What are the health benefits of Qigong (pronounced, “Chee Gong”) and Tai Chi?
How does it work? Before addressing some of the health benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi, it may be helpful to explain what physiological principles are at play causing these positive reactions. One of the pioneers in the study of the physiological effects of stress on the human body was Dr. Herbert Benson, of Harvard Medical School. His medical research concluded that when people purposefully get into a deep state of relaxation (either through meditation, hypnosis, prayer, yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, etc.) a condition occurs that Dr. Benson and his colleagues called the “Relaxation Response.” This is in essence, the opposite of the “flight or fight” emergency response that our nervous system activates during periods of stress. The negative physiological and psychological effects of stress are well documented. A recent article in Newsweek magazine (September 27th, 2004) tells us that between 60 to 90% of all doctor visits involve stress related complaints. Common health problems that are often
