| If you are ever in China and you awake early in | | | | there is very little movement and yet it is |
| the morning and venture out onto the streets | | | | incredibly physical and demanding on the body. |
| you are likely to see Chinese people engaged in | | | | According to the philosophy behind Zhan Zhuang, |
| various forms of physical exercise. Chinese people | | | | performing the exercises involved in the discipline |
| of every age engage in these traditional exercises | | | | will actually generate and release energy that is |
| each day in public squares, parks and the | | | | normally stored or blocked within the human |
| countryside and have done so for centuries. | | | | system. |
| Many will be stretching rhythmically. Some will be | | | | Some of the alleged benefits of this art include |
| in synchronized groups performing what looks to | | | | slowing down the process of decay that occurs |
| be slow, very orchestrated movements of the | | | | as we age as well as produce exceptional health |
| body. You will also very likely see individuals | | | | and vitality. It is said to revitalize the nervous |
| practising the same art on their own. They are | | | | system, successfully treat serious illnesses and |
| probably engaged in Tai-chi - a form of soft | | | | increase the potency of the immune system. |
| martial art. Others may be standing very still and | | | | Although the system is not as widely known as |
| assuming strange stances - they may be | | | | other forms of Tai-chi and Chi-kung it is |
| performing Chi-kung - a way of developing health | | | | nonetheless an attractive alternative exercise for |
| and increasing one's internal energy. | | | | those people looking to stay fit and vigorous as |
| One variation of chi-kung is known as "Zhan | | | | well as healthy at the same time. |
| Zhuang" or "standing like a tree". In this practice | | | | |