Self-Care and Self-Discipline through Qi Gong

Abstract

Objectives: One of the most important aspects of Qi Gong practice is to understand self-care and self-discipline as a practitioner’s service both to themself and to others. Self-care and self-discipline is physical, mental, and spiritual. By understanding one’s responsibility in this way, practitioners are free to practice medicine as a relationship between themselves and patients, helping them to become a healer.Methods: Traditional Chinese Medicine as a philosophy and practice will be introduced in the context of developing a successful Qi Gong practice. Basic Qi Gong techniques in posture, movement, breathing, phonation, and visualization will be demonstrated interactively. Increasing self-awareness will be emphasized, so that practitioners can use Qi Gong techniques to develop healing skills in their medical practice.Results: Although it requires long-term commitment to receive many of the deeper rewards of a dedicated Qi Gong practice, many of the early benefits are possible with only a modest investment in performing proper Qi Gong techniques. Practitioners will learn to increase their mindfulness and concentration, and understand the value of self-care and self-discipline. Through short practice sessions, the utility of Qi Gong in improving healing will become evident to the novice and initiated alike.Conclusions: Qi Gong is a series of ancient techniques from Traditional Chinese Medicine that promote self-care and self-discipline as a service to oneself and others. Qi Gong is a valuable method for taking care of oneself, and also allows practitioners to transfer its benefits to patients during the compassionate practice of medicine. It forms a foundation for whole person care by strengthening practitioners to provide healing to patients on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels.