| Without fail, we are bombarded daily with news | | | | Once beginners get deeper into their Qigong |
| of wars, natural disasters, political upheavals, | | | | exercises, sooner or later they will embrace the |
| violence and other negative news that may deter | | | | lifestyle and philosophy of Qigong without them |
| us from having a positive outlook on life and our | | | | realizing it. This is not a surprise as the |
| surroundings. The timid and fearful ones may just | | | | practitioners themselves will find enormous |
| succumb to their circumstances and give up | | | | benefits as they flow effortlessly deeper into |
| looking ahead to a future of hope. | | | | their practices. For example, Qigong exercises and |
| So what can a single individual like you do to | | | | meditation can help make a practitioner's mind |
| change the world around you? Not much but you | | | | stay peaceful and tranquil by providing oxygen to |
| can change the way you look at the world with 'a | | | | tissues and cells as well as opens up the meridians |
| new set of eyes,' so to speak. You can start with | | | | (energy channels) that carry energy throughout |
| small steps to let the change start with you. In no | | | | the body. |
| time, you will notice your optimism would have | | | | Gradually as the Chi flows unhindered throughout |
| rubbed on others. | | | | the body, it balances Yin and Yang (energy |
| But how to start a change in yourself in the first | | | | contraction and expansion throughout the body) |
| place? How about taking up Qigong for beginners? | | | | as a practitioner performs repetitions of precise |
| Yes, you heard it right. The answer is simple; | | | | sets of Qigong exercises. One will realize that |
| Qigong has a way to incrementally change your | | | | apart from initiating a relaxation response, the Chi |
| world within so that before long you can change | | | | energy can help in the healing of many minor to |
| the world outside. | | | | major ailments as proven in clinical studies. |
| Firstly, what is Qigong? Qigong (also spelled Qi | | | | Be aware however Qigong for beginners may be |
| Gong, Chikung or Chi Kung) is an ancient Chinese | | | | challenging for new comers due to their restless |
| practice that dates back almost 3,000 years. | | | | minds. Often it is the mind that wavers rather |
| Qigong is a powerful healing technique which | | | | than the body. Once Qigong beginners become |
| combines meditation, relaxation, mental focus, | | | | aware of the flow of Qi and allow Qi to circulate |
| deep breathing as well as gentle physical | | | | unrestricted, then relaxation becomes second |
| exercises. Qigong is non-sectarian, meaning it is | | | | nature to them, while resistance becomes less. |
| non-religious - hence can be practiced by anyone | | | | As a restless mind is a perennial problem, even |
| without it conflicting your religious views and | | | | for sages, visualization, counting, focusing on parts |
| beliefs. | | | | of the body, or observing the breath are some |
| The ultimate aim of Qigong is for beginners to | | | | of the methods utilized to address this primary |
| become aware of Qi or vital life energy within | | | | problem under Qigong for beginners. All these help |
| themselves. Once Qigong practitioners become | | | | beginners to stop the mind from jumping around, |
| more attuned to the Qi in their body, it will | | | | or what experts call taming the 'monkey mind.' |
| become easier for them to guide Qi with their | | | | Gradually the mind will become less busy and |
| mind which will be helpful for one to gain control | | | | more relaxed and easily go into a state of peace |
| over oneself, physically, mentally as well as | | | | and tranquility. This positively affects the |
| spiritually if Qigong exercises are practiced | | | | practitioner which in turn affects the world around |
| diligently. | | | | them. |