Qigong, literally meaning "energy skill" or "energy manipulation," is the ancient art and science of achieving greater health, rejuvenation, restoration, relaxation, concentration, balance, stillness of mind and subtle awareness. All of these are achieved through daily personal practices utilizing simple yet profound postures and movements, along with the breath and the focus of one's mind. Qigong may also include the manipulation of one's energy by a qualified Qigong master.

Along with Acupuncture, Herbs, and Massage/Bodywork, Qigong is considered one of the four branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and has a history going as far back as 5,000 years. The three varieties, or categories, of Qigong, which overlap to varying degrees, include Martial Qigong, Medical Qigong, and Spiritual Qigong.

Medical Qigong, including Internal and External Qigong, deals primarily with health restoration and maintenance, rejuvenation, deep relaxation, and stress reduction:

• Internal Qigong may be practiced by oneself as preventative health care, aiding in relaxation, rejuvenation, restoration, stress reduction, emotional health, mental focus, and well being.
• With External Qigong Therapy, a Qigong doctor emits Qi towards the patient in order to purge, strengthen, and regulate the patient's energetic matrix, addressing specific health issues or for overall health, relaxation, rejuvenation, and stress reduction, etc.
• Internal Qigong may also include the prescription of specific exercises to address distinct health conditions, such as insomnia, high blood pressure, etc. and is often used as an adjunct to External Qigong Therapy.

A regular Qigong practice can be used as preventative health care, aiding in relaxation, rejuvenation, restoration, stress reduction, emotional health, mental clarity, and well being. It can also be used to develop subtle healing abilities, energetic perceptions, and mental focus.

A person who practices with sincerity, is regular in their practice, and has the guidance of a qualified Qigong doctor/teacher yields benefits, especially over time, that are profound. Sincerity simply means approaching the practice with an open mind and heart, and allowing energetic changes to occur and take their natural course. Regularity in practice is also important, because each practice session is initiating, creating, and nurturing new energetic patterns in the physical, emotional, mental, energetic and spiritual body. Regular practice ensures that these new patterns take root and are given a chance to unfold, while old and outmoded patterns are slowly rooted out. Even 10 minutes a day of sincere practice can have powerful results over time, in the same way that one small step taken each day adds up to a long journey in one year.

In addition to sincerity and regularity in practice, it is notably important to have the help of a qualified Qigong teacher for various reasons. First, a teacher will make subtle corrections in the student's posture, breath, and focused intention to ensure that each minute spent in practice yields the most benefit. A teacher is also aware of the many energetic transitions that occur as a result of sincere practice, and will be available to answer the many questions and concerns that arise during these transitions, giving the student support based on first-hand personal experience. A teacher will also greatly accelerate the student's progress through direct energetic transmission of subtle teaching and healing, while also suggesting which Qigong practices to do based on observing the student's needs and energetic constitution over time, both of which are always changing and evolving.

In External Qigong Therapy, also known as Qi Emission Therapy, a Qigong doctor emits Qi towards the recipient in order to purge, strengthen, and regulate their energetic matrix, addressing specific health issues or for overall health. External Qigong can also be used by Qigong teachers to assist their students in accelerating their skills and abilities.

The doctor initiates the External Qigong Treatment session by a special meditation that creates a safe and nurturing space within which the treatment will occur. Next, the client's condition is assessed via energetic palpation skills. Finally, applying the methods and principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the doctor promotes health and well being within the client's physical tissues and energetic matrix via the doctor's trained ability to lead, guide, nurture, support, and emit Qi. Depending on the specific needs of the client, the doctor may purge excess, blocked, turbid, and/or stagnant energy from any of the client's tissues, organs and/or meridians. The doctor may also emit Qi into areas, organs, systems, or channels that are deficient and in need of energizing, bolstering and support. Finally, the doctor will regulate the client's entire energetic matrix, including the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects, via highly specialized Qi emission and guiding techniques.

Following the treatment, the doctor may prescribe distinct Internal Qigong exercises for the client to practice on their own time, which will be specific to both the needs of the client and the healing initiated in the treatment session.

Internal Qigong exercises may be prescribed to address distinct health conditions, such as insomnia, high blood pressure, etc., and are often used as an adjunct to External Qigong Therapy. Internal Qigong exercises are also prescribed to Qigong students for developing distinct abilities to perceive, guide, and emit Qi.

The Qigong doctor assesses the client's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual condition through a variety of techniques. Some of these may include assessment via the pulse, tongue, energetic palpation, observation, and questions. Specific Qigong exercises are prescribed based on the doctor's findings and assessment, as well as the client's intended results.

These prescriptions may include simple movements designed to open the flow of Qi along specific meridians (energetic channels) in the body, or special tones designed to purge toxic Qi from any of the internal organs or systems of the body. For Qigong students, the prescriptions are designed to create specific openings and energetic development, aiding them on their path to mastery of Qi.

The prescribed Qigong exercises, when preformed with care and sincerity by the client or student, help create and nurture new patterns of health, vitality, and energy on the physical as well as mental, emotional, and spiritual level. The prescriptions may be practiced by themselves, or used to support and nurture healing initiated with External Qigong Therapy.

A person may elect to study Medical Qigong with the intention of eventually using it to help others through teaching and healing. This process begins by students practicing Internal Qigong with the care and guidance of their teacher, while receiving External Qigong Therapy when necessary or desired. In this phase, students learn to sense, feel, and direct their own energy, and at the same time, establish new patterns of health and vitality. Often times during this phase old physical, emotional, mental, energetic and spiritual patterns are brought up into consciousness where students are able to address, transform, and release them, thus creating space in their energetic matrix for new patterns to take root and unfold. It is by experiencing energetic transformation and healing first-hand that students become ready to help others undertake a similar journey.

In the second phase of training, students learn to direct energy for the benefit of others. This is accomplished through practicing specific Internal Qigong to further promote and refine their ability to perceive, lead, guide, store, and emit Qi. Students concurrently acquire knowledge and training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, including Five Element theory, the Organs, Meridians, Points, Twelve Terrestrial Branches, Chakras, energetic and physical anatomy, etc. Students integrate this knowledge with their developing energetic abilities.

In the third phase of training, students refine their Qi perception, assessment, and emission skills, while learning about specific disease processes and how to address them. Students learn subtle listening skills that enable them to notice and detect patterns of energetic dysfunction, while refining their ability to use TCM theory and their energetic skills to quickly and effectively address and correct the dysfunctions, restoring health and balance to their clients. Students also become proficient in teaching Qigong, and in prescribing Internal Qigong that will directly promote the healing of specific energetic dysfunctions.