Tai chi and qigong are more than just physical exercises—they are profound practices rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, each with a unique approach to cultivating life energy, or chi (which I prefer to spell as "chi" rather than the phonetic "qi" to better reflect its pronunciation). Understanding the Essence: What's in a Name? Qigong, composed of two Chinese characters—qì 氣 (life force energy) and gōng 功 (skill or cultivation)—literally translates to "energy cultivation." It's a system of … [Read more...]
What Is Chi?
A Universal Life Force In pinyin, the phonetic spelling of chi is qi, but for clarity, I use chi on this website. This vital energy is recognized across many cultures under different names: Ki in Japanese Gi in Korean Prana in Indian tradition Pneuma in Greek, meaning “breath” or “spirit” Mana in Polynesian cultures Ruah in Hebrew, meaning “breath” Wakan in Lakota Sioux belief, representing a form of energy Orenda in Iroquois tradition, described as an invisible … [Read more...]