Ever sensed you were being watched and turned to find someone staring at you? Ever walked into a room that felt dense and heavy only to notice a couple in an obvious argument in the corner?

Clairsentience is what they call it; the ability to feel energy. And whether you’re naturally energetically sensitive or not, we’re all energetic beings who are deeply impacted by the energy of our environment, and the energy of those arounds us. There’s an ancient art to cultivating energy for your health and wellbeing, it’s called qigong. Keep reading!

Here are some FAQs I am often asked about Qi and Qigong. Enjoy!

 

What Is Qi?

Qi, also spelled Ki or Chi, translates as vital energy. It is life force energy and this bio-electricity pulses through all living things.

Grandmaster, Mantak Chia, said

“Chi is the breath of the universe that moves through everything. Chi is the glue between our body, mind, and spirit, the link between our perception of the inner and outer worlds.”

According to Taoist philosophy, there are nine types of Qi that fall within two categories:

Congenital Qi is the Qi we are born with; this Qi can be conserved but not replenished.

Acquired Qi, which we receive from the food we eat and the air we breathe. The state of your Qi depends on what you eat, what you drink, what you breathe and how, your emotional state, and the amount of exercise you get.

A popular adage in the Qigong world is;

“Qi flows where the mind goes.”

…And how about Qigong?

Gong means skill, making Qigong the art and craft of cultivating vital, life force energy. Qigong has been around for over 4000 years and there are now thousands of forms and styles. The forms can include medical, martial, and spiritual qigongs.

How do I feel this energy?

Try this: First wake up the energy in your hands by tapping your fingertips together for 20 seconds. Then shake your wrists for 20 seconds waving your hands side-to-side. Hold your hands so they’re facing each other but not touching like you’re holding an invisible ball. Focus on the space between your palms. To amplify the sensation begin to slowly expand your palms out and contract your palms. 

You may feel energy as heat, tingling, magnetism or pulsation.

Where should I practice?

As we breathe we transmute air into Qi. We cultivate Qi from our environment so where you practice matters. Never practice in airports and cemeteries, on a cliff, in a bathroom, near garbage bins or unclean places. A gentle breeze is delightful, but it’s best to avoid strong winds and thunderstorms.

The best places to practice are your personal power spots and areas that are numinous for you, which means that you feel filled with Divine Presence, connected to your highest self, and in touch with the great mystery. Practice out in nature with a magnificent tree, in the forest, in a park, and by beautiful water—oceans, rivers, creeks, and waterfalls.

Practicing indoors is fine, but make sure you have good air circulation. And even if you practice indoors, you can imagine that you’re gathering qi from the earth, the moon, the sun, and stars.

How often should I practice?

Qigong slows the aging process, and you get the most benefit when you practice daily. I recommend a high vibe 10 to 20-minute practice twice a day. Practice first thing in the morning and again in the evening. I like to practice with the first rays of sunlight to absorb Yang Qi and entrench my circadian rhythms. I also practice on the full moon to rejuvenate and receive maximum Yin Qi, and during the dark moon to cleanse and reorient myself for the month.

If you can only practice once a day, a morning practice is best, but anytime you can is okay; just don’t practice when you’re angry or sick or directly after eating.

Anything else I should know?

Smile throughout your practice! This helps to release emotional stress before it becomes a physical manifestation in your body.

Your thoughts are powerful. Imagine you’re inhaling 10,00 rays of lights and the highest frequency of energy into the five million pores on the body and the 20,000 pores on the face…Now watch as your world becomes brighter.

Happy practicing!