I was not born with a lot of qi.

For whatever reason, I was born with less vitality than most people, including my older brother.

You might even call me the runt of the litter. (Sorry mom!)

For example, I’m much shorter than my older brother, and I’ve had way more health problems over the years.

And you know what? That’s okay.

It happens. Often. Lots of people are born with less qi. Millions, possibly even billions.

If you’re like me — and you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t like me — then this video is for you.

Thanks to qigong and tai chi, it’s hard to tell that I was born with less qi. In fact, many of you are probably surprised to hear me mention it. You probably thought that I was bursting with qi.

And I am. But the qi that I have now is not the qi that I was born with.

In this video, I’ll examine 2 ancient theories:

• Pre-Heaven Qi (Yuan Qi 元氣)
• Post-Heaven Qi (Houtian Zhi Qi 後天之氣).

More importantly, I’ll frame these theories in a way that’s useful for the 21st-century practitioner.

Check it out:

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post How Much Qi Were You Born With? appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Charlie Brown was definitely a qigong master. He knew about the connection between posture, biochemistry, and energy.

His wisdom is forever immortalized in this old Peanuts cartoon:

There’s so much wisdom in this cartoon, but when I first saw it, I was a little offended.

“It’s a serious illness,” I thought to myself. “Depression isn’t caused by poor posture!”

I was right, of course. But Charlie Brown was also right.

The truth is that bad posture doesn’t cause depression, but it sure doesn’t help. And vice versa — fixing your posture won’t cure your depression, but it sure does help.

Maybe you battle depression, or maybe not. Either way, I think Charlie Brown was right. It’s important to pay attention to your posture. Here’s why…

Posture Affects your Biochemistry

(*The following are Amazon Affiliate links, which means that if you purchase using them, then Amazon gives me a tiny commission at no cost to you. Thanks for helping me to buy more books! Woohoo!)

Jordan Peterson, the controversial bestselling author, says that you should stand up straight with your shoulders back. That’s rule #1 in his book, 12 Rules for Life.

Like him or not, that’s a good rule.

Peterson argues that body language is ancient — hundreds of millions of years ancient. Even lobsters display mood and hierarchy via body language.

For humans, standing up straight with your shoulders back tells your fellow humans that you are a high status individual in your tribe.

Maybe you’re not high status. Maybe you don’t have a tribe. Maybe you don’t even believe in hierarchies.

But there’s a problem. Our brains have remain unchanged for 50,000 years. This means that your biochemistry still believes in status.

Standing up straight doesn’t just send a signal to your fellow humans; it sends a signal to your cells.

Amy Cuddy, bestselling author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, backs this up with tons of research.

You can also watch her famous TED talk: Your body language may shape who you are.

The science is overwhelmingly clear: Your body language, including your facial expressions, affects your hormones, your mood, and your health. 

Pro Tip: Whether you’re sitting or standing, roll your shoulders forward, up, and then back in one smooth movement. This resets the shoulders to a position that you can’t otherwise get them in to, and helps to create better posture (and thus better biochemistry).

The Victory Pose

Amy Cuddy talks about a power posture called the “victory pose” that seems to be universal across all cultures: Two fists held to the sky in a v-shape, chest open, excitement on the face.

Here’s a kid demonstrating the pose after, presumably, winning big at a video game.

Try it. Pretend you just won the NYC Marathon. Hold the posture for 30 seconds, and your biochemistry will change.

And then try an ancient power posture called Lifting The Sky.

Personally, I think that Lifting The Sky is more sophisticated and more powerful than the victory pose above. Maybe I’ll teach it to Amy one day!

Posture Affects Your Qi

The qigong masters have been saying something similar for millennia, albeit in slightly different terms.

They didn’t talk about biochemistry, but rather about qi, or your vital energy. The qigong masters taught us that specific postures affect your qi in specific ways.

For example, ancient texts on The 8 Brocades Qigong (Baduanjin, 八段錦) talk about the effects each posture has on various organs.

From those texts, we know that;

1. Supporting the Heavens stimulates the Triple Warmer Meridian.
2. Drawing a Bow stimulates the the Kidney and Spleen Meridians
3. Raising One Hand stimulates the Spleen and Stomach Meridians
4. Looking Backward eliminates the “five fatigues” and “seven Illnesses”
5. Swing the Head eliminates “heart fire”
6. Punching with Fiery Eyes builds internal strength
7. Hold the Feet strengthens the Kidney Meridian and lower back
8. Shaking the Back helps to boost the immune system

(Confused about the Meridian System? Click here to learn what qigong students need to know.)

On a side note, the above hypotheses be easily verified using the diagnostic methods of Chinese Medicine. For example, if a student with Stomach Fire practices “Raising One Hand”, we should see a change in the the tongue and pulse diagnostics.

And you know what? We DID see those changes! Because I was both a student and a teacher at my acupuncture college, and because I later worked directly with dozens of different acupuncturists, I got a behind-the-scenes look at how Flowing Zen Qigong affects patients. It was fascinating!

And don’t forget the tai chi masters! In fact, I could argue that ALL of the 10 Principles of Tai Chi Chuan are an attempt to affect the qi through proper posture:

1. Head Upright, Spirit Rising
2. Sink the Chest, Lengthen the Back
3. Loosen the Waist
4. Differentiate Between Empty and Solid
5. Sink Shoulders, Drop Elbows
6. Use Will, Not Strength
7. Coordinate Top and Bottom
8. Harmonize Internal and External
9. Move with Continuity
10. Seek Stillness in Movement

(Click here to read all about the 10 Principles of Tai Chi.)

Postures that Heal and Harm

Speaking of tai chi, most people think of it as a gentle form of self-healing. And this is absolutely true.

But inside the slow-motion postures is a hidden power — the power to save your life in self-defense.

For example, the Lu (Rollback, or Double Dragons Carry a Pearl) posture from Yang Tai Chi Chuan can be used to break the neck of someone attacking you.

It looks harmless (see below), but once you understand the martial application of the technique, you quickly realize that it is powerful.

