Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga

Excerpts from the entry on Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Tai chi is an Eastern form of exercise that combines meditation with slow circular movements. If you watch people doing tai chi, it looks as if they are performing a martial art in a slow dance form. It connects your mind and thoughts to your body and your chi, the life energy that flows through your body. The slow, even, controlled movements help you become aware of how you move your body. It is a whole-body activity that is extremely low impact and does not stress your joints or ligaments. Qigong is a powerful self-healing method consisting of movement and meditation. Qi means life force or energy and gong means practice. There are at least 1,000 varieties of qigong, with various names, and some refer to it as the Chinese yoga. People practice qigong in large groups or by themselves. Some teachers prefer large groups because they believe more energy is present. It is a method of collecting and circulating additional energy and eliminating unbalanced or disordered energy. The word yoga is derived from Sanskrit, an ancient language. It means to unite the body, mind, and spirit. The most popular form of yoga is hatha yoga, a combination of exercises and breath control, which has sprouted many offshoots. In the United States, yoga is usually a combination of physical and meditative practices. In the classes you will be taught the various postures, along with breathing techniques, while you stretch your body.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga
• How Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga Work
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga
• Advantages of Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga
• How to Use Tai Chi, Qigong, and Yoga
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.