“I work for a man who does ‘qigong,' a form of Chinese energy work.' People tend to capitalize that word when it is utilized in writing, such as on our website. According to my opinion, the word should not be capitalized unless it is used in the context of a proper noun, such as a yoga school.”
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Qigong is capitalized only when it is named for a person (such as Alzheimer's or Hodgkin's disease) or used as part of a name, so I assumed Susan was correct.
My American Heritage College Dictionary came in handy for a definition. Qi Gong was capitalized and spelled out as a pair of words. Here's what that means:
“An ancient Chinese technique of meditative physical exercises or movements.”
Using OneLook Dictionary Search, six of the seven web resources capitalized the phrase. Why?
Should Qi be capitalized?
From traditional Chinese culture, the most fundamental and fundamental power that flows through all things and maintains harmony and balance in all life forms. (Note: “Qi” is frequently capitalized).
Is qigong one word or two?
Etymology. All three of these terms are Romanized versions of the two Chinese characters for “qigong,” “ch'i kung,” and “chi gung.”
Is it Qi Gong or qigong?
In qigong (pronounced chee-gong), meditation, controlled breathing, and movement exercises are all part of an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique.
Who should not practice qigong?
The only time qigong should be avoided is if a person has a history of psychotic disorders. A medical professional should be on hand to provide extra care and monitoring in this case because it is not a rule that can be applied universally. Two things lead to this contraindication. An example of this is that as our energy flows more freely and vigorously during qigong practice, we can sometimes feel some unusual sensations in our bodies. It is very natural to feel these sensations, but they have the potential to exacerbate any preexisting delusional thinking that may already be present. The brain will receive more of this energy as it becomes more free to roam around. It's possible that this will worsen an imbalance in the brain's chemistry. It can also be quite useful, therefore nearly no one is at risk from it. However, persons with pre-existing conditions should be closely monitored to see if their problems improve or worsen as they practice.
Not practicing if you're unwell or injured is another prudent precaution to take. Again, this is not a prohibition, but rather a word of warning. To prevent exacerbating any preexisting condition, practice can often continue. You may read a comprehensive article on how to make an informed decision about whether or not qigong is right for you here.
Pregnancy is another condition which may require modification of some qigong practices, so it is always best to consult with a skilled qigong teacher if you are in that situation to make sure that they practices you choose to do during that time are appropriate for your condition, and as far as contraindications and precautions go, that is about it!
In addition to this, there are a number of precautions that are more or less self-explanatory. If you're going to practice qigong, make sure you're dressed appropriately for the weather, don't practice in a draft or breeze, avoid practicing in direct sunshine when it's hot, and don't practice right after eating a large meal.
Should yoga be capitalized?
Use lowercase letters instead of capital letters “any of the following terms: yoga, tantric or ayurveda. Make sure to capitalize your words “Sankhya,” he said. Italicizing these names is unnecessary unless they are defined. Italicize and translate (in parenthesis if necessary) all terminology other than “asana” and “pranayama” the first time they are used.
Is Qigong same as tai chi?
How do qi gong and taiji vary from one another? “As contrast to the flowing movements of the tai chi form, which operate on the entire body, qi gong is a series of movements that you perform for a specific occasion,” adds Morrill. “Qi gong, for example, is a move that can assist open the lungs, among other things.
Is qi a real thing?
Qi is a pseudoscientific, unproven concept that has never been directly observed and is unrelated to the scientific concept of energy (vital energy itself being an abandoned scientific notion).
How do you use qigong?
Many different forms of qigong exist. Qigong is a practice that can be practiced passively or actively. It's always important to check with your doctor first before starting any new workout regimen.
Passive qigong
Traditional meditation and passive qigong have a lot in common. Mental concentrating (ru jing) and visualization are the two most common passive qigong techniques (cun si).
Focusing on your breathing while sitting upright in a comfortable position is an easy way to practice mental concentration (diaphragmatic breathing). Sit for at least 10 minutes, if not more, and pay attention to your breath.
A comparable approach, although with more imagination, is involved in visualization. Imagining things that bring you happiness or pleasure will help you relax (e.g., the beach, a flower-filled valley, a mountaintop). Use these visualizations to help you spread good vibes all over your body and help you feel better.
Additionally, you can imagine healing energy flowing toward an organ or part of the body that needs it. Qigong is an excellent way to improve your meditation practice by attending courses or reading books that teach you chants, visualizations, and other techniques.
Many free meditation videos are available online, or you can download meditation applications to your phone if you don't know where to begin.
Active qigong
Maintaining a constant state of flow is the primary objective of active qigong practice. Active qigong differs from yoga in that it calls for continuous movement rather than static stretches.
The easiest way to learn qigong is to take a class or watch a DVD for beginners. When practicing qigong in a group, TCM thinks it is crucial to cultivate a sense of community and togetherness, both of which promote health and healing.
Relax and appreciate the process of learning qigong whether it is passive or active.
