Qigong Exercises: What Does Qi Feel Like?

Contributed by: yogini (http://daily-yoga.org)

If you’re familiar with tai chi, you already know something about qigong exercises. Many of the warm up exercises in tai chi are really qigong exercises.

In the broadest sense of course qigong exercises can include any activity that cultivates qi. In this sense, simply sitting and becoming aware of the flow and balance of qi throughout your body is qigong exercise.

Qigong Student: I’m not sure what qi feels like.

Qigong exercises are used to cultivate qi and store this energy within the dantien, but if you’re still trying to get the hang of sensing qi, then your first qigong exercise is to discover the sensation of qi.

In my experience there are two main approaches to discovering qi. The first is to walk through some basic qigong exercises or explore along your spine, attempting to feel out and trigger awareness of your own natural qi.

If you choose to follow along with some qigong exercises this may be all you need to discover how qi feels. As the saying goes, “fake it until you make it”. If you go through the motions and focus your attention, you’ll begin to enhance your awareness of qi.

Starting at the base of your spine, focus your attention as you take your time moving up along the spine. Do you feel areas that seem to grow in size or sensation? For example, do you feel warm or tingling areas?

If neither of the above techniques work for you, or if you would like a clear impression of what qi can feel like, it can be helpful to turn to emotions. Have you ever felt the sensation of your heart swelling when you think of a loved one? That is the feeling of qi concentrating and swelling strongly enough for you to notice.

Qigong Student: I’m still not feeling anything.

If you are still having trouble discovering what qi feels like, you’re in a remarkably opportunistic position! You get to decide what it is that qi feels like until you are more able to tune into finer qi –perhaps warm heat, like from a hot water bottle, or cool and tingly. Once you’ve decided which type of sensation you prefer, take some time to close your eyes and imagine as vividly as possible how the sensation feels in real life.

Practice using your new sensation to explore your body. Start at the base of your feet. Feel a ball of energy in each foot. As you travel up your legs and torso try to notice how the ball of energy feels in each area. Keep up this basic qigong exercise and you’ll have significantly increased your body- and qi awareness before you know it.

Whichever approach helps you discern what it is that qi feels like, keep practicing. The beauty of most qigong exercises is that they all utilize the same techniques and certainly the same qi awareness. The more qigong exercises you practice, the more awareness and ability you’ll develop.

About yogini
(http://daily-yoga.org)

I fancy myself a student of the mystical schools. As such, nothing is off-limits as far as self- and multiverse- exploration goes. I prefer to use the term 'yoga' to mean the development of self, and not as one particular discipline. I seek viable, proactive information on subjects ranging from meta physics and philosophy, social evolution and ethics, to sustainable living practices and natural health solutions as alternatives to mainstream medicine, and in daily life. I share the ponderings and info you find here, as well as pass along articles by others whose interests fit into the topics on this site...so be sure to check out the links to other authors' sites in the bio section at the end of each article... and enjoy!

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Qigong Exercises: What Does Qi Feel Like?