External Qi-Gong (Wai Dan Qi Gong or Wai-Gong)
Two different and complementary approaches to Qi-Gong are external (Wai Dan Qi-Gong) and internal (Nei Dan Qi-Gong or Nei-Gong) schools (read more on Qi-Gong styles).
It is important to realize that both Wai-Gong and Nei-Gong aim at NeiDan, that is creating the elixir within the human body. (Dan: Elixir; in qi gong terms it is the life prolonging substance)
Wai Dan Qi-Gong should not be confused with WaiDan, the latter denoting the art of Chinese alchemy (sacred chemistry) of combining substances to create elixirs, (that is to say Wai Dan Qi-Gong and WaiDan are different terms)
External here means the limbs, as opposed to torso that includes the viscera.
External Qi-Gong is focused on the extremities of the body, like the hands, concentrating the energy there and opening the meridians from out to inside the body. External exercises are based on gentle movements of the body, as well as some still exercises where (e.g. Zhan Zhuang) where the practitioner seems still from the outside both is concentrated in the efficient use of his/her from inside.
Most popular external martial art is Shaolin Gong-Fu as opposed to Tai-Chi Chuan, which is the most popular internal martial art.
It is also worthwhile to mention that Wai Dan Qi-Gong and Nei Dan Qi-Gong methods are complementary and a healthy practice will involve aspects of both.
Two different and complementary approaches to Qi-Gong are external (Wai Dan Qi-Gong) and internal (Nei Dan Qi-Gong or Nei-Gong) schools (read more on Qi-Gong styles).
It is important to realize that both Wai-Gong and Nei-Gong aim at NeiDan, that is creating the elixir within the human body. (Dan: Elixir; in qi gong terms it is the life prolonging substance)
Wai Dan Qi-Gong should not be confused with WaiDan, the latter denoting the art of Chinese alchemy (sacred chemistry) of combining substances to create elixirs, (that is to say Wai Dan Qi-Gong and WaiDan are different terms)
External here means the limbs, as opposed to torso that includes the viscera.
External Qi-Gong is focused on the extremities of the body, like the hands, concentrating the energy there and opening the meridians from out to inside the body. External exercises are based on gentle movements of the body, as well as some still exercises where (e.g. Zhan Zhuang) where the practitioner seems still from the outside both is concentrated in the efficient use of his/her from inside.
Most popular external martial art is Shaolin Gong-Fu as opposed to Tai-Chi Chuan, which is the most popular internal martial art.
It is also worthwhile to mention that Wai Dan Qi-Gong and Nei Dan Qi-Gong methods are complementary and a healthy practice will involve aspects of both.