Adapted from a talk at The SLE Workshop at Hospital for Special Surgery
Ken Bichel,
Certified Qigong Therapist
Co-founder of the Dan Tao East School of Classical Taijiquan and Qigong
- Understanding Qi (Chi)
- Use of Tai Chi and Chi Kung
- An Example of Moving with Qi
- Learn from an Expert
Yoga was once considered relatively arcane in the U.S.; it is now so mainstream that most people have seen or heard about it, and tapes and classes are widely available. The evolution of various Chinese and Japanese forms of exercise and meditation have followed a similar path. Thus, Tai Chi is now fairly well known, and Chi Kung is emerging in the same way.
Understanding Qi (Chi)
Both rely on the phenomenon of Qi (pronounced "chi"). Qi is best defined as primal life force, life energy, or vitality; kung is work. So some people define Chi Kung as "breath work," but that misses the much greater dimension of this practice. Life energy has to do with health, vitality and well-being, which can be cultivated through such practices as Tai Chi and Chi Kung. These practices, which are thousands of years old, involve Qi cultivation and energy transformation. They are tools that can help us transform ourselves into our own "personal best" possible manifestation of health and well-being.
In Chinese clinics, Chi Kung is used by high-level practitioners to heal people, extend life, and, most importantly, improve the quality of life. Chi Kung masters take their fundamental life energy and direct it into the body of a person who is ill, as well as teach the person exercises to enhance health by balancing Qi. It is an "art of well-being."
Use of Tai Chi and Chi Kung
In the U.S., Eastern practices were once called "alternative," and then "complementary." Today, we know that these Eastern practices can be effectively used in combination with Western medicine in what we call "integrative medicine." However, one must exercise proper care and responsibility in the usage of any integrative technique or substances, such as herbs. Find a reputable teacher if you want to practice a new form of exercise, and always inform your medical professionals of any change in your regimen.
Tai Chi may be considered a subset of Chi Kung, which is the older, more fundamental and encompassing art. The development of both involved the study of nature. From this examination, a series of exercises called The Five Animal Frolic developed, based on the ways animals move and sound, taking the full energy of the animal into the body. In time, it was realized that mimicking these animals - taking on their energy - was healthful. There are similar meditative techniques, such as "standing like a tree." So all of these practices are drawn from nature and arise from natural experiences. There are thousands of forms of Chi Kung that vary in how vigorous they are - ranging from seate