The greatest way to learn active qigong and develop a sense of community is to attend a session in person. You can also check out online tutorials for newbies. Try including 10 minutes of meditation into your daily routine for passive qigong.
Should I do tai chi or qigong?
Qigong is a centuries-old Chinese art of cultivating one's own energy. Health, vigor, internal power and mental clarity are all boosted by it.
This type of Chinese martial arts is known as Tai Chi Chuan. Softness, internal energy development, and spiritual development are all hallmarks of this martial art form. In addition, it's excellent for the body.
During this video, I'll explain the benefits of qigong and tai chi.
During the video, I referred to this article: The Difference Between Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Chai Tea
In addition, this article may be useful: Most Frequently Asked Qigong Questions
In the blog (scroll down), not on YouTube, please leave any questions or comments you may have.
Instead of responding to YouTube queries, I answer them here on the blog because I don't receive notifications. Thanks!
As Anthony Korahais, I used qigong to recover from clinical depression, back pain and anxiety. Many people from throughout the world have already learned how to employ qigong to overcome their own tough health issues. With Flowing Zen, I'm devoted to helping individuals learn and practice these disciplines. Besides my blog and online courses, I also offer in-person retreats and seminars.
Can you lose weight doing qigong?
As a wellness therapy, qigong has been practiced in China for thousands of years as a slow movement and rhythmic breathing practice.
According to a new article from Bastyr University and the University of Washington, it may also be an effective weight-loss therapy for those with type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss and decreased insulin resistance were shown to be associated with the practice of a specific style of qigong among the individuals studied by the study. In a randomized controlled trial, practitioners of qigong outperformed both a control group and a group that did activities in a different order. The findings were just published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Integrative Medicine & Therapy.
According to main researcher Guan-Cheng Sun, PhD, “the fascinating element is that no one has ever claimed that qigong can help with weight loss.
This is the third study to come out of the Bastyr University Research Institute's qigong diabetes research. Qigong has been shown to reduce stress and despair in individuals with diabetes, according to previous studies.
Over the course of his career as a healer, Dr. Sun created the unique therapy known as Yi Ren Medical Qigong. Dr. Sun's grand-uncle initially taught him the technique when he was a boy in rural China and used it to cure him of intestinal issues. As with all traditional Chinese medicine, Dr. Sun's treatment is based on the concept of qi, a person's vital life energy (pronounced “chee”). “Gong” is a term used to describe the practice of nurturing one's chi (or qi). In both qigong and tai chi, the term “healthy qi flow” (also known as “qi”) is promoted.
A total of 32 individuals were divided into three groups at random. Weekly, the qigong group had one 30-minute session with a Yi Ren Qigong instructor and two more at home. The progressive resistance training (PRT) group employed elastic exercise bands instead of qigong's concentrated concentration and breathing to accomplish the same physical activities as the control group. A control group did not engage in any physical activity.
Both the qigong and the PRT groups lost weight statistically significant after 12 weeks of use (see the full results). For many people, obesity is linked to diabetes, and the American Medical Association recently categorized it as an illness. Insulin resistance, which occurs when cells do not respond correctly to insulin and cannot readily absorb glucose from the bloodstream, was also reduced in the qigong group.
Dr. Sun believes that avoiding insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes, is more important than weight loss.
People's healing was unexpected at the outset of the trial, he says. “This has piqued our interest.”
Qigong treatments for diabetes may be less expensive and come with fewer adverse effects than standard treatments. According to Dr. Sun, the study's weekly schedule of three 30-minute sessions is “quite achievable” for the majority of participants.
For his most recent examination of the data, he teamed up with Dr. Andrew Zhou, a biostatistician and professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
Small sample size limits the study to “proof of concept,” rather than a conclusive investigation. In the beginning, the research was supported by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Expanding the group's research will necessitate further money.
For the time being, this study demonstrates that empirical scientific methods can be used to measure traditional treatments that are based on energy. Qi has yet to be explained biologically, which is problematic for conventional scientists hoping to unravel phenomena at the atomic level. As a result, some researchers are concentrating on evaluating the health outcomes of patients, such as the improvement in diabetes patients' health.
Naturopathic medication can reduce the risk of heart disease and lengthen the lives of cancer patients who are already terminally ill, according to previous Bastyr studies.
It may be most important if rigorous clinical trials can demonstrate that traditional medicines improve the lives of patients.
However, “even though we don't understand the biological process of how qigong works, we have patient outcomes,” says Dr. Zhou. We'll get people's attention if we can do a large-scale, randomised clinical trial and demonstrate that qigong is effective.
A degree in molecular genetics and contributions to Bastyr research on qigong's influence on the brain have made Dr. Sun an expert in qigong self-care classes for the general public (fMRI). He says the diabetic study piques his curiosity about the 4,000-year-old practice's workings and increases his want to learn more about it scientifically.
A difference between qigong and conventional exercise may now be seen, he argues. “But how does it differ from the previous method of operation? To understand how it works at the molecular level, more research is required. Diabetes care would benefit greatly from such an innovation.”