Sadly, the vast majority of tai chi practitioners have no clue about the martial applications. They learn it as a form of qigong, not as a martial art.

I think this is a mistake. Even a cursory understanding of the martial applications helps to bring the postures to life. You don’t need to be a cage fighter to benefit from the hidden power of the tai chi postures.

On the other hand, many people obviously benefit from practicing tai chi even without an understanding of the martial applications — and I think Amy’s research helps explain this. There’s power in the posture, even if you don’t understand why.

And more research is being done. For example, check out this recent study: Can Tai Chi and Qigong Postures Shape Our Mood?

Power Corrupts…or Does it?

Having taught several different martial arts since 1994, I know that some people have an aversion to the word “power”.

In essence, they think that martial arts train you to be violent. The maxim, “power corrupts,” comes to mind.

But here’s the thing: According to Amy’s research, a LACK of power is at least as likely to corrupt!

Amy says that it’s important to distinguish between people with social power (i.e. rich people, celebrities, and politicians), and people with personal power (like me and Charlie Brown).

Personal power brings benefits rather than corruption, and this is exactly what we’re after with arts like qigong and tai chi.

Here are some examples of the benefits of personal power cultivated through qigong and tai chi:

• a clearer, calmer mind
• the ability to stay relaxed under stress (i.e. grace under pressure)
• more confidence
• greater clarity when making decisions
• a stronger, healthier body

And if you practice tai chi as a martial art, then you can add “self-defense” to the list.

What We Can Do

So by now, it’s clear that we need to improve our posture. But how do we do that?

Duh. Learn and practice qigong and/or tai chi! (Not sure which one to learn? Click here for a free video that will help you find an answer.)

If your posture is really bad, then I suggest that you focus on particular type of qigong that I call Aligning The Qi. (Other teachers may use other terminology, but the idea is the same.)

With the right techniques, anyone can improve their posture. I’ve watched 20-somethings with scoliosis and 80-somethings with kyphosis (excessive hunching of the upper spine) get amazing results by focusing on aligning the qi.

The truth is that many modern humans have poor posture because their bodies are no longer capable of good posture. Obviously, this gets worse with age, but it’s a problem that even affects teenagers now. So it’s not just an age issue.

The solution is to build strength (especially core strength), cultivate flexibility, and open up the energy channels. And that’s exactly what we do with exercises that align the qi.

(Aligning the Qi is one of the 4 main skills that I teach in my Qigong 101 program, which reopens this Fall. If you want to learn more, then make sure to get on the waiting list. Click the link for details.)

Myofascial Release

I’m also a big fan of Myofascial Release (MFR)

Go buy yourself a good foam roller and a lacrosse ball, then go on YouTube and look for foam rolling tutorials as well as tutorials on using a lacrosse ball.

Many experts think that humans need to spend at least 10 minutes 3x per week on MFR in order to undo the negative effects of modern living (like sitting too much.)

Personally, I do at least 10 minutes a day, and I think it’s a great compliment to my qigong practice. The combination of qigong + MFR is synergistic. If the topic is of interest, then I’ll work on another blog post about why I think that qigong and MFR go together like milk and cookies.

Summing Up

• Posture matters, especially if you are battling depression.
• Posture affects our biochemistry, our mood, and our health.
• Qigong and tai chi are effective ways to improve posture
• Myofascial release is another way to improve posture

Experiment with power postures this week. In your daily life, and daily qigong and tai chi practice. Then share with us what you find. Questions? Comments? They are always welcome in the section below! 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post Fix Your Posture, Fix Your Qi, Fix Your Biochemistry appeared first on Flowing Zen.

I stared at the question in my inbox, blinking for at least 10 seconds. “So ignorant!” I thought to myself.

The question came from a sincere student, and what it revealed was not his ignorance, but my own.

Here’s the question:

Dear Sifu Anthony,

How can I balance my meridians and remove blockages? Or how can I keep them flowing and strengthen them? Do they self balance and clear with daily qigong practice? Thank you for your time in advance! It is appreciated.

-Joshua

Let me be clear: I know the answer to Joshua’s question. That’s not the ignorance I’m talking about.

Ignorance can mean a lack of knowledge or information, but it also means a lack of awareness.

In my case, I don’t lack the knowledge or information to answer the questions above. But I did lack the proper AWARENESS.

As a teacher, it’s my job to be constantly aware of what qigong looks like through the eyes of my students, including fresh beginners.

That’s not always easy. Like most teachers, I’ve been doing this for a long, long time. Decades. Maybe lifetimes.

I’ve studied with masters from all over the world, read hundreds of books, practiced for thousands of hours, and I even went to acupuncture college to deepen my understanding.

And yet, as I read Joshua’s email, I saw my own ignorance, my own lack of awareness.

Concepts like “meridians,” “energy,” and “blockages” are still completely foreign to most people. It’s MY job as a teacher to make those concepts clearer.

And that’s what I’m going to do in this post.

What Are Meridians?

Let’s start with the word “meridian”. This word is widely used in acupuncture, qigong, Chinese herbal medicine, and tui na (Chinese massage therapy).

Unfortunately, the word “meridian” is a poor translation from the Chinese word:

經 絡 (jīngluò)

The simple translation is “channel”, like a channel that water runs through. In this case, it’s qi, or vital energy, that flows through the channels.

But there’s an additional connotation here.The 2nd character, 絡, means “net-like”. So the jingluo are a net-like series of channels through which qi flows.

Think of a highway system, with big Interstate highways and smaller roads, all forming a complex network. Except that instead of cars, it’s qi that flows along the network.

Note: Even though the word “channel” is a better translation, I’m going to continue to use the word “meridian” because it is already in common usage. Hell, even Google translates the Chinese word to “meridian”. I’m too busy with my teaching to pick a fight with Google right now!

What is Qi?

I mentioned that your meridians are a net-like series of channels through which qi flows.

But what is qi?

Qi is THE central theme in qigong, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine. It’s also central in feng shui and tai chi chuan.

I’ve written about this in the past (for example here and here), but let’s keep things simple.

Qi is your life energy or life force.

Whether that’s the energy that moves food through your digestive system, or the energy that mobilizes your immune system, or the energy that powers your cells — all of that is qi.

Qi is also information — like data running through an internet network. For example, the information that signals the production of a hormone, or that tells certain genes to turn on or off — that is also qi.

This is the “substance” that flows through your meridians.

How Does Qi Flow?

Most of the classics talk about a “flow” of qi. A common analogy is to compare it to the flow of water.

In fact, some of the Chinese Medicine classics compare the flow of qi to water flowing from bubbling springs, streams, rivers, seas, or oceans.

It’s important to remember that the concept of qi is ANCIENT. It’s thousands of years old.

Back then, they didn’t know about protons, neutrons, or electrons. They had no electric lights, no electric cables, and (gasp!) no WiFi.

In the 21st century, it’s natural to think of qi as a form of energy, like a current running through a wire.

And that’s fine as long as we remember that the ancient masters didn’t have this paradigm. They had a close connection with nature, so that was where they looked for analogies. And I think that these analogies still work today as long as you don’t take them too literally.

Where are the Meridians?

Speaking of taking things too literally, skeptics love to point out that the meridians can’t be found and therefore don’t exist.

It’s true that if you dissect your leg (please don’t do this), you won’t see any acupuncture meridians. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Don’t let 21st-century hubris block you from benefitting from this ancient wisdom. Just because we haven’t understood something yet doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Open-minded researchers are doing interesting studies into the meridians, and I believe that the next 10-20 years will confirm their existence.

For example, this study looked at wave-induced flows in the meridians. This is a bit obtuse, but the study concluded: “that the strong light propagation and optical properties along the meridian channel comprised a histological structure correlated with interstitial fluids.”

And this study tried to document a new micro-circulatory system that corresponds to classical acupuncture meridians.

Not convinced?

What would you say if I told you that researchers just recently discovered a whole new organ in the human body?

It’s true. In this new study, researchers discovered not only what they think is a new organ, but the largest organ in the body!

The new organ, the interstitium, contains tiny fluid-filled structures that can be found just about everywhere in the body.

Will this discovery eventually lead to a deeper understanding of the Chinese meridian system? Who knows, but it’s definitely an exciting time to be alive!

How Were Meridians Discovered?

This raises an important question: How did ancient masters discover the meridians?

After all, they didn’t have microscopes or high-tech equipment. How could they possibly have known about such a complex, invisible network in the human body?

Years ago, I taught qigong at an acupuncture college. I had both students and professors in my classes.

After practicing qigong for about a year, one of the professors had an epiphany.

“I can feel my Gallbladder Meridian!” she said excitedly.

The same thing sometimes happens in acupuncture. I’ve seen patients talk about a strong sensation running down an arm or a leg. If you ask them to trace the sensation, they’ll trace the meridian almost exactly! How cool!

In qigong, feeling acupuncture points along the meridians is quite easy. Most of my students can start to feel this within 1-2 years of practice, especially my Qigong 101 students.

For example, acu-points like laogong (P 8) in the palm, baihui (GV 20) at the top of the head, or hegu (LI 4) in the web of hand — all of these points are can be felt even by beginners.

At more advanced levels, techniques like the Small Universe Qigong give you a clear and obvious perception of acupuncture meridians.

Back to the question about how the meridians were discovered: I believe that ancient mystics began to perceive the flow of energy in their own body. It’s likely that they transmitted their discoveries through oral traditions, and eventually through writing.

Creating Harmony and Clearing Blockages

Let’s come back to Joshua’s questions. His original email contains 3 related questions:

1. How can I balance my meridians?
2. How can I remove blockages in my meridians?
3. How can I strengthen my meridians?

If we’re talking about Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine, then the answer is simple: leave all of this to your physician. In other words, don’t try to self-diagnose what your meridians might need. (That’s a subject for a future blog post.)

But qigong is a self-healing art, especially the category called Medical Qigong. With the right qigong method, you can heal yourself, even without a proper diagnosis.

Notice that I said “with the right method”, not “with the right exercises.”

My students are always asking me which exercise they should practice for _____ problem. I’ve written about this in depth (click here to read more), but the takeaway is the same.

To balance, strengthen, and clear your meridians, you should practice the following routine:

1. Entering Zen
2. Smiling from the Heart
3. Lifting The Sky
4. Pushing Mountains
5. Carrying the Moon
6. Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow
7. Flowing Stillness
8. Washing the Face with Both Hands
9. Combing the Hair with the Fingers
10. Massaging the Vital Points
11. Rubbing Two Coins
12. 24 Heavenly Drums

The above routine will simultaneously balance, strengthen, and clear all of your meridians. (I teach this exact routine, and much more, in my Qigong 101 program.)

Because of the way this routine is organized, you don’t need a diagnosis, and you don’t need to worry about which meridians are blocked, weak, or unbalanced.

But you do need to practice diligently!

The 12 Dimensions

Does that mean you only need the above routine to heal anything and everything?

No. It doesn’t.

In the world of qigong, there are many different styles and methods, but there are only 12 different things that you can do with your qi.

In my teachings, I call these the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery. (Click here to read more about the 12 Dimensions.)

Different teachers may use different names, but when you boil everything down, the skills are the same.

The routine I listed above focuses on the first 4 of the 12 Dimensions:

1. Discovering the Qi
2. Circulating the Qi
3. Aligning the Qi
4. Gathering the Qi

I call these The 4 Pillars of qigong because they form a stable foundation for any holistic qigong practice. If you don’t have this foundation, then advanced qigong skills will continue to elude you.

The 8 remaining skills are:

5. Protecting the Qi
6. Purifying the Qi
7. Mobilizing the Qi
8. Directing the Qi
9. Consolidating the Qi
10. Transforming the Qi
11. Unifying the Qi
12. Transmitting the Qi

As you become more skillful in qigong, you can use more advanced skills to continue balancing, strengthening, and clearing your meridians.

