There are hundreds of varieties of qigong exercise. Hundreds of techniques have been developed in East Asian countries, and many new modern forms are developing.

Qigong is used mostly for improving health. But it can also be used for martial arts. In the martial arts, it is used to attack an opponent.

One of Many Ways to Move Qi

Qigong practitioners generally believe that qigong is an internal practice of physical exercise and mental meditation techniques to manipulate qi. But they usually practice external methods for added benefit also.

The external methods are herbal and medicinal methods and body manipulation along the channels in a variety of ways, such as moxibustion, cupping, massage, acupressure, and acupuncture.