How Qigong Really Works
Students often ask me questions around the ‘why’ of particular forms (movements) in Qigong, what they relate to and what their function is.
The problem with a reductionist approach to Qigong
This type of approach to the practice of Qigong is both very western, and derivative. In our modern age we’ve been conditioned from a young age to question everything, to figure things out, and understand how things work. When I studied Qigong in China the process was watch, learn, do, experience. Rinse, repeat. There was no intellectualisation of the practice, the approach was experiential-based learning where you gain understanding from doing, rather than rudimentary study and academic facts.
The word academia traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, it was the sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill. When we bring together wisdom, knowledge and skill we form understanding - this comes from the heart, not the intellect. Understanding is not a collection of facts that we’ve committed to memory, it’s a feeling and knowing - it’s Heartmind.
Why understanding Qi matters
When we embody the practice of Qigong its expression, experience and function transforms… we’re no longer simply making movements and shapes with our physical body, we’re connecting to the liquid crystalline light within. We’re cultivating and gathering our source and encouraging its flow through meridian network and all the cells of our body.
Qi is life-force
Qi is light
Qi is consciousness
Qi is source
Through the practice of Qigong we’re increasing our capacity to hold light in our bodies, to embody more consciousness and be more of our true selves. We’re improving the conductivity of our liquid crystalline inner ocean, and how the trillions of cells that make up being communicate with each other and the world around us.
So… perhaps it’s easier to understand now that focusing on the purpose of an individual movement is kind of irrelevant! When we focus primarily on the physical shapes, forms and movements Qigong becomes a SHADOW, or a deformation of its original essence.
In esoterica it is said that you cannot understand something mystical from an intellectual mind. To truly understand Qigong we need to unlearn much of how we’ve been told to gain knowledge, particularly in Western culture, and let in Heartmind through holistic embodiment.
How Qigong works from a physical perspective
With all that being said, it’s not unreasonable to want to understand the function, mechanism of action and efficacy of Qigong as a therapeutic natural healing modality. One of the primary effects of practicing Qigong, in any of its many thousands of iterations, is the regulating influence it has on the nervous system.
The stimulating activity, gentle stretches, slow flowing movements and present awareness creates neural mobilisation, effectively the release and lengthening of the nerves which can help soothe tension and discomfort in the body. The resultant effects being feelings of spaciousness, increased flow of blood and body fluids, sensations of ease, and afterwards you often feel as though you have more energy.
When we engage in the physical practices of Qigong (there’s both dynamic and static practices) there’s typically both active and passive muscular skeletal engagement. Depending on various factors such as an individuals biomechanics, level of stress, past or present injuries, state of mind and overall health, there will be a mobilisation of Qi (source energy) to some degree. Sometimes a practitioner will have an experience of the various sensations of Qi; shaking, excitement, cold, hot, light, sinking, tightness and softness.
Ultimately Qigong is a holistic practice, not a reductionist or materialist method of treating dis-ease symptoms. While it may help a person to engage in a particular singular Qigong form, or a prescriptive sequence based on their personal needs, often what is needed is simply regular, consistent, persistent practice of Qigong - any Qigong.
Qigong is everything you do
If you’re seeking to optimise your overall energy and wellbeing take some time to reflect on the following palaces of your life to see where they might be stagnant, in excess, or leaking energy. Qigong is everything we do, if you view yourself as a devotee of Qigong then evaluation of these aspects of day-to-day life are crucial:
Nutritive Qi - food, beverages, water
Breath Qi - natural breathing, presence of dysfunction, complementary breath-work
Body Qi - biomechanics, posture, alignment, stance
Emotional Qi - healthy release, shadow-work, trauma healing
Mental Qi - detrimental self-talk, thought patterns, beliefs, ideas
Environmental Qi - home toxicity, climate compatability, EMF exposure
Relational Qi - interaction with people, places, events
Nature Qi - immersion in the natural world; sunlight, mother-waters, clean air, trees, sand and soil.
Modern lifestyle and the prevalence of convenience-focussed living is the antithesis of Qigong… anyone who seriously seeks to build their source, cultivate their essence and enable their Qi to flourish has to have the courage to turn away from the things that are suffocating the flow of Qi, away from busyness, and those activities, beliefs and interactions that create dark, heavy and dense Qi.
Qigong is not only movement therapy or gentle exercise, the physical practices are only a small part of what this practice is really about.
Simple changes in these areas enhance Qi:
Posture
Movement
Breath-work
Stillness
Presence
Service to others
Purposeful contribution
Connection to and stewardship of the natural world
Choosing actions that increase Qi and light
Tending to the garden of the mind
Qigong is simple
Once we understand all of this we realise how diminishing Qigong down to the function of a particular movement is a refraction of not only the essence of what Qigong is, but the power or profundity of the practice and modality as a whole.
Start incorporating it into your life today and you will experience the promise of Qi - more energy, harmony, joy and connection with the world around you. All you have to do is be devoted to yourself and the cultivate of source within.
Not sure where to begin? Purchase my latest Qigong video download Spiralling Sky & Earth or become a Qi Lover Member and access loads of class recordings and practice videos for just $9 AUD per month.
