Qi Gong and Breathing Exercises

I lost a lot of weight over the past year and I’m at a point where I feel good about my weight and need to find something to keep me fit without losing too much more weight. I’m 6’2″ and weighed 252 pounds at my heaviest. I got down to 202 pounds before becoming vegan and pretty much stayed that way. For those interested, I stopped eating out and ran for a minimum of 45 minutes 3 times a week on the treadmill. I also hiked on the weekends and did laps in the pool. Basically home cooked meals and aerobics.

After becoming vegan I started running again and lost 10 pounds in a week, then another 5. So I got down to 186.5 by just running. I don’t want to lose too much weight so I stopped running and looked for other forms of exercise. I found the following two books at the library “Breathe In – Breathe Out, Inhale Energy and Exhale Stress by Guiding and Controlling Your Breathing” and “Qi Gong for Beginners”. I began doing the
breathing exercises and they really helped with relaxing and “winding down” without experiencing any weight loss. This is good if you have a fast metabolism like I do. The breathing exercises have you breathe with your abdomen and inhale through your nose as the nose has hairs that act as a filter for pollutants in the air. I honestly feel that everyone can benefit from “Breathe In – Breathe Out” and the breathing techniques are things you can do throughout a normal course of a day.

“Qi Gong for Beginners” uses the Korean version of Qi Gong (pronounced “Chee Kung”) called Pal Dan Gum to teach the reader ancient Taoist Yoga that builds, releases, and balances energy. Pal Dan Gum has only 8 poses compared to over 100 of the Chinese version T’ai Chi Ch’uan. The Korean version is said to have the most beneficial poses of Qi Gong and are called “The Eight Silken Movements” they take 6 minutes to perform from start to finish. Chapter three discusses breathing techniques that come naturally if you’ve read “Breathe In – Breathe Out” previously.

In addition to reading these two books. Both of which have been greatly beneficial to my mind and body, I began a Qi Gong class today. I learned the eagle, bear, and dragon poses in addition to a few other poses and stretches that I didn’t get the name of. Although Qi Gong is low impact, I began sweating as I stretched muscles that are seldom used and a few that have been previously injured. The breathing techniques, eight silken movements, and additional poses and stretches I’m learning in class are really helping me to release stress, feel more energized, and regain focus without burning calories or straining my muscles.

These exercises require no special equipment or clothing so they are both
environmentally and animal friendly.