The term Qigong refers to various systems of breathing exercises
and physical postures that are thought to improve general health
by following the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine .
More precisely, this is internal Qigong, or Qigong practiced by
a person for his or her own benefit. Expert Qigong practitioners
may also use their training to treat people, a practice called
"external Qigong," or, alternatively, "Qi Therapy." Internal
Qigong is said to increase one's overall vitality and health by
facilitating the free flow of Qi in the body. The term "Qi"
refers to a supposed underlying "energy" in the body, as
conceptualized in the ancient medical systems of East Asia.
(There is no scientific evidence for the existence of Qi.) Those
who practice External Qigong claim to have developed so much
mastery of Qi they can project it into others. Methods related
to modern Qigong are mentioned in Chinese texts dating back more
than three millennia. Qigong bears a close relationships to the
martial arts traditi