The Chinese have studied the internal energy systems for more than 2000 years and have created exercises called Qi Gong or Chi Kung to help restore health, vitality and balance; reducing stress and creating a feeling of well-being.

Qi Gong is literally qi or chi (meaning both energy and breath) work, or working with the life energy and breath. It can be defined as a way of using posture, breathing, visualisation and meditation along with gentle movements to cleanse, gather and circulate the chi, or life energy - while increasing one's capacity for mental focus.

Qi Gong stimulates and replenishes the body's energy levels through deep breathing, postural exercises and slow movements that activate the circulation of blood and the flow of energy within the body. It gently exercises - but does not stress - joints, tendons and muscles, and promotes a natural flow of energy in the body to ensure optimum health. Good Qi Gong practice is very simple and the results are obtained gradually over time.

Some people have compared it to biofeedback. Like biofeedback, a person becomes aware of, and thus learns to regulate or control processes in the body, such as heart rate, that are normally beyond conscious awareness and control.

For example, if a person has poor circulation in the hands and feet, there is a way of becoming aware of that area and using gentle movements to improve the circulation. As a result, the person will actually experience greater warmth in the hands and feet. This can be used to treat a variety of metabolic disorders as well. But that's the basic definition of Qi Gong - using breath, posture, movement, meditation and visualization to cleanse, gather and circulate the chi.

Qi Gong is then highly recommended for improving one's health and strengthening one's natural immune system. Qi Gong as taught by the Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development retains the simple and effective nature of traditional Qi Gong and shuns the 'new age fads' that steep Qi Gong in a hodge-podge of esoteric mysticism.

The Wu-Shin Chi-Dao Foundation for Self-Development offers a range of different styles of Qi Gong including an…

Classes are available at our Hombu dojo.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY: Minimum age - 16 years.