The origins of Qigong dates thousands of years in the history. Some sources indicate that the Qigong system was created more than five thousand years ago. Zhong Yuan Qigong is probably the oldest of the Qigong styles known today. It was practiced in the central region of China know as Zhong Yuan region for more than seven thousand years, even before the emergence of modern religions.
Zhong Yuan Qigong includes elements of various Qigong schools, at the same time this system has nothing to do with religion, politics or any ideology - anyone can practice it, regardless of their beliefs. The Zhong Yuan Qigong system is a simple science of life.
Learning and practicing the system does not require any changes or adjustments in diet, daily life or work regime. Its primary purpose is the health benefits, and after that the development of one's abilities. Anyone can do the exercises - from childhood to an old age.
The Zhong Yuan Qigong system is based on elements that are at the core of all living beings - energy channels, biologically active points and energy balancing principles. It teaches how to focus and relax - both important abilities for maintaining good health and quality of life. It is adapted for the Western lifestyle and can be practiced by anyone.
People who practice this system on a daily basis easily endure stress, achieve a state of internal balance and most importantly - improve their overall health.
Our health is related to our energy balance. If we don't have enough energy, we feel tired and can get sick. A healthy person is always energetic, active and can finish what they have started.
Developing one's spirit means, first of all, to stabilise and strengthen one's mind power to such a level that you are able to solve any task and problem that you may encounter during life.
The current Zhong Yuan Qigong Grandmaster and lineage holder is Master Xu Mingtang. He is one of today's most respected meditation teachers and practitioners of Chinese medicine, having taught the Zhong Yuan Qigong system to more than 50,000 students in at least 17 countries and overseeing many hospitals and clinics around the world.
He comes from an ancient family with close ties to the Shaolin Monastery in China. The hall and the statue in the Shaolin Monastery shown in the picture is dedicated to the ancestor of the Xu Mingtang's family. Many sources confirm that Kungfu, Wushu and multiple forms of Qigong originated in the Shaolin monastery and it's surrounding region also known as Zhong Yuan region.
About 2000 years ago the systems of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism began to merge with local Qigong practices of Zhong Yuan region. The highly respected Buddhist monk Bodhidharma refined these practices into a meditation system known as Chan. Hence in China the Zhong Yuan Qigong practice is known as Zhong Yuan Chan. From the Shaolin Monastery these practices began to spread globally including to Japan where they got their most well known name today - Zen.
Chan or Zen meditations were heavily influenced by the local Dao and Zhong Yuan Qigong practices, but the main difference is that generally these are religious systems. Despite its ancient origin, Zhong Yuan Qigong has remained free of religion and could be better classified as a scientific approach. The Zhong Yuan Qigong system is designed so that you can achieve everything as a result of your own practice, perseverance and hard work.
Zhong Yuan Qigong is one of the largest Qigong meditation schools in the world. It's practiced by more than 50,000 people globally and in many other forms in mainland China. It's been taught by 600+ certified instructors hosting meditation groups in the largest cities of Europe and USA. Zhong Yuan Qigong retreats are held in multiple countries every year and are often attended by 800+ participants while the student's most loved retreat is held for one month every summer in the school's birth place - Shaolin Temple.
