The Mindful Side of Integrative Health

What led you personally to qigong and tai chi, and how long have you been practicing?

I started tai chi while studying at the University of Liaoning Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1978 (42 years ago) and started practicing qigong 20 years ago. I worked in a TCM hospital for three years, then came to the U.S. and worked with MDs practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine. I came to AOMA in 2003, and then 10 years ago I started teaching tai chi and qigong here.

Please share with our readers who may not know what qigong is, and why it is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Qigong literally translates to “qi work,” so it is work that we do with our qi. Qi is our body’s energy and includes many different kinds of qi. Some are defensive qi, others are nutritive qi, and there are many other types, too. The goal is to spend time practicing qigong to get physically strong and stay mentally calm and in good shape. Qigong moves the electricity inside to power you. Qigong is important to Traditional Chinese Medicine because TCM is based on the Daoist principle of yin and yang in the body as a whole. Yin and yang are like batteries, (with positive and negative energy). Only having one will not work, so qigong balances both. Thus, qigong, like acupuncture and herbal medicine, also balances yin and yang.

What are the differences between moving and non-moving qigong?

Qigong has two parts: moving and non-moving. Moving qigong moves your qi and blood (making the body stronger) and helps with qi and blood stagnation. Non-moving qigong through breathing moves the qi inside without moving your muscles. It quiets the mind and balances the body’s yin and yang. 

Why is breathing important in qigong?

Slow breathing is for longevity. When one breathes slowly, they can begin to hold in more oxygen and nutrients from the universe and outside air. This push-down of the breath goes all the way to our feet. Shallow breaths may only go to your knees and won’t open the tiny veins and arteries to help the oxygen exchange. The oxygen exchange in our body brings in the good nutrients and gets rid of the bad nutrients. For example, animals like turtles breathe very slowly and are able to live for decades. When we learn to breathe slowly, we can improve our longevity.

What are some of the main benefits of doing qigong and tai chi?  

• Balances the yin and yang
• Quiets the mind (which is good for mental health)
• Improves balance
• Strengthens the physical body (muscles, tendons, joints, etc.)
• Invigorates qi & blood 
• Improves digestion (especially qigong movements that target the abdomen)
• Helps the respiratory system by strengthening our lungs, skin and pores. It can especially help against getting sick during the winter by closing the pores when exposed to cold air.
• Helps the cardiovascular system by promoting blood circulation throughout the body 
• Helps the nervous system go into the parasympathetic nervous system instead of the sympathetic nervous system which helps with anxiety and stress. Specific breathing exercises that slow down the breath are great for people who struggle with anxiety and stress. There are other breathing exercises that increase energy, which can help those  who feel depressed and lethargic.
• Helps the reproductive system. One qigong move that shakes the abdomen can help with women’s health issues like PMS, pain, etc. By shaking the abdomen, qi and blood will freeflow better internally.

Can you explain the differences between regular qigong and medical qigong?

Medical qigong is primarily for students who study medicine (such as at AOMA). This qigong is used to help people reduce certain symptoms, heal faster and balance their yin and yang. This qi moves from the practitioner’s hands to our patients to guide out the problems through the meridians and help heal. It all depends on the situation, but medical qigong is used to treat patients or help practitioners themselves. Medical qigong is similar to physical therapy, as it also guides others through the movement. Regular qigong can be added to a healthy lifestyle but sometimes does not have a treatment purpose for others. It is just like an exercise to keep yourself healthy.

When we think of integrative care models, how can we blend medical qigong into a Western medicine practice?

Medical qigong can be used in many different situations. For example, people with diabetes can be taught how to breathe and how to have more energy by strengthening their spleen and stomach, which will help them reduce their food intake and reduce overall symptoms from diabetes. Our part is to ask patients to move by doing qigong, strengthening the digestive system to help their diet in order to help their diabetes. Another example is doing 13 qigong exercises to help insomnia patients go to sleep, mostly through the use of non-moving qigong. This is quite similar to meditation but different.

What are the main differences between qigong and tai chi, in your opinion?

Tai chi is a set movement form that balances yin and yang through the hands. Qigong has many different forms and is more still and focused on breathing. Tai chi requires more movement and is generally more physical. Tai chi also originated from martial arts, so it requires extensive balance footwork and muscle strength. Additionally, every movement of tai chi requires holding a ball of yin and yang. Tai chi can make one feel very peaceful by feeling the qi go to the tips of the hands. In tai chi, the movement and meditation occur at the same time. Moving qigong focuses more on movement, and non-moving focuses more on meditation and breathing. Tai chi combines both beautifully: a quiet mind while the body is also focused on moving.

When you aren’t leading classes in qigong, when do you find time in the day to practice? 

I practice daily in the evening doing qigong and tai chi after dinner at around 8 p.m. I like to do the traditional, long tai chi form and horse stance. In the evening before bed, I do non-moving qigong.

What is the form of tai chi and qigong that you practice most often? (Wildgoose, Return to Spring, etc.)

For tai chi, I do the traditional, long tai chi form. At AOMA, we teach the yang-style tai chi short form. For qigong, I usually do the Nine Turns Meditation, Horse Dance (not necessarily daily) and Return to Spring. I like to cycle through a few of the different qigong practices.