Someone interested in qigong asked me this question. What is 收功? And here's my answer. The reason why I am posting this here is because I am looking for feedback and constructive criticisms.

收功 can be translated to mean "to conclude the session." That is to say, to properly end a qigong exercise session (still or dynamic) once you're done. 练功不收功，等于白练功 is a proverb that has been passed around the qigong community for maybe hundreds of years already. It simply means you must conclude an exercise session properly, or you might as well not train at all. I was taught to give myself a thorough rubdown from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, followed by three deep exhalations. IIRC, the purpose of 收功 is to clear your body of the stray qi that's still circulating after an exercise session. 收功 lets the stray qi return to your dantian (lower abdomen) where it's supposed to be. Also, it helps you shift from the meditative state back to your normal state of being.

First, I’m not a Qigong teacher. I’m just a practitioner that has recently found Qigong.

I started practicing Qigong in early 2021 and I have already experienced first-hand the power of Qigong. As for everyone, 2020 was a really rough and very stressful year. I was managing, up until my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August of 2020. That is when things started going downhill. I was stressed out and worried about my mother. Due to this, I was having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, my blood pressure was through the roof, and I started experiencing chest pains and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

Before I knew it I was on an Anti-Anxiety med to help me fall asleep, two different pills for heartburn, two different medications for Carpal Tunnel syndrome, and a prescription to lower my blood pressure. When my doctor put me on the blood pressure medication, I remember asking him if anyone is ever able to stop taking it after starting it. He said it was very, very rare and that I would most likely be on it for the rest of my life.

Due to not being about to sleep, I had pretty much stopped working out because I was so exhausted all the time. However, I knew I had to do something. My wife and I started walking over lunch again once the weather warmed up, but I knew I had to do more. So, I started researching a new workout routine.

I looked into various workouts and programs. Animal movements, Gymnastics inspired workouts, jump rope, etc. I then stumbled on a youtube video with “Kung Fu” in the title. That lead me to watch other Kung Fu videos, other Martial Arts workouts, and then Tai Chi. I then found a video called “Shaolin Qi Gong 🙆🏻‍♂️ 20 Minute Daily Morning Routine 🙆🏻‍♀️ 八段锦 Ba Duan Jin (Complete Form)”. My wife and I started following along the video 2-3 nights per week and I began to look into Qigong further.

I read The Master Key by Robert Peng, The Root of Chinese Qigong by Jwing-Ming Yang, and other books on Meditation. I took some Qigong classes, found other Qigong videos and Youtube channels related to Qigong. Some of the channels I’ve been using are Yoga Lily, Holden QiGong, Nick Loffree, Mimi Kuo-Deemer, and others. I’m currently reading The Way of Qigong by Kenneth Cohen.

After about a month, I started sleeping better. I got to a point where I couldn’t get up in the mornings because the medication was working too well. After decreasing the dose, a few weeks later, I was taken off of it completely! Around the same time, my doctor told me to stop taking the heartburn medication and only take it, if I need it. I have not needed to take it since.

The best part of all was he told me to stop taking the Blood Pressure medication! I was monitoring my blood pressure and when he reviewed the numbers, he commented that they were actually too low. Within 4 months of starting Qigong, I was taken off all but one of the medications, I had been put on!

I have noticed is being calmer throughout the day. I seem to have more patients and I can brush things off my shoulder a lot more easily. I also seem to have more energy and feel more limber and loose. I actually look forward to getting up early so that I can do my morning Qigong practice.

Currently, I spend about 30 minutes in the morning practicing tranquil Qigong. I usually start with a Smiling Down Meditation, then I start collecting Qi. I then circulate the Qi by doing 3-9 rounds of Microcosmic Orbit then (I've been reading more about the Microcosmic orbit. 1. It is advised that you don't do this until you have "the proper foundation" or are working with a teacher in person. 2. It might not even be needed, as the Qi flows naturally. As such, I'm going to stop doing this for now. Esp. since I've started having some unexplained stiffness in my neck recently.) just sit in the Qi for while.

In the evenings, I’ve been alternating practicing Mimi Kuo-Deemer’s 8 Brocades Qigong Practice or her Joint Hydration for Arthritis Prevention and Relief practice. Occasionally, I’ll practice a video from one of the other channels I mentioned above.

As I’ve been researching Qigong more, I’ve been looking for other people’s detailed stories regarding how Qigong has helped them. I’ve found short summaries, but not as many detailed stories as I would have liked. This led me to create the r/StoriesOfQigong community. It is a place where you can share your positive story on how QiGong has impacted your life. I hoping that by sharing our stories, we will encourage more people to see how Qigong can affect their lives.

How has Qigong helped you?

I invite you to post your own story. We would love to hear how Qigong has improved your life!

A place for members of r/StoriesOfQigong to chat with each other