If you can incorporate some qigong movements into your daily morning routine after waking, you can start reaping the rewards. You can start with a short routine that won’t take more than a few minutes.
Below are a few qigong benefits you can experience by practicing this gentle mind-body exercise.
- Reduces stress. Qigong is an exercise that works both the body and the mind. As your chi flows through practice, your mind and body begin to relax and as you being to relax, your stress reduces.
- Builds bone density. Studies have shown increase in bone density among qigong practitioners, most noticeably in post-menopausal women.
- Builds the immune system. A study conducted showed that practicing qigong increased the monocyte and lymphocyte quantities which are 2 white blood cell types that make up most of the lymphatic immune system.
- Lowers blood pressure. In a 30 year study, researchers found that qigong practitioners were able to decrease their blood pressure medication or get off the blood pressure drugs altogether.
- Decreases stroke risk. In the same blood pressure study, researchers also found that these same qigong practitioners enjoyed a reduced risk of stroke.
- Improves asthma. An added benefit of slowing down the breathing is that qi blockages in the lungs are relieved. It’s believed that these qi blockages are the root cause of asthma.
- Improves sleep. The deep relaxation and mental quiet you get from practicing qigong help you to enjoy a deeper and more restorative sleep.
- Improves cardio-pulmonary function. The slow deep breathing of qigong strengthens both the heart and the lungs.
- Improves circulation. By increasing the elasticity of the blood vessels, the practice of qigong helps to improve circulation.
- Improves kidney function. Qigong has an exercise that targets the kidneys. It stimulates the qi within the kidneys which allows them to heal in patients with chronic kidney disease.
- Balances emotions. As your stress reduces, your emotions become balanced and you’re able to develop a clear and tranquil mind. These benefits can help those suffering from depression and anxiety.
- Aids in digestion. Your digestive organs get massaged during this practice which brings more oxygenated blood to them. This improves the overall function of the digestive system.
- Prevents joint injury. The better balance you learn from practicing qigong teaches you how to move without straining or locking your joints. It’s gentle stretches which increase flexibility are also helpful for preventing joint injury.
- Prevents muscle spasms. As mentioned earlier, qigong also helps to develop slow and deep breathing which opens constricted blood vessels. This process helps to reduce muscle spasms.
- Slows respiration. Practicing qigong over the long term slows down breathing. This slowing of the respiration allows us to take in more oxygen.
- Improves overall well-being. Because qigong strengthens the body and the mind, a regular practice will give you an improved sense of well-being.
- Increases focus. Studies of qigong practitioners have found a boost in beta waves which indicate a strong focus and sharpening of the mind.
- Strengthens nerves. Qi (or chi) flows along the nerves and qigong’s techniques strengthens the mind-body connection. With continued qigong practice, body awareness grows, putting us in touch with our nervous system. This in turn makes our nerves stronger.
- Improves memory. Given that qigong sharpens our focus, it helps to improve our memory.
- Improves quality of life for cancer patients. Studies have shown that qigong can help improve the quality of life for cancer patients by helping to reduce stress and fatigue. It has also helped with improving sleep, balance and strength.
- Increased Energy and Vitality. Qigong improves chi flow which naturally leads to increased energy and vitality.
- Builds power. Qigong is an internal art that builds “relaxed power”. Instead of fighting and straining like in traditional western exercises, it loosens you up and allows the energy to flow.
- Improves flexibility. The movements of qigong have been shown to increase the flexibility of its practitioners.
- Improves posture. The muscles used for respiration are also the muscles that support the posture. Because of qigong’s focus on correct deep and relaxed breathing, the posture is also improved.
- Increases balance. Due to qigong’s low impact deliberate movements, it can help to improve the practitioners balance.
- Destroys free radicals. In a study done on healthy individuals and individual suffering from a variety of diseases, the concentration of free radicals was dramatically reduced for all individuals through qigong treatment.
- Improves skin elasticity. Free radicals are a major cause of tissue degeneration and because qigong destroys free radicals, it helps to improve skin elasticity.
- Speeds recovery. One can practice qigong after injury or surgery. Doing the gentle movements using your uninjured parts can help speed recovery by increasing circulation and energy flow to all parts of the body.
- Loosens muscles. As qigong builds relaxed power, it helps to loosen the muscles.
- Strengthens ligaments. In the same way that it strengthens joints, qigong can strengthen ligaments.
- Lowers resting heart rate. A study of a 12-week qigong training program and at the conclusion, the qigong practitioners experienced a significantly improved heart rate.
- Normalizes EKG. Deliberate control of the autonomic nervous system which regulates the heart rate helps to normalize the EKG.
- Reduces pain. Pain is often associated with qi blockages. Practicing qigong removes those blockages, allowing for the flow of qi which reduces pain.
- Relieves bronchitis. A regular qigong practice can relieve bronchitis because it opens and strengthens the lungs.
- Relieves migraines. Another great qigong benefit is that it can help to relieve migraines by building deep relaxing, strengthening organs and bringing back internal balance.
Sources:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-tai-chi-curb-parkinson-disease.html