Qi Gong exercises through the lens of the Alexander Technique: A conceptual congruence

Abstract 

This paper qualitatively reviews two complementary therapies: Qi Gong and Alexander Technique (AT). It is being suggested that Qi Gong and AT may be united through a qualitative congruence of their mutual underlying concepts. The author hypothesizes that a coherent rationale can be formed through this conceptual congruence and proposes that to some extent Qi Gong movements and AT can be considered interchangeably. Such synthesis of these two therapies is being presented to identify Qi Gong movements with the concept of somatic re-education and also to explain how this new construct can be developed. When verified, this hypothesis will allow individuals to better understand Chinese health exercises from the neurophysiology of emotions perspective.

Keywords: Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Qi Gong, Alexander Technique, Concept formation