What is Qi, Chi or Ki?

What is Qi, Chi or Ki?

Chi or Qi (pronounced as “chee”) translates to mean “breath” in Chinese. Chi is the life energy that all living creatures require in order to exist. Different cultures call this energy, Ki (from Japanese), Gi (Korean) or Prana (Indian). Chi is a type of energy in the human body and circulates within the blood throughout. Chi flows in a specific pattern from the chest, down the front of the arms to the fingers. It then travels up the back of the arms to the head. The chi then travels down the back to the feet and back up the front of the body to the chest. It travels through meridians within the body that can be best described as something similar to the electrical lines on a printed circuit board. There are 12 main meridians and 8 extraordinary ones as well. There are points along these meridians that are known as “pressure points” or acupoints for acupressure and acupuncture.

Why is Chi important?

The amount of chi in one’s body and the quality of it determines whether an individual is generally healthy or prone to illness. There is a finite amount in our bodies and is gradually exhausted due to age and possible abuses. When it decreases so does the lifespan of the individual.

How do we obtain the chi we have?

• Prenatal chi comes from our parents.
• Nutritional chi comes from the food we eat.
• Air chi comes from the air we breathe.
• Other types of chi are manifested from the previous three types to form others.
  

What types of chi are there?
Similar to how there can be many different types of plants for example, each having its own name and characteristics, there are various types of chi.

Prenatal, original or primary chi, are different names for the same type of chi that is inherited from the mother (and father) at the time of conception. At birth, the chi resides in and around the kidneys, eventually spreading throughout the rest of the organs and body. In order for the prenatal chi to be maintained, food, drink and air are required. Our health and quality of it are directly linked to the quality of these components. Even if someone’s prenatal chi is weak, it can still be properly nourished by proper diet, exercise and life style. Postnatal or nutritional chi and is derived from food and life style. Nutritional chi is responsible for producing the blood as well as providing the body with nourishment. Where the chi circulates, the blood will follow. The blood nourishes the chi; it is a synergistic relationship
just is yin and yang.

Pectoral or air chi is drawn into our lungs from the air we breathe. People lacking stamina, are known to be deficient in air chi. It enables the lungs to control respiratory functions and enables the heart to circulate blood, relying upon the arms and legs to circulate chi throughout the body.

Defensive or guardian chi (Wei Qi) circulates on the surface of the body, protecting it from outside influences and dangers. Originating from the food we eat, defensive chi is responsible for the operation of the skin’s pores, thereby regulating the body’s temperature and ability to provide moisture when needed.

Normal chi or Zangfu Zhi chi, is that which circulates through the organs.

Jing Luo Zhi chi is that which circulates through the meridians.

How do I keep what I have?
A proper balance of nutrition, exercise and a healthy lifestyle directly affect the quality and abundance of chi. Emotions and their balance or lack there of, affects the quality of an individual’s chi. The 7 emotions are Joy, Anger, Sadness, Grief, Pensiveness, Fear, and Fright. Energy (Chi) is regarded as one of the 3 Treasures or essential components of life, with essence (Jing) and spirit (Shen) being the other two. When energy, essence and spirit are in harmony with one another, the person finds himself or herself alert, healthy and vibrant. Or the opposite, if their treasures are in imbalance. If this harmonious flow is disrupted, illness occurs.

Can I get more?

• Better quality food or herbs
• Better quality of air we breathe
• Deep breathing exercises such as Qigong
• Other forms of internal martial arts training such as Tai Chi, Hsing Yi or BaguaZhang
  

What is Chi Kung, Qigong or Gi Gong?
Exercises originating in India and China, for enhancing or “cultivating” chi. The above names reflect different spellings for the same concept. Cultivate is an appropriate word because, as living things require nourishment and nurturing to grow, chi must be nourished and encouraged to develop.

How do these exercises work?
By regulating one’s breath and rhythm of it, an individual can begin to affect the parasympathetic nervous system which slows their heart rate, lowers the blood pressure, relieves muscle tension and consequently changes their body chemistry. This is basically the same state of being one achieves while sleeping and is when the body rests, heals and recharges its energy levels.

What are the benefits of practicing these types of exercises?

• Increased energy
• Relief from chronic illnesses
• Increased self awareness
• Expansion of one’s thought process
• Spiritual awareness
• Increased longevity
• Better control of emotions
• Provides a release of one’s internal chatter

Can Qigong exercises really cure serious diseases and ailments?
It is important to note that the claim of practicing chi kung to overcome illness and promote health is based on countless testimonials of practical cases spanning centuries. If someone is physically impaired, this affects his or her emotions and mental state. Consequently, someone’s emotions can easily affect their health, for better or worse. If our psychological and physiological systems function as they should, illness should not occur. Illness occurs when one or more of the body’s systems fail in their functions. The specialty of chi kung is to restore and enhance harmonious energy flow, thereby overcoming illness.

What is the difference between Qigong and Nei Dan (Nae Gung)?
Qigong is exercises focusing on increasing one’s energy by regulating their breath. Nei Dan is somewhat more advanced in that one uses their thought and awareness to guide and increase their energy throughout the spine and bones within the body.

Why pursue these methods?
The American Health Care Crisis might not be as such if all Americans assumed more personal responsibility for their own health. Many spend small fortunes on doctor visits, medication, chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, acupuncture and other forms of health care and pain relief. Chi kung is relatively cheap to learn, takes little space and only minutes a day to reap the benefits. The only side effects are positive and it doesn’t require a prescription from your doctor.

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I teach and offer lectures about holistic health, stress management, qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga.

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Jim Moltzan

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