What is Qi?

Qi means "air" or "breath", and is often referred to as "vital life force" or "vital energy". We humans are surrounded by this universal energy. Our thoughts are energy, atoms are energy, food is energy, life is energy. We are all made up of and connected through this invisible energy, and therefore we all have a common bond. All living beings - not just humans - experience this subtle form of vital energy flowing through our bodies. There are many names for this energy. In China it is known as qi (pronounced "chee"), in Japan it is called ki, and in India it is referred to as prana. For the sake of simplicity, I will refer to this life force as qi.

Qi is the air we breathe and the energy and vitality that sustain us. Each and every one of us is harnessed with an invisible, complex energy system which circulates qi throughout our organs. A living being is filled with qi, but a dead person is not  - their life energy is gone. In addition, a healthy individual has more qi than the one who is ill, though good health is more than just an abundance of qi. Good health infers that the qi in our bodies is clear rather than tainted or murky, and that it is flowing smoothly like a stream, not congested or stagnant.

Qi is also the life energy one senses in nature. The earth itself is in motion - it is constantly changing, breathing, and alive with qi. When we appreciate the beauty of the animals, birds, trees, mountains, and oceans, we are sensing their qi and feeling a sense of unity with them. We living beings are all part of the great universal qi, and qi is part of every living being.

For thousands of years energy workers, psychics, martial artists, and all others in the healing arts have been accessing and working with this life force. In fact, our whole existence is determined by this energy - our physical, mental, and emotional balances are conditioned by the qi flowing in and around our bodies. Mustering, conserving, distributing, and using qi is therefore vital to maintaining an enjoyable and healthy life.

Qi runs through our bodies and flows in pathways, or meridians that are known to acupuncture practitioners, whose main goal is to remove blockages in these meridians and promote a smooth flow of energy. Our minds move qi through our bodies and our environment, and this flow is far more efficient when we use a certain degree of concentration or visualization.

We have the power to shift, change, clear, and release energy at any time, which means that everything around us can be affected by our energy and intention. So, to be a conscious creator in life, we need energy awareness. Many people marginalize themselves by limiting who they are as nothing more than a physical body. In truth, our physical body is contained within our expansive personal energy field. We aren't just a body that has energy, we are conscious energy being human.

What is qigong?

Qi means "vital life force" and gong means the "hard work and research" of qi.

Thousands of years ago, Chinese healers, mystics, and scholars discovered that turtles and cranes were able to lead very long lives. Curious to learn more about healing and prolonging their lives, they began to study and emulate the spirit, characteristics and movements of animals - specifically the tiger, deer, crane, turtle, bear, and monkey - as together, these creatures reflect flexibility, vitality, and strength. These astute people already had an understanding of how qi worked, so they integrated the principles of qi - and created what we now know as qigong. 

Through the diligent study and practise of qigong, we can open our bodies to a balanced, natural flow of qi. We can use qigong as a starting point to understand the workings of the earth, nature, and even ourselves. Qigong training is focused on the subtle internal vitality that energizes us and invigorates all the life support systems of the human body, from the circulation of blood to the health of our muscles, tendons, and internal organs. Qigong training involves calm, regulated breathing; slow, gentle, unforced movements; mental focus or mindfulness; and inner stillness. It is the art of cultivating our breath to promote the smooth circulation of our qi. Rather than retreating from our chaotic outer world, qigong can assist us in getting in touch with what is real and meaningful in our lives. Each of us can bolster peace in our world by creating peace within ourselves. Then, like a pebble tossed into a pond, ripples of energy expand outward and affect others.