For example:

1. To balance the meridians, you can use: Circulating the Qi (#2), Aligning the Qi (#4), and Mobilizing the Qi (#7).
2. To remove blockages, you can use: Purifying the Qi (#6) and Protecting the Qi (#5).
3. To strengthen your meridians, you can use: Gathering the Qi (#4), Consolidating the Qi (#9), and Transforming the Qi (#10).

In other words, focus on learning and mastering the 12 Dimensions and you will have ways to balance, clear, and strengthen your meridians for the rest of your life!

(Read more about the 12 Dimensions here, here, and here.)

Remember that these are skills, not techniques. The techniques may differ from teacher to teacher, but the underlying skills are the same.

Want to Learn More About Meridians?

I hope you found this article helpful. As always, if you have questions, post them below.

If you’d like me to write more on the subject of meridians, then please let me know in the comments below.

Honestly, I only scratched the surface here. I didn’t talk about the 12 Primary Meridians, the 8 Extraordinary Meridians, or the Yin and Yang Organs.

There is a ton of Chinese Medicine theory and philosophy that I can write about, but I need to know if you’re interested in this stuff! So whadaya say? Are you interested?

The post Acupuncture Meridians: What Qigong Students Need to Know appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“So what you’re telling me,” Brian said, “is that eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough every night is screwing with my qi?”

He was smirking. It was obvious that Brian already knew the answer.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of qi (or vital energy), you probably know that ice cream isn’t exactly health food.

Think of qi as the natural flow of all your body’s systems — including the flow of blood, lymph, hormones, and information. Anything that screws with this flow also screws with your health.

Brian already knew that ice cream was screwing with his qi. But he didn’t know why.

Was it the sugar, the dairy, or something else that he hadn’t even thought of?

And that’s precisely why he came to see me.

In fact, Brian had a specific goal.

“I know you will get to the bottom of this,” he said, “and I’m betting that you’ll find a way for me to keep some ice cream in the mix.”

I’ll talk more about Brian’s story in a little bit, but first, let’s look at all the surprising things that can screw with your qi!

17 Surprising Things Screwing with Your Qi 

This list is not exhaustive, but instead focuses on some of the biggest issues that my wife and I have seen over the years.

Rather than list EVERYTHING that screws with your qi, I’ll discuss the things that might not even be on your radar.

I’ll also give you ideas for managing these things.

1. Sugar

Okay, this one isn’t surprising. You already know that sugar is bad for you. In qigong terms, this is because it messes with your Stomach Qi.

Cutting out sugar ain’t easy. I know because, for most of my life, I had a terrible sweet tooth. I finally kicked the addiction when I did a 30-day detox program called the Whole30. You can buy the book, or get tons of information on their website for free. They’ve really got the program down to a science. 

There are a ton of sugar detoxes out there. Find one that works for you. For me, the 30-day detox made it EASY to say no to sugar.

2. Prescription Drugs

It’s a sad state of affairs when medicine that is prescribed by a physician can also harm you, but alas, that’s the world we live in. Here are some of the worst offenders:

Opioids are lifesavers, but they are also dangerous. I’ve seen opioids wreak havoc on the lives of students and clients. Please educate yourself about opioids, and only take them when absolutely necessary. It’s such a big issue that I’ve written an entire article on the subject. 

Synthetic hormones like birth control pills may contribute to something call “leaky gut”, and also suppress your natural biorhythms (by design). I’m not saying you need to stop taking the pill, but you should be aware that it does screw with your qi.

Antibiotics are overprescribed in America. Period. Even when they are absolutely necessary, they still screw with the beneficial bacteria in your digestive system, thus inhibiting your immune system. A good probiotic will help, but remember that you need to take them for up to 6 months to restore the gut flora. 

Anti-depressants can be a godsend, but they can also raise your risk of suicide, which is so ironic that it hurts my heart. However, getting off anti-depressants is tricky business, and should always be done with medical supervision. And of course, you will need an alternative to manage your depression. My book tells my own story of depression, and how I used qigong to treat it. The book also comes with a free online course that will teach you the basics of qigong.

3. Non-prescription Painkillers

Many people still don’t know that Advil and Tylenol can be dangerous. Yes, they are sometimes necessary, but if you are popping 800mg of Advil every day, the you are screwing with your Liver Qi and your detox mechanisms.

I’ve wrestled with chronic pain, and I empathize with the struggle. I know that painkillers often feel like an absolute necessity to sleep or just get through the day.

Luckily, there are better and safer solutions to pain, like qigong and acupuncture. Make it a goal to cut down on over-the-counter painkillers. Your liver will thank you.

4. Gluten

If you are sensitive to gluten, then cutting it out can make a huge difference.

Gluten is just a protein, but it can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune issues. It also contributes to leaky gut syndrome.

The problem is that gluten is ubiquitous in the West. Many people don’t know whether or not they are sensitive until they quit for 30 days.

A Whole30 (see #1) will help you get to the bottom of this and other food sensitivities, and also teach you how easy it actually is to avoid gluten.

5. Cell Phones

It took me a while to accept this. I’m a techno-junkie. I love my iPhone.

At present, there’s no conclusive research that cell phone radiation causes definitive harm. But there’s also no conclusive evidence that it doesn’t.

Cell phones are big business, and there is a lot of money at stake. Like with tobacco, I believe it will take time for researchers to challenge the big money of cell phones.

You should know that this isn’t some sort of woo woo conspiracy theory. There’s already research that says that  “the regular and long term use of microwave devices (mobile phone, microwave oven) at domestic level can have negative impact upon biological system especially on brain.” [PubMed Source]

I’m sensitive to my own energy, so I was able to do my own experiments with my cell phone. I’m now convinced that the 3G signal screws with my qi. I have no idea how MUCH it screws with my qi, but I’m not taking chances.

That’s why I bought an anti-radiation case for my phone. I also keep it on airplane mode as often as possible.

