Qigong For Healthy Muscles & Joints (11 Minute Beginner Practice)

Hello everyone! This week's video is focused on the muscles and joints. According to the dictionary, a muscle is soft tissue found in most animals. Muscle cells contain protein filaments of actin and myosin that slide past one another, producing a contraction that changes both the length and the shape of the cell. Muscles function to produce force and motion. A joint is the physical point of connection between two bones. For example, the knee joint is the point of connection between the femur, or thigh bone, and the tibia, or shin bone. Joints contain a variety of fibrous connective tissue.

In the practice of #Qigong, we use the muscles to move and articulate of joints in specific ways. We strive for effortless power and looseness; which is a very different goal than what we try to achieve with traditional Western forms of exercise. At the gym, we "pump up" the muscles through contraction. Contraction, impedes the flow of qi. In Qigong, we move with relaxed power by not straining the body. We loosen and open up the flow of energy.

As far as joints are concerned, people habitually lock their joints when accidents occur, and a locked joint is an easily broken joint. Ligaments can easily be overstretched in an accident and getting them to return to health and normal function is very difficult.
Qigong teaches better balance; it also teaches how to turn correctly without straining, to move your joints without locking them and how to relax during a fall or any other physical trauma.

This short practice is designed to stretch tight muscles and improve the function of the joints. As with any movement practice, listen to your body. Do what you can and don't do what you can't. Modify where you need to. I hope that you enjoy the practice.

Many Blessings,
Steven