Qi gong

A mystical traditional art in China, based on breathing exercises and which assists in relaxation, the aim of qi gong is to cultivate qi – also ki or ch'i – the vital force. The organs of the body are purified by a coordination of breathing in time with repetition of particular sounds and in particular by forceful and audible expelling of stale air and its accompanying toxins. In a medical sense, qi gong is used to to treat disease and to strengthen the body's immune system, but the art has been extended to include a number of more dramatic effects. Practitioners claim to heal the sick, to transport themselves instantaneously around the country, to be unharmed by bullets, to predict the future.