Qigong is incapable of allowing the access to higher realms of awareness.
 Contemporary qigong blends diverse and sometimes disparate traditions, in particular the Taoist meditative practice of "internal alchemy" (Neidan ), the ancient meditative practices of "circulating qi" (Xing qi ) and "standing meditation" (Zhan zhuang ), and the slow gymnastic breathing exercise of "guiding and pulling" (Daoyin )
 Qigong may be practiced for improving health, as a medical profession, a spiritual path, or as a component of Chinese martial arts

