Qi gong vs. Tai Chi Round one!

I have had a couple people ask me in the last couple months about what qi gong is and how it is different from tai chi. Firstly, qi gong is pronounced “chee gong” and it basically means “energy work.” It can also be spelled as chi kung, qigong, or chi gong. I chose to use the “qi gong” spelling because it is phonetically most accurate in the Chinese speaking world.
Qi gong is a practice thousands of years old that helps to build the energy, health, vitality of the body. It helps to reduce stress, increase blood circulation, and slow the aging process. I have studied many different “healing” systems and have found qi gong to be one the most effective. It is helpful because it is easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment, and it uses the body’s own energy to bring itself into a state of balance.
So, what is the difference between qi gong and tai chi?

Tai chi is a martial art that is healthy to practice because of its “circular movements.” Circular movements have no beginning or end and increases circulation without stressing the joints. Tai chi is a martial art with self defence being its primary focus. Tai chi also requires quite a bit of open space to practice.

Qi gong exercises were developed specifically for building the health. The movements are not focused on self defence and they often mimic movements of animals and nature. It requires very little space to practice and you need to know only a few moves to get the health benefits from it. You can build a tremendous amount of energy in a very short amount of time.

Those of you who have heard me speak about qi gong know that I feel very passionate about it. I think that every senior, office worker, athlete, student, ADD/ADHD child or adult, a stressed, or depressed person should know basic qi gong and would benefit greatly from regular practice. Keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming classes and workshops in the next little while.

~Think Vitality!~