| Can Chi-gong cure an aching back? I came across | | | | surgery to Qi-gong there is no guarantee. |
| the ancient Chinese practice of Chi-qonq or | | | | However the exercises are gentle, slow |
| Qi-gong while looking for alternative back pain | | | | movements that seem to have many benefits |
| treatments. Wikipedia defines Qi-gong as follows: | | | | beyond relieving back pain. No greater an |
| "Qi-gong (or ch'i kung) is an internal Chinese | | | | authority than Dr. Oz (You may have seen him on |
| meditative practice which often uses slow | | | | Oprah.) Devotes a whole chapter to Chi-gong in |
| graceful movements and controlled breathing | | | | his book "Staying Young". |
| techniques to promote the circulation of qi within | | | | So I thought why not give it a try? I have been |
| the human body, and enhance a practitioner's | | | | doing these for about two weeks and feel they |
| overall health." There are also many forms of | | | | have help me increase flexibility and reduce pain |
| Qi-gong that are done with little or no movement | | | | and tightness. Of course with any exercise |
| at all, in standing, sitting and supine positions; | | | | program it's important to tell your doctor. When I |
| likewise, not all forms of Qi-gong use breath | | | | did he looked at me as if I had a third eye! He |
| control techniques. | | | | hadn't heard of Qi-gong and dismissed with the |
| In its simplest form, the Chinese character for qi, | | | | comment; "Give it a try if you want." I do find |
| in qi-gong, can mean air, breath, or "life force". | | | | that some of the bending and twisting exercises |
| Gong means work, so qi-gong is therefore the | | | | could cause harm, so I avoid them. However |
| practice of "working" with ones "life force". There | | | | most of the exercises are gentle and seem to |
| are more than 10,000 styles of qi-gong and 200 | | | | help relieve stress. |
| million people practicing these methods. There are | | | | Of course I still do my regular back exercises as |
| three main reasons why people do qi-gong: 1) To | | | | endorsed by the Healthy Back Institute. These |
| gain strength, improve health or reverse a disease | | | | exercises have been clinically proven to cure back |
| 2) To gain skill working with qi, so as to become a | | | | pain. The great thing about the Lose The Back |
| healer 3) To become more connected with the | | | | Pain System is that it's customized for each |
| "Tao, God, True Source, Great Spirit", for a more | | | | person. So while there are many benefits to |
| meaningful connection with nature and the | | | | Qi-gong including possibly relieving my back pain. I |
| universe. | | | | will use it as a complement to the Lose The Back |
| All this sounds great. But does it relieve the pain | | | | Pain Program. |
| of an aching back? Well with any treatment from | | | | |