Qigong (气功) has a history of thousands of years with its roots in Ancient Chinese practices of Yǎng Shēng (养生)–the art of cultivating and maintaining personal health. As a healing modality, it is one of the established branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qigong involves working with the energetic body so as to enhance the physical body’s function by way of Qi (气)–or vital energy, and interconnected systems of the human body. When these concepts are directly applied through therapeutic bodywork, the benefits to the client–and practitioner–can increase exponentially.
Here are some ways Qigong massage can benefit you and your practice:
1. Qigong massage can improve client experience
By having an understanding of the twelve major meridians and the directional pathways of the energy flow of Qi through the body, you can ascertain a deeper understanding of what issues may be facing your client (making your work even more effective and sought after).
As you likely already know, the physical location of pain in the body is often only a symptom of an underlying issue. For example, if you have a patient who is complaining of pain in their leg, a massage may only temporarily resolve the issue. An energetic understanding of the Chinese Medicine system of meridians, might suggest that the pain may be coming from an organ such as the spleen, liver, or kidney. With this expanded knowledge, your bodywork, along with utilizing the interconnected system and points of the meridians (in addition to the understanding of myofascial connections), can achieve faster and longer lasting results. Understanding these connections can also help you to recognize a more serious issue that may require referral, and in the process gain greater authority and trust with your clients.
2. Lessens the strain on your own body
Have you ever heard the expression work smarter, not harder? This expression could certainly be applied to bodywork! Every practitioner knows the potential physical toll on your body.
It is important to both care for and lessen the strain on YOUR own body so you can enjoy a prosperous career. Qigong massage can help you do this. Utilizing the theory of the Chinese Medicine meridian system and specific acupressure points–you can achieve greater results in less time and with less effort.
Likewise, understanding why it is important to remove stagnant energy in the body can lessen the amount of work spent on a specific location. A trained Qigong massage therapist can locate an area of stagnate energy. A truly skilled practitioner can even palpate patterns of disharmony off-bod–before palpating the tissues (saving even more time and energy). Understanding the channel pathways. Stagnate energy may be guided out of the body through the hands or the feet. Once again, saving the practitioner’s energy reserves as less effort is required to resolve localized pain and stagnation.
3. Differentiate your massage practice from competitors
Although Qigong has been practiced in China for thousands of years, it is still relatively new to the Western world. As knowledge is increasingly shared, so is the ability to obtain training from a qualified teacher. As Qigong gains popularity with the general public, recognition of its healing potential is on the rise. Incorporating Qigong into an existing modality or practice can attract new clientele, expand your skill set, and provide greater therapeutic efficacy–all while making your work easier and more enjoyable. This arcane, exciting, and personally rewarding healing modality will set you apart in your field.
If you want to learn more about Qigong massage or look into Qigong certification, consider learning more from the National Qigong Association. The NQA is the premier membership organization for Qigong in North America. We can help you find a teacher and/or help you attain Qigong certification.
As partners with MMIP, we would like to extend a discount of $20 for your first year of membership with the NQA. This discount is good for all three levels of membership. When you sign up, please use the discount code MMIP. To learn more, visit our website at nqa.org. We look forward to connecting with you, and if you have any questions, please contact info@nqa.org.
