Thanks to these practices, the Chinese doctor was able to get rid of incurable diseases.
There are countless ways to lose those extra pounds and improve your health. Along with modern techniques, those that have been known to the world for tens of years and even centuries are also popular. Among them, qigong, a traditional Chinese system of health-improving gymnastics, holds a strong position. It combines the postures and movements available to everyone.
Despite the simplicity of the exercises, adherents of the eastern practice are sure that it contributes to health improvement, weight loss and normalization of the mental state. We will tell you how the Chinese miracle gymnastics actually works.
How did the oriental technique originate?
The founder of qigong in its modern interpretation is considered to be the doctor Liu Guidzhen, an employee of the Chinese Communist Party. In 1948, colleagues recognized the specialist as terminally ill, because by his 27 he suffered from neurasthenia, tuberculosis and a severe stomach ulcer, and also weighed less than 40 kilograms. Liu was sent to retire in his home village, but to the surprise of everyone, he was able to improve his health.
Thanks to his uncle, Guichen got acquainted with traditional Chinese medicine. His treatment was more like an unusual health camp. Almost all the time for three months, the doctor was engaged in motor and breathing practices, chanting mantras and observing a diet. After 100 days, he was able to gain 15 kilograms and return to work.
Liu's colleagues were so impressed with his recovery that they sent the specialist back to his uncle. Now it is no longer to be treated, but to find out all the nuances of the healing technique. Guijen separated gymnastics for the development of the body from religious and feudal remnants, systematized the set of exercises and received what is now called qigong.
Qigong in the modern sense
Today, qigong is understood as a whole system consisting of gymnastics, breathing exercises and meditation practices. The technique is divided into internal and external. The first is associated with such a concept of Chinese medicine as Qi energy. According to Eastern teachings, in a healthy person, it freely moves through the body, and if this process is disturbed, then diseases arise. Basically, qigong is aimed at restoring the qi movement in the body and getting rid of ailments.
External practice lends itself much better to understanding. It includes smooth movement, thought control, and breathing exercises - natural or abdominal, hard or soft. Roughly speaking, this is a kind of meditation that allows you to get rid of stress and keep your body in good shape.
Among the practices are:
The Chinese Health Qigong Association identifies four areas of gymnastics.
The influence of Chinese gymnastics on the body
With the help of gymnastics, as with any other physical therapy, you can improve your health, stretch your muscles and even lose extra pounds.
Although qigong is not very stressful, in some postures you need to maintain balance and try to maintain balance. In this case, stabilizing muscles work actively, and the muscle corset develops evenly. In addition, with deep breathing, the diaphragm accelerates metabolism, which contributes to weight loss.
Exercise also focuses on tension, relaxation, and stretching of the muscles. This causes blood flow to them and nourishes the tissues. Bending, twisting and twisting improves the mobility of the spine and has a positive effect on posture.
Recommendations and contraindications
Qigong is a good way to prevent ailments, its movements are available even to people with physical limitations. Experts from the United States, Brazil and China have published a systematic review of Eastern practice and its meta-analysis. They concluded that such activities are beneficial for quality of life, sleep, balance, arm strength, trunk flexibility, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate.
Researchers from universities in the United States and China have shown that gymnastics can reduce muscle pain and improve overall sleep quality in people with chronic conditions.
In addition, scientists from the Universities of Paris-Saclay, Paris Descartes and the Montsouris Institute for Mutual Aid have found that qigong works in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. It can enhance psychotherapy and facilitate the patient's recovery process.
Sometimes the technique is used in the complex treatment of arterial hypertension. In 2015, a review of scientific articles was published that prove the effectiveness of the practice in combating this disease.
The set of exercises is contraindicated in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases. And if you have problems with the spine, knee and hip joints, you should consult your doctor before starting classes.
Where to start classes?
Gymnastics begins with a warm-up: warming up exercises, circular movements in the joints, stretching, tapping on the abdomen, chest, legs and shoulders. It is advisable to practice qigong every day, but if you don't have such an opportunity, it's okay. The main thing is to choose a suitable schedule for yourself and follow it without missing a workout.
Most styles do not provide for the use of special inventory. Out of equipment, you will need loose clothing that does not restrict movement. You can do it without shoes: barefoot or in socks.
Practices can be carried out independently or under the supervision of an experienced mentor in order to understand the basics. If you do not want to look for an instructor, then, fortunately, there are many video tutorials on the Web that help you understand the essence of all movements and breathing exercises. For example, on the vastness of YouTube, Lee Holden and master Wang Ling talk in detail about gymnastics.
