The Concept of Qi
The concept of Qi from the “textbook perspective”. Learn more about Qi from different perspectives in my other posts!
I am usually a very skeptical person and I grew up regarding western science as the best method to proof things right or wrong. The focus on what we can see, and on what exists in the material world seemed very logical to me. Qigong however, is a science of inner feeling and development. These feelings have been studied by scholars, doctors, seekers of enlightenment (buddhahood) and martial artists for thousands of years and have become the core of Chinese culture. “To the Chinese, feeling is a language which allows mind and body to communicate, extending beyond the body to communicate with nature (heaven and earth) or Dao."
If there is only one thing that we can learn from this, it is to verify information through personal experience. Qigong, the science of inner feeling was developed to such a high level because people have diligently practiced, verified techniques and methods within their own bodies, carefully examined them and observed their sensations through an incredibly, highly developed sense of self awareness.
Why am I telling you this?
Simply, to encourage you to do the same. Soak up as much information as possible, check in with yourself and find your personal truth. Everybody is different and experiences things differently. It is best to approach Qigong with an open mind and find out how things manifest within your own body.
The concept of Qi.
The concept of Qi and Chinese Qigong can be quite mysterious sometimes. In the beginning, to some it might seem fictional, talking about energies within the body. But the more you experience and truly understand the method of practice, the more the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. Even with little effort, you are bound to make incredible experiences. The concept of Qi, as well as the entire practice of Qigong is an accumulation of personal human experience and expressing it can be difficult. But that's why as teachers we only show our students the door and encourage them to walk through by themselves. Only this way one can learn from experience.
When you start your energy work, it’s best not to think about possible feelings or sensations. Try to avoid making assumptions about what you should be feeling, but rather notice what you ARE ACTUALLY feeling!
So what is Qi?
Qi is the energy or natural force which fills the universe. It is a concept not only known to the Chinese but also in India (Prana) , Japan (Ki) or native America (The Great Spirit). Under the three kinds of Qi, Heaven Qi is most important. Heaven Qi, which is made up of the forces which the "heavenly bodies" exert on the earth. You can think of it as the energy that comes from sunshine, moonlight, and the moon's affect on the tides. Under Heaven Qi is Earth Qi. It is influenced and controlled by Heaven Qi. For example the heat underground and the earth's magnetic field but also rainstorms that provide water for plants to grow or change the path of a river. Within the Earth Qi, each individual person, animal or plant has its own energy field, which always wants to balance itself. When we talk about Qi in Qigong, we refer to the third kind of Qi which affects health and longevity, the human Qi.
When Qi is unbalanced people get sick, age faster and plants will decompose. Everything lives within this natural cycle and is greatly influenced by it. Qi can be generally defined as any kind of energy which is able to demonstrate power and strength. This energy can be magnetism, heat, or light.In order to understand the nature of Qi it's important to understand where it originates. Something cannot come from nothing, so Qi must come from matter, usually through some kind of chemical reaction. Matter is a physical or materialistic form of energy, and energy is an unlocked potential of this matter. For example, a piece of wood which you burn and obtain Qi in the form of heat and light. Similarly, food and air are taken into the body, and through biochemical reaction are converted into Qi. Today’s science point of view states that with the possible exception of gravity, there is only one kind of energy in the universe, which is electromagnetic energy. Even light and heat are a manifestation of this energy. The Qi in our bodies is bio-electricity and our bodies are small electromagnetic fields.This bio-electricity is affected by our thoughts, feelings, movements, the food we eat and air we breathe. Everything is connected and plays a role, even our lifestyles and the natural (and unnatural) energy that surrounds us.
One of the most common sensations that people experience during their Qigong practice is heat. Although, according to the general definition, heat is considered a type of human Qi, heat is not the type of Qi which is circulating in your body. For example, if you run an electric current through a wire, the wire will heat up because of the resistance of the wire. The heat is an effect caused by the current, but it is not the current itself. According to this theory, as Qi circulates through your body, the resistance of your body causes part of the Qi to be converted into heat. I tell you this to make sure you don’t start having a fixed idea of Qi or the sensation of it. The best thing is to stay open minded and be aware of all the sensations in your body. With time you will get a unique understanding of what Qi feels like in your own body.
Since you have a rough idea what Qi is, I would like to use this analogy to explain what Qi is used for. When you look at Qi as an electric current, it makes sense to use the analogy of a machine as your body. If you look carefully, you can see that the elements of your physical body, such as the organs, nerves, blood, and even every tiny cell are all like separate machines, each with their own unique function. Just like electric motors, if there is no current in them, they are dead. Qi is the energy needed to keep them all alive and functioning. An abundant power supply and a correct balance within are the keys for health and longevity. But more to that later.
Now you have some time to ponder upon a few things. Our next step will be to bring you up to speed with the understanding of Qigong. This will help us to start building your foundation for a successful practice.
A quick exercise for your Qi awareness:
Assume a high bow stance (or triangular step) and apply all the Qigong principles. (View the Qigong introduction at the bottom to find out what they are) Hold your arms out in front of you with the elbows slightly bent and facing down.
Now imagine you are pushing an object forward. Your body will most likely correct its position automatically according to your physique, habits and experiences of pushing something, but make sure you keep the Qigong principles applied. Mentally push this imaginary object forward. Your hands and body should not move. Relax and hold this position together with the mental idea of pushing for 5 minutes. Make sure you don’t tense up and maintain a relaxed body. Observe your sensations. What do you feel?