6. Bad Feng Shui

Qigong is all about the flow of qi through humans.

Feng shui is another Chinese art, but it’s all about the flow of qi through spaces and buildings.

We all know that some rooms just feel right. And some rooms feel wrong. That’s feng shui.

If you live in a house or work in a place that has terrible feng shui, then it might be screwing with your qi.

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to feel the bad energy if you’ve been living or working there for a long time. This is yet another reason to go on a mindfulness retreat.

Getting out of your regular environment and into a new environment with amazing feng shui (like our retreat center in Costa Rica) can be a game changer.

Feng shui is greatly misunderstood in the West, but if you are curious to learn more, then I recommend this book as a primer.

7. Ejaculation

Sorry boys, but if you ejaculate too frequently, then you lose qi.

On the other hand, if you ejaculate too infrequently, your qi stagnates.

How are we to solve this conundrum? 

Two thousand years ago, the Su Nu Jing (素 女 經) , a classic text on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), advised how frequently a man should ejaculate to maintain optimal health. The following chart shows the guidelines from that classic text.

Your miles may vary.

8. Pregnancy

Some women feel fantastic during pregnancy. Some women don’t.

Either way, creating another human being from scratch undoubtedly drains your qi.

In China, women are given a least 1 full month, and often much longer, to rest and restore their qi. During this time, they are waited on like queens. Often, they aren’t even allowed to dress themselves because it is considered too strenuous!

We’ve got a lot of catching up to do in the West! Maternity leave here in the U.S. is awful. Women are hardly given any time to replenish their qi.

While it’s a testament to the inner strength of American mothers that they can give birth and then go back to work 2 weeks later, I think we can all agree that it would be better if they were given plenty of time to replenish their qi.

Regardless, practicing qigong after giving birth is the #1 way to replenish the qi that you’ve lost.

9. Structure

According to Chinese medicine, the proper alignment of your body matters. And this alignment depends on bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and also qi.

For example, if you are lordotic (abnormal lumbar curve) or kyphotic (abnormal thoracic curve), if one shoulder is higher than the other, if one leg is longer than the other — then your structure is off.

And when your structure is off, it blocks many other forms of treatment, including acupuncture and qigong.

In my qigong school, we address this issue with exercises that align the qi.

Here are some other good ways to work on a healthier structure: massage therapy, cupping therapy, yoga, pilates, and foam rolling.

10. Vampires

No, not the movie kind. I’m talking about [cue scary music] ENERGY vampires. 

You know the type — those people who suck your energy dry. They don’t necessarily do it on purpose. They can be good people.

But this is a real phenomenon.

If you don’t draw healthy boundaries., if you let the vampires continually drain your qi, then you’ll constantly be depleted.

Qigong also helps by strengthening your energy field, replenishing your lost qi, and by giving you the courage to draw healthy boundaries.

11. Cold Stuff

In Chinese medicine, the human metabolism is likened to a furnace. If too much of your food and drink is cold, then the body will need to use extra qi to heat it up before it can be metabolized.

If you eat a lot cold cereal, ice cream, or raw veggies, or if you drink a lot of iced beverages, then you may be screwing with your metabolism and your digestive system.

This is why acupuncturists will often tell you to stop putting ice in your beverages, or to cook your vegetables instead of eating them raw. 

12. Insomnia

According to Chinese medicine, sleep is a natural form of qigong that replenishes, harmonizes, and restores your qi.

If your’e not getting quality sleep, if you don’t wake up every morning feeling incredibly well rested, then you’ve got insomnia.

In the West, sleeping poorly has become the norm. We just accept it.

Thankfully, sleep hygiene is becoming a bigger issue, even in corporate America. Arian Huffington wrote an entire book on the subject of sleep.

Two things really help with improving sleep hygiene.

First, get yourself a pair of blue blocker goggles and put them on at dusk. My wife and I look ridiculous wearing them at night, but we don’t care.

Second, cut out all caffeine after 1pm. It ain’t easy, but it definitely helps.

13. Nutritional Deficiencies

Your body can’t generate qi without the right nutrients.

In other words, what’s screwing with your qi is something that you’re NOT getting, like vitamin D, B12, folate, vitamin K, or magnesium.

Sometimes, this is caused by a genetic issue, like with the MTHFR genetic mutation, which requires proper supplementation. Sometimes, you’re just not getting enough B12. Sometimes, you aren’t getting nearly enough sun. 

But one thing is for sure — the deficiencies will show on your blood work.

Often, you’ll need to ask for (and pay for) an expanded blood test in order to get to the bottom of these deficiencies. You also need someone who can interpret them correctly.

14. Hair, Skin, and Beauty Products

Modern makeup can have some awful stuff in it.

For example, lipstick often has lead in it. Yes, that poisonous substance that we go to great lengths to protect our children from — you’re putting it on your lips!

Other beauty products like perfumes and hair products often contain terrible things too, including carcinogens.

All of this junk screws with your immune system and your hormones.

Check your products here for a toxicity score.

15. Smoking & Vaping

Okay, this one isn’t surprising. People know that smoking is bad for you. But what’s surprising is that nicotine products are still legal and easily available.

I quit smoking ages ago and it was one of the best things I ever did. Here’s the method that I used.

16. Alcohol

This one surprised me. Of course, everyone knows that too much alcohol is bad, but what about all the research that says a glass or two of wine is good for you?!?

It may or may not be true, based on the latest research. But one thing is for sure: If you can’t take 30 days off alcohol, then it’s not healthy. Try 30 days off and see how you feel.

17. Thoughts

Your thoughts affect your biology. Read Bruce Lipton’s work if you want to learn more about how this works.

In short, your thoughts affect your emotions, which affect your nervous system and your body chemistry.

In my experience, the single most effective way to change deep-rooted thoughts is to practice qigong (including sitting meditation).

Brian Lives Happily Ever After

I’m curious: How many of these were surprise for you? Let me know your score in the comments below.

As for Brian, he lived happily ever after.

I actually found a nice compromise that allowed him to continue eating ice cream.

