Located about three finger widths below and two finger widths behind the belly button, the dantian is the seat of the body’s qi. Sometimes the dantian is broken up into three distinct areas (see Lower, Middle and Upper Dantian), but for general purposes we’ll discuss the main (lower) dantian area.

Imagine your body’s subtle energy network humming with energy traveling here and there. If this lively network of qi can be said to have a source or battery for this energy, it would be the dantian.

The dantian serves as the seat of qi as well as the center of gravity and roughly corresponds to the third chakra in yoga philosophy, although many would say that the dantian includes the first through third chakra areas.

The dantian is the basis of all qigong technique and exercises. In nearly all qigong exercises energy is cultivated in the dantian and then directed through various bodily areas. Clearly, the stronger or greater qi in the dantian, the more effective your qigong exercises will be.

It is said that even the physically weakest person can accomplish great physical or mental feats if he/she has a strong dantian.

Likewise, as the dantian is strengthened and the body becomes healthier, so too does the physical health of the body promote mental and emotional health.