qigong and Tai Chi has long been understood. The Tai Chi Foundation has several free instructional videos we are making available to anyone who wants to build up their resistance to disease and infection or aid in recovering from COVID-19. We include links to these programs here and links to articles about how Qigong and Tai Chi have proven beneficial as support in restoring health.
QI GONG
氣功
Qi Gong or Chi Kung is a holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (chi), translated as "life energy".
Qigong practice typically involves moving meditation, coordinating slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm meditative state of mind. Qigong is now practiced throughout China and worldwide for recreation, exercise and relaxation, preventive medicine and self-healing, alternative medicine, meditation and self-cultivation, and training for martial arts.
Research concerning qigong has been conducted for a wide range of medical conditions, including hypertension, pain, and cancer, and concerning the quality of life.
Most research concerning the health benefits of qigong has been of poor quality, such that it would be unwise to draw firm conclusions at this stage.
NEI GONG
內功
Nei Gong, also spelled Nei Kung, Neigung, or Nae Gong refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation, and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts. Neigong practice is normally associated with the so-called "soft style", "internal" or Neijia 內家 Chinese martial arts, as opposed to the category known as Waigong 外功 or "external skill" which is historically associated with Shaolin Quan or the so-called "hardstyle", "external" or wàijiā 外家 Chinese martial arts. Both have many different schools, disciplines, and practices and historically there has been mutual influence between the two, and distinguishing precisely between them differs from school to school.
There is both martial and non-martial neigong. Well-known examples of martial neigong are the various breathing and focus training taught in some traditional Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan schools. An example of non-martial neigong is the discipline known as Daoyin.
YI JIN JING
易筋經
Yi Jin Jing is a manual containing a series of exercises, coordinated with breathing, said to enhance physical health dramatically when practiced consistently. In Chinese Yi means "change", Jin means "tendons and sinews", while Jing means "methods". While some consider these exercises as a form of Qigong, it is a relatively intense form of exercise that aims at strengthening the muscles and tendons, so promoting strength and flexibility, speed and stamina, balance, and coordination of the body. These exercises are notable for being a key element of the physical conditioning used in Shaolin training.