How Does Chi Energy Affect Your Life?
Chi (also called qi) is usually translated as a ‘vital life force’ in English. However, chi is more than just that simple translation. In fact, there is probably no word in any Western language that describes what it really is. Based on Classical Eastern Philosophy, this energy is what makes up and binds all things in the universe together. It is a paradox; chi is both nothing and everything. This concept may sound strange and unrelated to health and wellbeing—unless of course, you are studying Pranic Healing, Traditional Chinese Medicine or Acupuncture. That is why in this article, we will explore the definition and concept of chi energy and how it relates to energy healing.
How Chi Relates to Pranic Healing
In Traditional Eastern Medicine, chi is divided into two branches. The first branch is the physical or nourishing part, which is the food, water and air you take in. The second branch is more substantial and is the vital fluids and the energy that flows through your body.
You can imagine the first branch as the things you take in and aren’t a part of you yet, while the second branch is something that is already a part of you and is later released to continue the life cycle. These imbalances and interruptions are responsible for our ailments whether emotional, mental, or physical.
So, how does chi energy affect the human body?
Yin and Yang
Understanding this concept is important when learning about chi. Yin is the side of chi that’s cold, heavy, solid, passive, descending, dark, and moist—it is the physical or receptive portion of the universe. Yang is ethereal and is the expansive, rising, hot, dry, active, and nebulous side of the universe.
Here is an example of different Yin-Yang relationships:
| Yin | Yang |
| Death | Birth |
| Calm | Expressive |
| Fluids | Energy |
| Slow | Fast |
| Moon | Sun |
| Earth | Sky |
| Cold | Hot |
These two sides do not exist outside the other. They exist within each other and should exist together to achieve balance. Yin (form) and yang (function) are interdependent and it is this balance that defines and creates good emotions and health.
Chi Energy: How to Maintain the Balance
Like yin-yang, chi must be balanced to attain good health. When there is an imbalance, illnesses arise depending on the type of chi and whether there is an excess or lack of it.
- Deficiency of Chi – this can manifest in the lack of physical things a body needs to function properly. It can also manifest as a lack of love, social interaction, and mental stimulation.
- Excess of Chi – an excess in chi is just as worse, if not worse, than a lack of chi. It is usually the result of environmental toxins such as polluted water or air. It can also be caused by stress, overeating, excess in physical activity, and strong negative emotions.
Curing this imbalance is the main goal of Pranic Healing, TCM, including acupuncture.
Types of Chi Energy
Below are the types of chi inside the human body. It is crucial to maintain proper balance among these types to prevent disharmony.
Parental Chi
Also known as yuan chi, you inherit your parental chi from your parents at birth. This is then stored in the kidneys as you grow older.
Pectoral Chi
Referred to as zong chi, pectoral chi is made by breathing. This is stored in the chest area.
Nutritional Chi
Called as ying chi, nutritional chi is derived from the foods you eat. Its job is to ensure the proper circulation of nutrition in the body.
Defensive Chi
Also known as wei chi, your defensive chi is responsible for protecting your body against illnesses. While it is the yang of nutritional chi, in the sense that they are both derived from eating foods, it serves a different purpose.
H2: Functions of Chi Energy
Each of the types of chi has five main functions. They are the following:
Actuation
Chi helps maintain the vital life energy a body needs to grow and develop properly like the Zang-fu (organs that produce Chi) meridians, and Xue (blood) When there is a chi deficiency, these vital entities are impacted negatively and lead to dis-ease.
Warming
Chi can help produce heat and regulate body temperature so you can function normally. A chi deficiency may lead to low body temperature, cold limbs, and a liking toward hot drinks as a way of fighting this.
Defending
Chi helps defend the body from external elements like pathogens and environmental factors. A deficiency in chi energy can result in the formation of illnesses.
Transformation
Chi is responsible for turning air and nutrition into different types of chi, including blood.
Containment
Chi is responsible for making sure that your body’s organs and fluids stay in their proper places. It’s also responsible for regulating blood flow in the vessels to make sure it doesn’t leak out, and for regulating jin ye (body fluids such as sweat and saliva) to ensure that only the right amount leaves the body. A deficiency in chi can lead to problems related to body fluids and organ failures.
How to Tap into and Cultivate Your Chi Energy
When chi cannot circulate in your body, this blockage may lead to pain, fatigue, and disease. It is, therefore, crucial to enhance your chi and allow it to flow without resistance-this is the effect of Pranic Healing.
Here are some other practices that can help improve the quality and flow of this energy:
Acupuncture and Shiatsu Massage
Originating in China, acupuncture is an ancient practice that involves inserting thin needles on certain points in the body. The needles help break up the blockages to let chi flow naturally.
Meanwhile, shiatsu massage comes from Japan with methods based on Chinese practices. Like acupuncture, this massage therapy promotes the flow of chi energy in the body by using the thumbs, palms, and fingers. Compared to traditional massages, it focuses on the body’s internal energy system and combines acupressure and stretching techniques to rebalance the energy flow in your body.
Tai Chi
Also called “moving meditation,” tai chi is a set of exercises focused on posture and breathing. Using low-impact and slow movements, it improves circulation and balance to create, control, and restore your chi.
Chi Gong
Also known as chi kung, chi gong is another ancient Chinese holistic system that uses various movements, breathing techniques, and meditation to encourage the flow of chi.
Yoga
In yoga philosophy, chi is called Prana. Like tai chi, it improves the body’s overall condition and helps control your chi. Holding certain poses accumulates the chi to create a blockage. Once you release the pose, you will also release the blockage and allow your chi to flow properly again. Plus, it helps with relaxation and improves your sleep, which reduces the cause of chi blockages in your body.
Meditation
Knowing how to relax and empty your thoughts are useful skills in your everyday life. This can result in enhancing your chi energy rather than holding onto negative energies.
Lower dan-tian (abdominal) breathing meditation involves sitting on a chair and focusing as your breath leaves and enters your body. Focus on the lower abdomen area and how it feels as you take in each breath.
Mastering this skill helps improve focus. Therefore, it helps in reducing stress, which causes chi blockages in the first place.
Breathing Exercises
Chi exercises are focused on improving your breathing. Here is a focused breathing exercise that you can do to tap into your chi:
- Find a comfortable sitting position.
- Breathe in through your nose. As you breathe out through your mouth, extend your breath as much as you can.
- Once the body inhales naturally again slowly breathe in air through your nose.
- Release that air by opening your mouth.
This exercise allows you to regain control over your breathing. As you perform these chi energy exercises, always remember how crucial your breathing is in regaining the energy in your body.
Conclusion
High levels of stress can affect your relationships, productivity, and health. Fortunately, developing healthy habits can help relieve stress and enhance day-to-day activities.
When you enhance your chi energy you improve your energy and vitality and stress levels. The good news is, you can cultivate and master chi in the comfort of your own home. By using the right techniques, you can keep the stress out of your life and prevent them from damaging your health. We hope these tips can help you find your chi and use this chi energy to empower your life.
Our Pranic Healing Centre in Brisbane is the centre of excellence in both training and practice of Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga.
To learn and experience the power and effects of chi energy to improve your health and wellbeing please contact our centre or check our website.
We offer Pranic Healing Courses and individual Pranic Healing Consultations.
