This is a wonderful article. I have read Lynne Tagart’s book The Field many years ago, and it did blow me away (now I’m motivated to read it again). I’m understand the skeptic’s perspective, I too came from that place, somehow scared to know more about the energy within me. I’ve had friends that are worried about looking deeper, like somehow there’s darkness there if you stray from certain religious teachings. I know that the spiritual side of Qigong is not your focus, and I really appreciate that. But I’ve personally found that my new spiritual awareness has opened greatly within these 3-4 months of daily qigong practice.

The idea to soften our postures to “feel it” rather than “think it” gave me a-ha moments in my relationships, my spirituality, my career, and of course, my qigong practice.

I would encourage your skeptics out there to ask themselves what’s the worst that can happen if you just put aside judgement for a little bit, and try to approach the idea of Qi with an open mind? Who will judge you? What darkness will enter from just the consideration of trying to feel instead of think? Why do you need to make a decision on whether it’s real or not right now?

Hi Eich. Actually, I’ve “sold” thousands of people on qi and qigong without ever stating “the exact ways in which that energy is created and transferred via chemistry and physics.”

I work hard to use modern vocabulary and to shine a modern, scientific light on qigong and tai chi. But the truth is that no one can answer your question, not yet at least.

But you don’t need to know the exact mechanism in order to know that something works. The mechanism for anti-depressants was not understood until recently. The mechanism for aspirin took 80 years to understand. No one understands why pickle juice stops cramps, but athletes swear by it!

The scientific evidence for qigong and tai chi is piling up, but the research is focused on benefits, not the mechanism. (Click here to see the 13 proven benefits of qigong and tai chi, with links to the scientific literature.)

If you wait for the mechanism to be explained, then you might wait another decade or two. But most of my students prefer to simply practice qigong and get results NOW.

No belief required, but you do have to practice!

Hi Anonymous.

I’m sorry that my humor didn’t come across. Nevertheless, it seems that you have misread me (pun intended). Much of what you read as “arrogant, ignorant, and mean-spirited” was really just humor. Perhaps there is a language or cultural barrier?

Thousands of people read and share my articles daily, and many of them disagree with me. I have taught literally thousands of skeptics over the years. So your assumptions about who my articles are for is incorrect.

I crack plenty of jokes in class, but I don’t mock people for asking questions. I’m open, sincere, and genuine with all of my students. Just ask them. You can ask in this group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/flowingzen/

A bit of advice though. Don’t go into that group slinging insults and making assumptions the way that you did in your comment here. That kind of behavior is frowned upon.

Anyway, you posted this with an anonymous name and what looks like an anonymous email address, so maybe I’m just feeding the trolls. Hopefully not though. Always happy to communicate sincerely with sincere students.

You know exactly what questions these people are asking, and yet you try to reword their questions to avoid answering them.

Here is an example: “I don’t believe in energy!”

You are obviously using hyperbole to get your point across, and you are wording their “question” in such a way that makes them sound stupid, arrogant, and impatient. By writing your article this way, you are literally mocking any person who would question you, preemptively. Irony.

When you do this, you come across as arrogant, ignorant, and mean-spirited.

Your articles are obviously targeted at people who already agree with you, and provide nothing of substance for anyone with real questions. I am sad to have wasted time reading this article, looking at the sources you recommended, and writing this likely pointless response.

Well, I tend to agree with your taiji teacher, David!

Thanks Caroline. You’re right. Static electricity is another good example. I hadn’t thought of that.

Andy, what are you talking about?