First, I encouraged Brian to take a 30-day break from ice cream using the Whole30 method described above. This gave his body a chance to detox.

Afterward, with the help of an acupuncturist, I figured out that dairy and sugar weren’t the real culprits (even though they were also screwing with his qi).

It turns out that the cold from the ice cream (see #11) was strongly aggravating Brian’s digestive system.

Thanks to the 30-day detox, Brian was able to easily cut down his portions of ice cream. He also eliminated iced beverages from his diet — a trade he was happy to make in exchange for ice cream.

And of course, I taught Brian specific qigong exercises to help heal and nourish his digestive system.

Brian does a Whole30 every year now, but otherwise, he is able to enjoy a small bowl of ice cream every night.

[cut to Brian riding off into the sunset with a bowl of ice cream] 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post 17 Surprising Things That Are Screwing with Your Qi (Energy) appeared first on Flowing Zen.

Qi Gong. Chi Kung. Chi Gong. Qigong.

I tried different spellings on different brochures.

I quickly learned that the spelling wasn’t the problem.

The problem was that Americans had never heard of such a thing as qigong.

I considered using the words “tai chi” instead. After all, there’s a ton of overlap between the two arts. And of course I also practice tai chi.

But the qigong that I teach is significantly different than the tai chi that is commonly practiced. I wanted to differentiate between the two, so I continued to use the word “qigong”.

Zoom ahead 12 years into my teaching career, and the world has changed.

Today, the word qigong — however you choose to spell it — is much more widely recognized.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s widely recognized.

Most Americans still haven’t heard of it. But awareness is growing, and that’s a wonderful thing.

(Note: if you’re new to qigong, then click here to learn the best qigong exercise EVER.)

Change takes time. It took time for yoga to become the billion-dollar, global industry that it is today.

But I believe that if you give qigong a little time, it will be huge.

In fact, I think qigong will be bigger than yoga one day. Here’s why:

1. Qigong is easier than yoga.

Qigong is accessible to absolutely everyone. I’ve taught extreme athletes, and extreme couch potatoes. I’ve taught 20-somethings and 80-somethings. I’ve taught disabled veterans and marathoners (and also disabled marathoners).

For example, the picture above shows the exercise called Pushing Mountains, which involves gently moving your palms back and forth in a flowing manner, and coordinating your breath with the movement.

Anyone can do this exercise. It can be done sitting, it can be done in a wheelchair, and it can even be done with one arm.

There is only 1 prerequisite for success with qigong: a strong desire to practice for 15 minutes a day (or more).

I probably don’t need the rest of this list. This reason is enough to explain why qigong will explode in popularity.

2. Qigong is easier than tai chi.

There are many reasons why the art of tai chi didn’t see the same boom as yoga, despite it being practiced in the US for over 50 years.

In my experience, the biggest reason is this: people are intimidated by tai chi.

I can’t tell you how many students have come to me over the years telling me that they previously tried tai chi, but found it confusing, frustrating, and stressful.

With qigong, you don’t need to memorize long, complex routines. Nor do you need to worry about the martial aspects of the art.

Qigong allows you to dive immediately into the meditative and energetic aspects of the art, which is also what brings you quick results.

Click here to get a free taste of what I’m talking about.

3. Qigong is challenging. 

Although some qigong exercises are physically easy, other exercises are incredibly challenging — both physically and mentally.

Because there are so many different qigong techniques, it’s easy to raise the difficulty level for those who are ready.

Just as there are techniques that are appropriate for those who are ill or out of shape, there are also techniques that even an olympic athlete would find challenging.

And this is wonderful because it means that the art of qigong can grow with us.

4. Qigong is medicine.

Yes, yoga can be medicine. And so can walking. And so can laughter.

But qigong is unique in that it was actually engineered to be medicine.

(Note: Not all styles of qigong were designed to be medicine. For example, Iron Shirt Qigong is not meant to be medicine, although it can have therapeutic effects.)

Qigong is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, along with acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

In China, you can find qigong in the hospitals. In fact, in some hospitals there’s an entire qigong wing!

5. Qigong is complementary.

If you see an acupuncturist in the United States, you will often be prescribed both herbs and acupuncture.

This is because the two forms of medicine compliment each other well.

Perhaps the main reason why qigong is so complementary is because you can take it home and use it safely on your own — something that isn’t possible with most forms of medicine.

Over the years, I have collaborated with acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, psychologists, MDs, reiki healers, osteopaths, and nutritionists.

I have seen with my own eyes how qigong can greatly complement other forms of healing.

6. Qigong is empowering.

Yoga is empowering too. But unlike yoga, Qigong doesn’t require physical strength or flexibility.

In fact, too much physical strength can be a hindrance with qigong. Body builders, for example, often struggle to relax the muscles and let go of deeper layers of tension.

An art that doesn’t need brawn for success is empowering to women, to the physically unfit, to the disabled, to children, and to smaller-sized men like myself.

7. The world is ready for mindfulness.

Mindfulness and meditation have been on the cover of Time Magazine several times.

Even major corporations are talking about mindfulness these days.

The world is falling in love with mindfulness, and this is a beautiful thing.

Wait —  didn’t you know that qigong is a traditional form of mindfulness meditation?

It is.

If you’d like to learn more about the connection between qigong and mindfulness, then read my article: 5 Things You Should Know About the Mindfulness Craze

8. Qigong is fun.

I imagine that yoga is fun for many people. I prefer qigong, and so do many of my students.

Let’s call this one a tie.

9. Qigong is accessible.

Compared to other arts, you actually need very little training to start getting remarkable results with qigong.

This is because qigong emphasizes internal aspects like mindfulness, breath, and energy flow rather than physical postures and alignment.

I can train a fresh beginner to start getting amazing results in just 3 hours.

In fact, I’ve watched many students continue to practice on their own and get all sorts of wonderful health benefits after only 3 hours of training.

You can even start getting results with just 10 minutes of instruction! Click here to learn the best qigong exercise EVER — for free.

