Qigong (qi = life energy, pronounced “chee”, and gong = work/cultivation/mastery) represents an assortment of practices and disciplines that go back many, many generations.
A commonly held image of Qigong is that of many people in a park going through a series of movements in synchrony. Such movements, coordinated with inner practices of concentration and contemplation, can move energy throughout the body, clearing out blockages, opening acupuncture points and channels and thereby strengthening the Qi and resulting in greater health. When indicated, I teach such practices to my clients.
Another form of Qigong healing is where the Qigong practitioner, after going through a process of self-development, works directly, energetically, to move or change the quality of energy in the patient. In fact, in many ways, the practice of classical five element acupuncture requires that the practitioner develop as a Qigong practitioner in specific capabilities.
Beyond the way that Qigong is integrated into classical five element acupuncture, there are conditions that can be treated very simply and directly using Qigong healing techniques. And there are other applications, such as using Qigong techniques to activate acupuncture points without needles, which can facilitate the use of acupuncture with young children or certain other circumstances where the usual acupuncture approaches might not be well tolerated.