PROMOTING QIGONG AND ENERGY MEDICINE THROUGH RESEARCH & EDUCATION
"Qigong is the most profound health practice ever invented by mankind for the prevention of illness, reducing stress, managing chronic conditions, increasing longevity, and promoting healthy, active aging." Tom Rogers, President, Qigong Institute.
Watch a short 10-minute clip from Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century created by Qigong Institute Chairman of the Board Francesco Garripoli. It was the first Qigong documentary to be shown on PBS, starting in 1999. The full documentary can be obtained via the Qigong Institute Store.
A fundamental tenet of Energy Medicine is that the human body emits and receives a broad spectrum of electromagnetic and acoustic radiation and that these oscillating energy fields regulate the function of the body's physical and chemical processes.
Introduction to the fundamentals of practicing the Art of Qigong.
Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications calls Tai Chi "medication in motion". Tai Chi when combined with standard treatment is helpful for a range of conditions including arthritis, low bone density, breast cancer, heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, sleep problems, and stroke.
Beginning about 1980, extensive clinical and experimental research on medical applications of Qigong was carried out by scientists in China. Most of these studies were reported only at international conferences, and only a few were published because suitable scientific journals were not available in China. The Qigong and Energy Medicine Database™ contains abstracts collected by the Qigong Institute since 1984.
Qigong changes the expression of genes related to energy metabolism, insulin secretion and inflammatory pathways, an important step to improved health and fitness.
"Integrative Medicine blends the best of conventional and complementary medical approaches, addressing not only physical symptoms, but also psychological, social, environmental & spiritual aspects of health & illness. It believes in stimulating the innate human capacity for healing, empowering patients in their own care, while providing them with choices in healthcare that are proven to be safe and effective." The Center for Integrative Medicine.
"The founding of the Qigong Institute was a natural outgrowth of my interest in Qigong. The goal of the Qigong Institute is to promote the scientific understanding of the basis of Qigong" Dr. Ken Sancier (1920 - 2013).
Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher Henderson Smith
Qigong is a mind and body wellness practice integrating movement, posture, breathing, and awareness in a new category of exercise called "meditative movement." Meditative Movement is defined by (a) some form of movement or body positioning, (b) a focus on breathing, and (c) a cleared or calm state of mind with a goal of (d) deep states of relaxation. More...
If There Was Ever a Time to Activate Your Vagus Nerve, It Is Now. Four simple steps to return to a ‘rest and digest’ state.
Dr. Roger Jahnke Sitting Qigong
Qigong for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Infection in Older Adults
Tai Chi is one of the virtual mind-body interventions recommended by Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in this study using Zoom that demonstrates the effectiveness of remote delivery to facilitate patient access to services. [PMID: 32902712].
"One incredibly useful practice that may prove therapeutic for recovering Covid-19 patients is Qigong... Like yoga or tai chi, it is a practice of synchronizing breath with movement. Qigong translates to “life energy mastery” and includes exercise, movement of qi ( energy), and improved blood and lymphatic flow. Research suggests that Qigong improves health by decreasing stress, reducing inflammation, strengthening respiratory muscles, increasing lung capacity, and improving immune function. Each of these mechanisms can help restore lung function after Covid-19 infection." [Full Article]
Mindfulness with paced breathing is fundamental to Qigong. Qigong Institute founder Dr. Ken Sancier reported on Qigong's beneficial effects for blood pressure in his landmark paper 'Anti Aging Benefits of Qigong' in 1996. Papers published since then have confirmed Qigong's use in lowering hypertension.
"One of the most plausible mechanisms is that paced breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system, which reduce stress chemicals in the brain and increase vascular relaxation that may lead to lowering of blood pressure." [Read Article].
Coronavirus (Covid19) Recovery Breathing Exercises by Patrick McKeown
"Tai chi is often described as 'meditation in motion,' but it might well be called 'medication in motion.' MORE.
Multifaceted physical activities such as tai ji (tai chi), qigong, and yoga involve varying combinations of neuromotor exercise, resistance exercise, and flexibility exercise. Neuromotor exercise training is beneficial as part of a comprehensive exercise program for older persons, especially to improve balance, agility, muscle strength, and reduce the risk of falls. MORE.
Stress in the workplace is is the second-most disabling illness for workers, with an annual price tag of more than $300 billion in lost work time, health care costs, and stress reduction. MORE.
The practices that are today called 'Qigong' are millennia old, but the term 'Qigong' was coined in the mid-20th Century.
Neuroscience Reveals the Secrets of Meditation’s Benefits. Although Western psychologists have been studying the ancient contemplative practice since the 1970s -- mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn created Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in 1979 -- scientific interest in mindfulness has escalated in the past decade. MORE.
Qigong is not exercise -- it is dynamic meditation. Doing repetitions is not the focus - it is conscious application of the three intentful corrections - lengthen the spine, deepen the breath, clear the mind or visualize healing. MORE.
Qigong and Tai Chi initiate the “relaxation response,” which alters the neurochemistry profile toward accelerated inner healing and enhancing the efficiency of the immune system.
Qigong Trips to deepen your practice at power spots in Asia, Africa, and more.
Educating the public about the health and life-enhancing benefits of Qigong.
This is a short clip from Qigong: Ancient Chinese Healing for the 21st Century, created by Qigong Institute Chairman of the Board Francesco Garripoli. It was the first Qigong documentary to be shown on PBS, starting in 1999.
The full documentary is on Garripoli's Qigong beginning practice DVD which can be obtained via the Qigong Institute Store.