10. Qigong flows.

With yoga, you don’t usually take a single exercise and do it 20 times in a row.

With qigong, this is the norm.

Repeating a simple, flowing exercise like Lifting The Sky 20 times in a row allows you to forget about the form, and instead focus on the internal aspects.

This creates a wonderfully enjoyable flow when practicing qigong.

11. People are learning Chinese. 

This reason is probably unexpected, but I think it is significant.

The world is changing, and the East is becoming a powerhouse, especially China.

People are learning Chinese in order to do business with China.

If you can speak and read traditional Chinese, then you can make the leap to classical Chinese easily.

As Westerners learn to speak and read Chinese, the qigong and tai chi classics will become better studied and translated.

This will only serve to strengthen the art of qigong.

I think it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing pop psych books about applying the Qigong and Tai Chi classics to business and relationships!

12. It’s all about the qi.

There is a growing awareness about acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and feng shui.

In all of these arts, qi is the star.

Although the concept of qi is historically Chinese, it is a phenomenon that transcends culture. It’s all qi — whether you call it qi, or prana, or vital energy.

I believe that, in the 21st century, humans will start to see that it’s all about the qi.

And once they do, it’s natural for them to become interested in the ancient art of cultivating the qi — qigong!

13. Tai chi is empty without qigong.

Although tai chi is more widely known in the US, it is often devoid of real qi cultivation. This is unfortunate.

Tai chi is a martial art that should have the concept of qi as a central training tool.

Many people practice only the external, physical aspects of tai chi, and these people are becoming increasingly interested in qigong to supplement their tai chi training.

14. Qigong is spiritual.

Both qigong and yoga can be used to cultivate spirituality regardless of your religious background.

In fact, I’ve taught religious leaders from all of the major world traditions — and none of them had any issues with practicing qigong.

Qigong gives us a wonderful and practical way to work on spirituality.

It allows us to heal not just our body, not just our mind, and not even just our spirit — but rather the combination of all three.

Qigong is all about unifying mind, body, and spirit, not separating them.

For example, some stubborn medical ailments will actually required that you practice exercises that work on mental/emotional/spiritual blockages.

15. Qigong supercharges sitting meditation.

Legend has it that Bodhidharma arrived at the Shaolin Temple only to find that the monks were sick, weak, and unable to go deeply into their sitting meditation.

To solve the problem, he taught them qigong.

And it worked. The Shaolin Monks turned into some of the best meditators in history, not to mention some of the best kung fu masters.

In my experience, the same phenomenon is happening today. People are practicing sitting meditation, but not reaping the rewards that they deserve.

Simply adding a daily qigong practice can supercharge your meditation, just like it did for the Shaolin Monks 1500 years ago.

16. Qigong is a quicker path to healing.

More than ever, people are looking for fast and effective forms of healing.

Many of these people end up finding qigong — even if they had previously practiced yoga for many years.

Because it is designed as a form of medicine, qigong can be a faster path to getting the results that you want.

If you get good instruction and then practice for 15-minutes per day, you will see good results within weeks, if not days.

And if you practice 15 minutes twice daily, then you’ll see truly remarkable results!

Conclusion

There you have it. That’s why I believe that qigong will be bigger than yoga in 10-20 years.

What do you think? Did I miss any reasons? Do you agree or disagree with my argument?

As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

And if you have friends or family who would like a taste of qigong, then I recommend that you send them to this free lesson here.

The post 16 Reasons Qigong Will Be Bigger Than Yoga in 16 Years appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“No Qi, No Fee!!”

That was the slogan on my first qigong brochure back in 2005.

I was new to Florida, and relatively new to teaching qigong. I had taught karate for years, but not much qigong.

Nevertheless, I was confident in my ability to help students feel the qi.

So I put my money where my mouth was. And believe me — money was a big deal back then because I was a poor graduate student at acupuncture college!

I came up with the “No Qi, No Fee” slogan, and I promised prospective students that I would give them their money back if they didn’t feel qi by the end of my 12-week intro course.

No one ever asked for a refund.

10 Times Faster

I get tons of emails from sincere seekers who have been practicing qigong or tai chi for years, but still can’t feel much in the way of qi.

Obviously, this points to a larger problem in the world of qigong and tai chi.

I once met a tai chi teacher who told me that it took him 30 years to feel the qi.

His statement shocked me.

At the time, I had only been practicing qigong for about 5 years. But I was already feeling plenty of qi.

At first, I thought maybe he was simply feeling deeper qi sensations after 30 years. So I pressed him for details.

Nope. What he described was pretty much what I started feeling after 3 years of practice.

What took him 30 years to feel only took me 3.

In other words, I was able to feel the qi 10x faster than him.

Use the Force!

For a while, I let this experience boost my ego. I figured I was just special. A prodigy.

You know, like Luke Skywalker.

It turns out I’m not a prodigy, nor do I have an unusually high midichlorian count.

Over the years, I’ve taught not just a few, but dozens and dozens of students with 10+ years of prior qigong experience — all of whom told me they couldn’t feel the qi.

In virtually every case, those students were able to feel the qi after just a few months of practicing my method.

It quickly became clear that the problem wasn’t the student.

The problem was the method.

Anyone Can Feel Qi

I now believe that anyone can feel the qi.

To do this, two things are required:

1. A good method.
2. A good student.

For example, I have specific way that I teach qigong.

I teach certain exercises in a certain order. I teach a highly-specific practice routine. I tell my students what rules to follow (and which ones to ignore). I tell my students how often to practice.

That’s a method, and a good one at that.

If you practice a good method like mine for 3 months, then you’ll feel qi.

Simple.

What Works Best For You

In the final analysis, I’m a teacher.

I make all of my decisions based on one thing: What works best for my students?

If something works, then I use it. If something doesn’t work, then I discard it.

I’ve been making adjustments for the betterment of my students for well over a decade.

That’s a big reason why I think my method works so well at helping students feel the qi.

