F or many years people went to the gym with visions of six-pack abs and toned thighs dancing in their heads. Plenty still chase those goals, but today many gym patrons are as apt to be chanting as panting. The widespread acceptance of yoga started people down the broader path of mind-body exercise, and now it's a busy path indeed. One previously obscure practice becoming quite popular is Qigong (pronounced chee-gung or chee kong). A small gym near me has a sign promising "the real Qigong," while a large plush gym I know is advertising its weekly "fusion" Qigong class. Perhaps the best living proof of Qigong's acceptance in the Western world is the fact that it cropped up on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" not long ago. However, like with the yoga and pilates crazes, as popularity of Qigong has grown, so too have the variations, leading to potential confusion.

GENTLE BUT STRONG

To find out what Qigong is all about and what it can do for us, I called Jeffrey Zimmerman, OMD, who teaches it as well as Tai Chi and Optimotion, a mind-body discipline he developed. Dr. Zimmerman explains that there are actually three types of Qigong -- "health Qigong" describes the exercise discipline... "medical Qigong," which is a special type of massage that works on energy blockages... and a martial arts form of it. While it won't build six-pack abs, health Qigong is said to do the following:

• Help cleanse the body of toxins

• Restore energy

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Promote healing

• Integrate mind and body

• Increase sense of balance

Some people scoff at the idea that the gentle movements of Qigong contribute to health, but the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health has been impressed enough to sponsor several studies investigating Qigong's impact on the health of patients with heart disease, osteoarthritis and obesity. Other researchers have demonstrated that Qigong positively impacts balance (which can help prevent falling) and blood pressure... and we'll be hearing more study findings in the future.

HOW QIGONG WORKS

The "qi" in Qigong refers to the energy of the body, better known as chi. "Gong" means assiduous practice, and together they represent a way to harness your chi to help your body become soft, pliable and strong. As such, Dr. Zimmerman says Qigong is the underpinning of many other practices -- he likens it to learning the notes and structure of music that enable you to play an instrument. The practice of Qigong includes literally thousands of different forms and movements, including knee bends, hip twists and flowing arm motions that can be done while sitting, lying down, standing up or moving. To the untrained eye it looks similar to Tai Chi, a close relation. Breath is crucial to all postures and movements -- the specialized breathing techniques merged with slow movement are what transport the chi into various organs and body parts. Dr. Zimmerman explains that along with increasing fluidity, Qigong creates a deep awareness of the body and its movements. You begin to focus on how you are distributing your weight, how you are balancing and your basic posture, which allows you to feel free and move easier.

Unique to Qigong is that it builds power through lack of tension, says Dr. Zimmerman -- he says you can either have tension or you can have energy, but the two cannot co-exist. This is why he is greatly troubled by current hybrids like "power" Qigong, "fusion" Qigong and other versions that attempt to link modern Western physical fitness with this ancient Eastern practice. "These completely miss the point of Qigong," says Dr. Zimmerman in exasperation. "Qigong teaches fluidity, a concept that is totally opposite of the Western view of exercise. We Americans tend to go to the weak point and focus on ways to strengthen it. Qigong, on the other hand, educates and works with the entire body." Therefore, Dr. Zimmerman adds, learning Qigong can be a particular challenge for intellectually driven westerners who "have to stop the brain from trying to take over in order to learn it," he explains.

TO FIND THE "REAL DEAL"

To find a class that is what Dr. Zimmerman calls "the real deal," he advises asking around to locate people who are knowledgeable about Qigong. Explore what kind of education the instructor has. Ask if he/she has a background in Chinese or Oriental medicine, how long they've been studying Qigong and who they've been studying with. He acknowledges it can be difficult to find a teacher qualified in the traditional form of Qigong, although more masters have emigrated from China in recent years. Take the time to observe a few classes with a particular instructor before making a commitment to it, though. Qigong should never be painful or tense, so if you see signs of those, keep looking. The teacher should move smoothly and gracefully, and be quick to help students get past their tension. Good teachers adapt Qigong's patterns to the needs of their students. Taking a twice weekly class will put you on your way to learning this demanding art, says Dr. Zimmerman. And while it takes many years to master, even a shorter practice of Qigong will be beneficial for both a newfound physical freedom and to enhance your practice of Tai Chi, yoga and even other sports.