Qigong (Ch’i Kong) is an internal martial art in which one learns to sense the Qi moving in ones own body. Advanced practitioners are able to move the Qi in their body at will.
Basically, Qigong is a quiet meditative activity with profound physical, mental and spiritual side effects. Qigong is a great form of exercise, especially for those with osteoarthritis or artificial joints. It can help you build your leg muscles, strengthen your posture, and improve your balance, flexibility, and mobility. It also can teach you to relax and focus, even while executing the moves, and is a way to harmonize the musculoskeletal and nervous systems (stress management). In addition, it helps to develop concentration and coordination, and can reduce the risk of falls common with the elderly.
Even if you have heard ki (chi or Qi) explained a thousand time, you can never understand it on the basis of the explanations alone. It is something that you must master on your own strength.― Wang Hsiang-ch’i (Wang Xiangzhai)
This page presents several physical exercises that people have used to develop awareness of their Qi.
We begin with a basic standing posture that is universally applicable. Next a couple of fundamental drills that are sometimes inserted into longer exercises; measuring the Qi and spread the Qi. The standard rules are a collection of concepts that are conducive to the practice of Qigong. Instead of reminding the reader how to stand, where to focus and that the breath is vital we collected the key items into one list. We will not attempt to “teach” these exercises because interaction with a knowledgeable teacher and guide is required for you to study this art safely for any length of time. Instead this page simple lists the names of the positions in hopes of serving as a reminder of what was taught in class (may be used as a seed for your qigong notebook).