More than 200 million people practice
similar forms of exercise each day throughout Asia and now in the West. It is an important part of
personal health
care, now understood by medical colleges, hospitals and
universities.
From the Orient comes the word, Qi meaning breath, air, or the living force. Gong means to do some sort of work
- it also means to practice or train with enjoyment and with no effort. Both Qigong and Yoga have similar backgrounds.
Isn’t it another form of Taiji?
Qigong is not another form of Taiji,
which arose originally as one of the martial arts - the primary focus was on defending yourself from
attackers - like kung fu, karate etc. whereas Qigong is
concerned with the gentle use of the breath, self-healing and
sharing energy with others.
Where did you discover it?
For many years I have been involved in
energy medicine. In 1984 I was invited to help a patient
in Hongkong and I became fascinated by the dozens of people practicing Qigong in the parks and gardens. Every morning I
would go out in the early dawn and watch and watch to try to
see what they did and how the masters taught the students.
If it’s an ancient Chinese wisdom, how are you qualified to teach it?
I have studied with teachers in many
countries of Asia as well as in England, Norway, Portugal,
New Zealand, Singapore. Including teachers from the famous
Shao Lin monastery. There is no end to learning - there are
more than 2000 different forms of Qigong.
How is a
teacher recognized?
The measure of a master of Qigong is if he
can make physical changes in another person’s physical,
mental or psychological state. These changes, first, need to be experienced by
the 'student' or 'patient' to be accepted. Then years of medical research into
the human bio-electric field have shown that I have positively affected other
people’s states of health and help them to move towards
relief from stress, pain and delusion.
What can
Flying Bird exercises do for an average healthy person?
Qigong has been proven to lay down the
foundation for a strong immune system which leads to a longer
and healthier life. Today there is so much stress even in a
normal person’s life that they can benefit immensely
from regular Qigong sessions. Medical research has also
proved that by doing Qigong, people increase their anti-aging
factor.
How can it help people who have chronic illnesses?
When you are in a relaxed and tranquil
state, natural processes take place in the body. The
main interest arises because people who suffer from such serious
debilitating diseases as cancer, stroke, cardiovascular
disease, asthma and arthritis frequently demonstrate improvement.
What are the anti-aging benefits?
We could live many years longer than we do
- the main reason why we become old is that the oxidation
process happens in our organs. Qigong enhances the activity
of anti-aging enzyme SOD (superoxide dismutase). SOD is
believed to destroy free radicals that cause aging.
Easy exercise rejuvenates and revitalizes our
major organs and especially increases blood flow to the heart
and brain.
How long do I have to do it before noticing the results?
If you have discovered a good teacher you should be able to feel some effects at the first
lesson, however we see that it is not the immediate results
that are the most lasting. Very often the changes are subtle
such as a change to sleep patterns, reduction of stress and
calmer relationships.
Do I have to do it forever?
Only if you want to! I think you will need
to keep breathing forever? Do you feel hungry each day? No
decent teacher will insist on undertaking anything which
might cause you any stress or effort. Once you reach basic
competence few people wish to give away what has brought such
pleasure and joyful community. You can do it alone in your
room, on an international flight or in the company of
friends. Once gained there is no longer a question of
‘must I’ or ‘I have to’ - invariably the
question becomes - ‘move over I’m DOING it."
Why shouldn’t I practice Yoga, Taiji or meditation instead?
Properly practiced Flying
Bird has a medical
component missing from the other forms. From a practical
point of view Qigong combines all three disciplines -
breathing, intention and easy movements. This creates a
unique state in comparison to any other type of
relaxation therefore Qigong is famous for it’s
healing abilities.
Describe the legendary feats performed by some Qigong masters.
Strangely enough the highest form of
Qigong is not to show off the uses of Qi energy but to
show the enormous control one needs to prevent or stop
events from happening. Daoists simply go with the flow of
energy, not asking for control, however, many who have
mastered the energy can demonstrate
‘miraculous’ events - such as the 82 year old
woman in California who can deflect the punches of four
young men attacking her all at once. In Bill Moyer’s
(USA) TV series "Health and Healing" an elderly
master simply flicked his finger and others fell to the
ground.
Where can I learn Qigong?
There are almost as many teachers as
there are forms of Qigong! The first importance is to
find a teacher you can feel comfortable with. It may
surprise you that it is not culturally specific -
Westerners may be able to explain the actions more clearly than someone from Asia for example.
What does it involve?
Regular attendance at classes, wearing
loose clothes, practicing the exercises between classes
and be prepared for a minimum course of seven weeks to
gain basic skills.
If it’s as good as you describe, why haven’t we heard much of this
before?
For many centuries Qigong was the
privilege of temple monks and a few wealthy family lineages in
China.
During the cultural
revolution Qigong briefly disappeared.
In the 1970s and 1980s numerous
institutes for the study of Qigong have sprung up in
China. Many hospitals have Qigong doctors on staff and
Qigong classes are taught along with other forms of
regular medical treatment.
In the West we have had access to Qigong only recently.
Acupuncture broke the ice in the late
seventies with President Nixon’s trip to China but
it has taken a decade or more to include acupuncture and
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into our health care
system. Because Qigong is such a powerful self-healing
technique it has been kept from us as a secret, however
times are changing with international travel, internet
connections and people’s desire to be self
sufficient.
Is it a miracle cure for depression/AIDS etc.?
I cannot answer ‘yes’ or
‘no’ to that question. What has been
established is that in the paradigm of mechanistic
Western science, the practice of Qigong triggers a wide
array of physiological mechanisms which have profound
healing benefits. It increases the delivery of oxygen to
the tissues. It enhances the elimination of waste
products as well as the transportation of immune cells
through the lymph system. And it shifts the chemistry of
the brain and the nervous system.
Is there a difference between 'Qigong' and 'Flying Bird Exercises'?
The subtle
differences lie in the focus of intention. Both have a family similarity. Both
come from ancient yoga and qigong postures. Flying Bird however, through
insistence on correct breathing coupled with effortless exercise and inclusion
of the power of your own intention, delivers a much wider scope for change. The
practical outcome is that we feel better in every way; yet deeper than that is
the rising feeling of discovering our purpose in life. The quiet calmness that
is unique to Flying Bird, the relationship to Deep Field Relaxation and it's
myriad benefits deliver a satisfaction seldom known through other avenues.
