What Is Qi
In addition, some research has shown acupuncture could have a positive impact on your sex drive. You may have heard the term “qi” before if you’ve tried acupuncture or have seen a doctor who practices Traditional Chinese Medicine . Qi (pronounced “chee”) is arguably the most important component of TCM. Tai Chi, Qigong and other Chinese exercises can improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and reducing 'bad' cholesterol levels. Chiflows along the meridian points of the body and serves the basis for understanding acupuncture.
Feng shui with a compass might be considered a form of divination that assesses the quality of the local environment. We need wax for a candle to be a candle and to serve its purpose. Thus, the practice begins with foundational work that will strengthen our muscles, bones, energy flow, and resolve. We are blessed to have these systems available to us, and it is truly fortunate that the air of secrecy that originally surrounded these arts has changed in our age. That being said, though, there is work to do, and shortcuts are dangerous.
This Wei Qi is the first line of defense against any EPI and if it is weak or compromised, one may be prone to often getting sick. A "Qi collapse" is when the power of Qi to keep organs in place is weakened due to lack of Qi. The clearest sign of a Qi collapse is that one's organs will tend to sunk in the body. Clinical manifestations include abdominal distention or rectal or uterine prolapse accompanied by symptoms of Qi deficiency. A "Qi collapse" is most often due to a lack of Spleen Qi and treatment consists in supplying Qi in order to "lift what sank".
These systems act to harness willpower, to focus, and to help practitioners channel their energy through their palms. There are also a number of systems from the temples and monasteries that are more focused on spiritual cultivation and depth of meditation. Almost all of them involve specialized breathing, which is coordinated with the activity at hand. The guiding principle of all these practices, however, is the coordination of the eyes with the body movements, the focus of the mind, and the breath, especially for the moving practices. For the more passive, non- movement Qi exercises, we focus the vision inward and explore the inner realms as we guide the breath to various inner chambers.
For example, if you have issues with the lungs or sinuses, you go to a respiratory specialist. If you catch frequent colds, you might talk to a doctor who specializes in the immune system. We have a specialist for all the different systems of the body – the nervous system, the digestive system, the endocrine system, the respiratory system, the immune system, and so on. Every night before bed, either my mom or dad would guide us kids through a deep relaxation technique.
Just like the emphasis we put on getting the physical body healthy and fit, it is important to start here with the foundations of qi gong and work our way up. This means working diligently on our stance, which will help ground our energy and give us “roots.” Stances develop the lower dantien and strengthen the wei qi. Once we build a strong foundation, we can really begin to reap the powerful benefits of this practice.