What is qi?
Before discussing Qi, it is important to remember that the Chinese way of thinking about health is holistic. You look at the whole, not pieces and parts. Qi is a critical concept of the whole in Chinese medicine. Everything, living and not living, is composed of Qi. At the same time, what Qi does matters more than what Qi is.
To Chinese thinking there would never be a need to break down exactly what Qi is or have a need to see it. For many people in the West, this is an uncomfortable way of thinking. We will examine Qi in a way that may help it make more sense to you. But remember that any explanation is inadequate and cannot fully capture the essence of the concept.
In the West, Qi is often translated as “energy.” Let’s do a quick demonstration to help you begin to understand Qi as energy. Shake your hands back and forth quickly. When you stop, notice the tingling sensation you have in your hands. Now, rub your hands together rapidly until they feel warm. Keep your hands together as you stop. Slowly pull your hands apart until a small grapefruit could fit in the space between them. Curve your hands as if they were holding the grapefruit. Move your hands as if you are rolling the grapefruit between your palms. Pull your hands a little further apart and then move them closer again, keeping the palms facing each other. See if you can feel a slight tingling sensation between your hands as you do these motions. While not exact, the sensation you may feel is the energy or Qi in your body.
Many people in the West have a difficult time understanding Qi. You cannot see it, touch it, or measure it. Some people can feel Qi, especially with practice and special exercises. Others never feel Qi but know that it’s there and work hard to improve the flow of Qi in their bodies.
What is qigong?
According to James Saper, Radiant Shenti's qigong master teacher, "Qigong is a Chinese form of movement therapy that builds and trains qi in the body. Sometimes referred to as Chinese yoga, the practice combines movement & mediation as a way to integrate mind & body. Because of its long history, there are hundreds of different forms with as many different styles to teaching as there are teachers."
