“Qigong is only for the Unfit, Old, and Frail.” This attitude is the flip side of the “Fear of Exercise Class” barrier and is a product of our culture’s attitude toward fitness and exercise. We get the message loud and clear that exercise and movement are primarily for burning calories, increasing muscle strength, and promoting cardiovascular health. We know that stretching is also an important component of fitness, but for most of us fitness buffs it certainly does not rank up in importance with our sweat-inducing workouts. The idea of calming the nervous system, deepening the breath, improving posture, and promoting organ health does not appear in the radar. If we observe a qigong class, we may see mostly older participants moving slowly who likely appear to be in poor physical condition. For those of us who like to exercise hard and feel the burn, qigong looks, frankly, kind of wimpy. We acknowledge that qigong may be useful for Grandma, but why would I want to do something so boring and gentle.

Mind Change. I can’t blame you if you have this attitude towards qigong, because this was where I was before I personally experienced improvements in fitness and health from practicing qigong and tai chi. Qigong and tai chi complement vigorous exercise to improve athletic performance. Some of the benefits you will enjoy form a qigong/tai chi practice are greater lung capacity, a more integrated nervous system that improves reflexes, better stability and balance, toned and healthy muscles, and a relaxed mind that can handle stress. More and more elite athletes are using qigong and tai chi to enhance their skills because it gives them an edge up, so a 15-minute qigong practice may be just what will make the difference for you as well.