What is Zhineng Qigong?
Moving Meditation For Health and Wellbeing
Welcome to a different perspective on health and healing! Zhineng Qigong is a practice utilizing simple movements and the power of the mind's intention to work with qi to consciously achieve and maintain health. In Zhineng Qigong, one learns to exchange qi with nature for your healing intention.
"Qi" is often defined at "energy". Qi is in everything and everything is qi. Qi can be in the form of the unseen wind, but we see the effects of the wind blowing the leaves of trees. Qi can be in the form of the trees, so solid-seeming to our physical senses.
Zhineng QIgong has 6 levels of practice. Each level has a primary "form" or a practice with a series of movements done in a certain order. You can remain with level 1 practice and advance as far as you can go. No other levels are necessary, but they are there for you if you want to learn.
Lift Qi Up Pour Qi Down is the primary form of Level 1. It, along with other practices, comprise a simple method to begin to learn how to consciously move qi to intentionally heal the body, mind and spirit.
Zhineng Qigong was developed by Dr. Pang Ming of China in the 1980's. A doctor trained in both western and Chinese medicine, Dr. Pang studied with 19 qigong masters. He chose the best and simplest qigong practices so that people of any physical ability could practice the movements and benefit.
Dr. Pang also set up the first "medicine-less" hospital, to study and research the effects and benefits of practicing Zhineng Qigong.
Benefits of Practicing Zhineng Qigong
Benefits of Regular practice
- Heal physical illness and disease
- Maintain health
- Develop mental abilities: focus, calm and control
- Moving meditation (for those who find it difficult to be still and quiet to meditate)
Susan's Journey to Zhineng Qigong
Qigong as a Part in Recovery from Surgery for Chronic Pain
I had been interested in Tai Chi, a different type of qigong practice for years, but found its movements complex to learn. In 2011, I took a Zhineng Qigong training at a massage retreat place where I worked. I loved it, but the weekly class available at the time didn't fit my work schedule.
A few years later, recovering from major surgery, I revived the practice. It was something I could do as I regained my strength.
Soon, however, Zhineng Qigong became more than a way to heal from surgery. I discovered, through daily practice, that I was not only gaining physical strength , but felt more calm and my thinking became more clear and focused.
Hungry to learn more, I attended a week-long retreat in 2019 with Master Yuantong Liu. There is more here than I knew. My experience during the retreat increased my desire to learn more.
In 2020, I began a year-long training to become certified to teach level 1 Zhineng Qigong. Gaining some understanding of the hunyuan qi theories has helped improve my regular practice and increase the benefits I get from it.
The foundation of theory and level 1 movements and techniques are an integral part of my teaching the initial class to learn the form. I want students to have a solid background and basic understanding of the practice so they can benefit as much as they can.
The practice will teach you; continue learning the form by practicing it.
I took the training for myself, but remained open to teaching others.
Here I am today, sharing this beautiful, beneficial practice with you!
FAQs
WHY I LOVE PRACTICING ZHINENG QIGONG!
- NO Equipment: just YOU
- You can sit or stand: people with physical "disabilities" practice it
- Physically DO what you CAN and THINK through what you can't
- No memorization of complex energy anatomy
- You can work with Level 1 practices and get everything you need
- There are more levels to refresh your practice
- Learn to let go of limits
- Wonderful people!
What do I need to Learn Qigong?
All You Need to Practice Zhineng Qigong is:
- a qualified teacher to teach you the form: Susan often teaches an 8-hour class split between 2 days
- regular group class is then encouraged to build on the foundation laid in the basic class: more details are learned to better benefit & grow your practice in these one-hour classes
- a place to stand comfortably
- an arm's span of space around you
- ZQ can also be practiced sitting in a chair
- ANYONE CAN DO IT!!!