QIGONG is an art that exercises one’s external body and internal organs. Whether one believes in it or not, there is no denying the popularity of the art that has dozens of people, young and old, practising in public areas.

Of the many versions of the exercise, the most popular is the Hexiang Zhuang Qigong or Soaring Crane Qigong.

Zhao Jin-Xiang of China invented the steps in 1980, mimicking the movements of the crane, after much research in the art of qigong.

It is the simplicity of the exercise that captivates its many practitioners, with only 52 steps to memorise in its five routines that can be completed in 30 to 35 minutes.

The exercise, performed to the tune of a classical Chinese song about the crane, is done with slow movements. Before starting, practitioners chant numerological codes in Chinese.

One of the growing number of qigong classes in the Klang Valley is in Taman Midah, which has a steady following of 173 students every Monday and Thursday night.

Teh Kim Tiah, 79, who has been practising for a year, said he no longer had high blood pressure and enjoyed better stamina when walking.

For Lim Choy Yuen, 29, the five months of going through the routine steps daily has helped lessen the chronic back pain that she suffers from.

Poh Yak Sun, 42, started two years ago and before the exercise, had great difficulty moving her legs because of stiff joints and could not get up from the seated position without assistance.

“I do it almost daily and can now squat and sit without any problems,” said Poh.

Mustapha Abdul Rahim, 58, the only Malay in among the mostly Chinese practitioners, discovered the exercise by chance and has been a loyal practitioner for the past three years.

He believes the exercise has helped him remain fit and allows him to sleep soundly at night, something that he used to have a problem doing.

He said his weight had also dropped from 70kg to 62kg after a year of qigong.

The participants pay RM20 a month for the classes, most of which goes into a fund that is used to pay for an annual dinner or to help a charitable cause after expenses are deducted.

Persatuan Jasmani Hexiang Zhuang Malaysia chairman Steven How said all the teachers had pledged not to make a profit from the exercise and just promote it as a healthy way of living.

”We don’t stress on perfection in technique as much because it isn’t necessary to achieve the benefit. Not everyone can perform all the movements because of ability or pains, but if they just try to follow the movements, they are already benefiting from the exercise,” said How, who runs a class of his own in Section 14 Petaling Jaya.

He cautioned that people shouldn't confuse the exercise as a cure-all.

“People often come to class and give up a month or two later because they don’t see the effects they had hoped for. Exercise is a gradual process,” said How.

The association is holding its first annual dinner-cum-charity event on Nov 19 at 7pm at the SJK(C) Sungai Way, Jalan SS9A/1, Seri Setia.

For more information on Soaring Crane Qigong or the annual dinner, call Steven How at 012-382 8488, Stanley Tay at 019-359 8855 or Simon Pong at 012-292 1893.

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