What is Neigong?
Neigong means “Internal Skill” or “Internal Work” and was the term used to cover
all Chinese Internal practices. However, since the 1920’s the term Chi Kung has become fashionable to describe these exercises.
It is a mistake, though, to think that they are one in the same. Chi Kung was born
out of Neigong and adheres to the internal principles of Neigong, but is
only part of the Neigong story.
The purpose of Neigong is to bring about change in the body, from the inside out.
That is to say, from the core to the periphery, activating the core energy to facilitate
the opening, activation and energising of the peripheral (meridians and aura) energies. Chi Kung works in the opposite
direction, starting with the opening, activation and energising of the meridians
in order to facilitate the energising of the core.
Within Neigong it is vitally important that the practitioner has the ability to
listen to the
Chi. Without this there is no true
experience of the flow of Chi and with no feedback, from this listening, the practitioner
cannot really direct the flow.
At a basic level, in Active Chi Kung, the breath and body movement is used to assist
in the flow/direction of the Chi. In Passive Chi Kung, the breath is used for the same
purpose. However, this can “bind” the practitioner to his/her respiration, partly
blocking him/her from appreciating the inner changes.
In Neigong, however, there is no need to tie the movement of the Chi to the movement
of the breath and this allows the practitioner to appreciate, more fully, the inner
alchemy that is taking place.
In Chi Kung, with the exception of any
Five Element exercises (Where there are a number of movements in the sequence,
each causing the Chi to flow in a different meridian pair), the tendency is to work
on one primary meridian pair in each exercise, opening these meridians, and then
moving on to another exercise.
In Neigong the emphasis is on working from the core in order to access all the energy
flows simultaneously. This has a synergistic effect that allows the practitioner
to access/experience all of the Chi flow and also, at higher levels, the integration
of mind/body/spirit.
Psychologically, Neigong can be used to “let go” of hurt and trauma from the past.
These can include things that we have bottled up, deep inside us, as both physical
and psychological inflexibility and pain.
Spiritually, Neigong can bring about heightened states of awareness.
Pro-Holistic provides Shiatsu,
Healing Chi Kung therapy, on-site massage, Stress Mangement courses, and Stress Mangement workshops. We also provide tuition in Chi Kung,
Tai Chi, Neijia,
and self defence.