Traffic jams. News headlines. Holiday shopping. It's enough to drive a person to try Qigong (pronounced Chee-Gung).

        Ralph Dehner, who teaches Qigong at the Mighty Vine Wellness Club in Clifton, explains: “ "Qi' means "universal life force' in Chinese. They believe it animates the universe and makes things happen in our bodies — transforming what we eat, keeping the body warm and protecting us from disease.”

        “Gong” translates simply as “work or exercise.”

        Qigong is an umbrella term that refers to all the Chinese arts that work on the energy of the body. There are more than 35,000 forms of Qigong taught in China. Some are “soft” martial arts, such as Tai Chi Ch'uan. Others are “hard” martial arts, such as Kung Fu or Tai Quon Do, where kicking and punching are involved.

        But they all have one thing in common: to balance the energy and to get the Qi flowing freely through the body.

        Joining a Qigong class is like entering a world of slow motion. The movements are gentle and easy to do, but they require concentration and focus on balance.

        The class begins with a still pose which brings one's attention to his or her Qi. Then the students move in unison with the quiet direction of the teacher, doing flowing arm movements in deliberate patterns. The occasional repositioning of legs turns the students' gaze to different views of the room.

        “It's believed the free flow of Qi through our system keeps us healthy,” Mr. Dehner says. “Among the positive effects shown in studies with Qigong is that it can lower the resting heart rate and improve the cardiovascular system much like aerobic exercise does.

        “In fact, practitioners of Qigong in China have been shown to have fewer abnormal EKGs, reduced LDL (bad cholesterol), normalized blood pressure and improved immune systems . . . It's one of the earliest forms of preventive medicine there is.”

        Lisa Pearl, 38, of Bond Hill is a lab assistant who has been doing Qigong for about a year.

        “When I found out about this, I learned that it can relieve pain,” Ms. Pearl says. “I have arthritis and it helps. I do this every day at home, six exercises for about a half an hour in the morning. The first time I did the exercises I actually felt better. I really felt the Qi. (She indicates an area in the middle of her torso). It gives me energy.”

        Steve Korach, 53, of Montgomery, recruiting manager for Procter & Gamble, has been practicing Qigong for more than three years.

        “I wanted to do some alternative type fitness as opposed to just working out,” he says. “I was getting bored with all the machines, and I heard of this class and decided to come down and try it.

        “I have almost exclusively gone over to alternative training . . . I start each day with this. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes. I find it to be both relaxing and energizing at the same time.”

        A newcomer to Qigong, Erin Murray, 25, a mental health activities coordinator who lives in Clifton, says, “I really like it. If somebody had told me that moving around (like this) warms up your body and you can feel a Qi, I would have called them a liar. But I truly believe I can feel my Qi. I would like to try it again.”

        “Anybody can do these forms of Qigong,” Mr. Dehner says. “Most of them are pretty simple and adaptable, and not strenuous. They are done as very slow rhythmical movements, almost like moving under water. And the more tension-free and smooth the movements, the more effective they are.”

To learn more

       Classes

        • White Willow School of Tai Chi, 7433 Montgomery Road, Silverton. “Tai Chi, Level I,” days and times vary (first class two hours, following classes one hour). “Basic Qigong,” new eight-week class starts each month. $120. 791-9428; www.whitewillowtaichi.com.

        • Ralph Dehner's School of Tai Chi and Qigong, Mighty Vine Wellness Club, 2347 Vine St., Clifton. “Crane Flying Qigong,” 6:30-8 p.m. Monday or Thursday. Beginners five-week class, also available to groups at their locations. $150. 241-9355, 674-1179; ralphdehner@juno.com.

        • Moye Spiritual Life Center, St. Anne Convent, Ky. 8, Melbourne. “Qigong Retreat,” Dec. 7-9 and April 19-21. $225 per weekend, includes meals and lodging. 241-9355 or 674-1179; ralphdehner@juno.com.

        • Instructor Susan Evans, West Chester area. “Beginning Qigong.” 779-4757.

        • Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Survey of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, course MCH4818. Winter term beginning Feb. 4, summer term June 24. Online survey course with activities and videos of Cincinnati practitioners of various practices, including Qigong. Instructor: Cindy Kief. 569-1691; www.cinstate.cc.oh.us.

        Books

        It's hard to learn Qigong from a video or a book, instructor Ralph Dehner says. Instructors can't look at you and say “your alignment is off here and there, but you can get some background and try some simple exercises.” Here's a few he recommends:

        • The Way of Qigong — The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing (Ballantine Books; $14.95) by Kenneth Cohen. Also available in audio.

        • The Book of Chi — Harnessing the Healing Force (Redwing Book Co.; $22.95) by Paul Wildish.

        Video

        • Qigong Traditional Chinese Exercises for Healing Body, Mind and Spirit (Sounds True Publishers; $23.35) by Ken Cohen.

        Web site

        National Qigong Association: www.nqa.org.

        Publication

        Qi Journal, the journal of traditional Eastern health and fitness, offers instruction on Qigong movements and other Chinese arts. Quarterly, $18.95 per year. Insight Publishing, P.O. Box 18476, Anaheim Hills, CA 92817; www.qi-journal.com.

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