Qi gong is a system of ancient Chinese movement designed to strengthen and balance internal energy. There are thousands of qi go
ng forms and routines practiced throughout the world. Soaring Crane Qi Gong was introduced to the world in 1979 by Master Zhao Jin-Xiang, and it rapidly became one of the most popular forms in China, with well over 20,000,000 people practicing today. The reasons are many: the five routines of Soaring Crane Qi Gong are easily learned, students begin to notice changes in mind, body, and spirit shortly after beginning practice, and it is one of the most effective forms of medical qi gong practiced today.
Historically, qigong developed in China along four primary lines: to increase physical prowess, to increase lifespan, to improve one's health, and to give one access to one's own spirituality. Soaring Crane Qigong, while emphasizing the restoration and maintenance of health, draws from all of these historic lines. As a result, a practitioner's entire being is affected.
Master Zhao, the founder of Soaring Crane Qigong, was ill with pleurisy and tuberculosis as a teenager and was eventually able to cure himself by practicing the qi gong taught to him while in a sanitarium. His continued practice led to insights and understandings from which he developed Soaring Crane Qi Gong.
THE PRACTICE AND THE EFFECTS
Ultimately, the purpose of practicing any form of qigong is to become a channel between Heaven and Earth and to attain harmony among Heaven, self, and Earth.
On a less esoteric note, Soaring Crane Qigong is a system of mental visualizations and gentle physical movements that open the meridians of the body, through which the qi flows. Within the safety of a perfectly balanced form that allows heightened awareness while remaining well grounded, Body, Mind, and Spirit respond. The effects of clearing the meridians can be experienced as improvement in physical health, including lower blood pressure, increased flexibility, sounder sleep, less pain, fewer headaches, improved immune system function, and increased energy. The effects can also be experienced in the functioning of the mind, with the practitioner noticing an improvement in creative and intellectual abilities. Lastly, one's Spirit is likely to be affected; emotions are more balanced, moving through and stabilizing more easily, and one's access to intuition and other subtle energies increases, as does one's awareness of connection with the Universe.
In short, consistent practice of Soaring Crane Qigong is empowering and life-changing.
WHO CAN PRACTICE SOARING CRANE QIGONG?
Soaring Crane Qigong can be practiced by nearly anyone, with the exception of pregnant women or people with active psychosis. Physical limitations need not stop a person from practice since any movement can be visualized with considerable effectiveness.
The practice of Soaring Crane Qigong is complementary to nearly all forms of treatment. However, learning Soaring Crane Qigong is not a substitute for medical care and any questions concerning its appropriateness for you need to be addressed to your medical practitioner.
Ralph Dehner learned Soaring Crane Qigong from Master Wang Jiwu in1990 and received permission to teach it in 1997.
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