Here are some other reasons:

1. I teach a rare technique called Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow, which is amazingly useful at developing sensitivity to qi.
2. I teach my students how to enter into a Zen state of mind, and also how to smile from the heart.
3. I know what blocks students from feeling qi, and help them to overcome it.
4. I teach a highly specific practice routine that is amazingly efficient.
5. I help my students avoid the #1 mistake in qigong (and tai chi), which is to focus more on the form

Other masters may have different methods for helping students to feel the qi. This is my method, and it works for me and my students.

Why You Want to Feel the Qi

Feeling strong sensations of qi isn’t everything. You can get results and still not feel much in the way of qi.

Actually, if you are getting results, then that counts as feeling the qi.

Getting results is absolutely a manifestation of feeling the qi. But in addition to getting results, you should be able to sense the qi.

Lately, I’ve been writing about the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

The first dimension is called “Discovering the Qi.”

If you haven’t yet discovered the qi, if you can’t feel it, then the other dimensions won’t make much sense.

So for your longterm development and understanding of qigong, it’s incredibly helpful to be able to feel qi.

How To Feel the Qi

You don’t have to travel to Asia.

You don’t have to present customary gifts to a traditional master.

You don’t have to be accepted as an inner-chamber disciple.

You don’t even need to leave your home

I believe that everyone in the world should have the opportunity to fall in love with qigong and tai chi — no matter where they live.

I created Qi School, my online training site, because I am a teacher, and I want you to get the training you need to feel your qi.

If you want to learn my method of qigong (and tai chi), if you want to feel the qi sooner rather than later, then check out my online courses.

Click here to see my online courses.

Here’s a quote from a student who took my Qigong 101 program:

“When Anthony’s 101 course opened up, I jumped on board, and it has exceeded my expectations. I’m learning a ton and really enjoying myself. But what has surprised me the most is that I felt more qi in the first six weeks of Sifu Anthony’s class — all online! — than I had in 18 months of in-person training elsewhere.” – Laura Kandiolka

I look forward to working with you!

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post How to Feel Qi (Energy) Without Waiting Years appeared first on Flowing Zen.

The look of shock on my face must have been pretty obvious.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“Sorry, I’m fine,” I said. “Do you by any chance know what I do for a living?” 

“Didn’t you say you were a teacher?”

“Yes — a qigong teacher,” I said.

“No way!”

This conversation happened while I was waiting in the security line at the airport in Costa Rica. The woman was a complete stranger, and just happened to be standing in front of me.

She had no idea about me or my work. 

Two minutes earlier, with no prompting from me, she had started talking about the philosophy of qi.

“I’m taking a class on something called qigong,” she said. “Have you heard of it?”

I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. That’s why I looked shocked, and why it took me a moment to respond.

All Roads Lead to Qigong

Back in the 1990s, when I first started practicing qigong, no one knew about it. My conversation in the airport would have been inconceivable back then.

Today, more and more people are interested in learning about the Chinese concept of qi.

The philosophy of qi is ancient, and it runs through many arts, including:

1. Qigong (and Neigong)
2. All Styles of Internal Kung Fu (Including Tai Chi)
3. Feng Shui
4. Acupuncture
5. Moxibustion
6. Chinese Herbal Medicine
7. Taoist Bedroom Arts
8. Zen Meditation

If you want to learn more about qi, then sooner or later, all roads eventually lead to qigong.

And this makes sense because qigong translates to “the art of cultivating qi”.

Whether you are an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, a reiki master, an energy healer, a psychic, a yoga practitioner, an interior designer (who uses feng shui), a spiritualist, or even a pianist — you can benefit from learning about qi.

The 12 Things You Can Do With Your Qi

If you study qigong long enough, you’ll learn to do different things with your qi.

For example, you’ll learn how to circulate it in your body, and also how to direct it to your hands.

In short, there are only 12 different ways that you can cultivate the qi, and I’ll explain each of them here.

My goal with this article is to give you a quick overview of the differences between each dimension. Later, I’ll go into more depth, if this topic is of interest. (Leave me a comment below if you want me write more!)

Remember that the dimensions are not linear, but rather circular.

A lifelong practice of qigong will involve many laps through the 12 Dimensions, going deeper and deeper with each successive lap.

Also, remember that the 12 Dimensions are universal, meaning that they will apply to all schools of qigong.

Different schools may use different techniques and different terms, but the dimensions are still the same in essence.

Click here to read more about the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery

Dimension 1: Discovering the Qi

To go deeply into qigong, you need to become more sensitive to the qi in general. In other words, you must discover the qi that already exists in and around your body. Discovering the qi is a gradual process of quieting the mind, relaxing the body, and heightening the internal awareness. In my school, we have a series of techniques that we poetically call Entering Zen. We Enter Zen every time we practice our 5-Phase Practice Routine.

Dimension 2: Circulating the Qi

The smooth flow of qi is critical for health and happiness. Once you learn the skill of circulating the qi, you’ll want to continue practicing it for the rest of your life. Circulating the qi is what brings fast results, especially in terms of pain management, improved digestion, emotional healing, and immune response. It’s also what makes you feel energized. In my school of qigong, the primary way that we circulate the qi is with a beautiful and rare technique called Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow (phase 3 of the 5-Phase Practice Routine).

Dimension 3: Aligning the Qi

If your physical structure is not aligned, if your muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments aren’t working optimally, if your spine is unhealthy — then you’ll never master your qi. You need to gradually build strength, flexibility, and balance in order to realign your structure and thus your qi. Luckily, qigong helps people to accomplish this regardless of their fitness level or age. In my school, we use a variety of qigong techniques to align the qi, mainly from the 18 Luohan Hands.

Dimension 4: Gathering the Qi

Now that your qi is flowing well, you can start to work on gathering more of it. Qi is the main ingredient in this art, so having more of it is definitely useful! This skill also unlocks greater possibilities with the later dimensions, especially consolidating, transforming, and transmitting the qi. In my school, we use the Warrior Stances (zhan zhuang) as our fundamental method for gathering qi.

Dimension 5: Protecting the Qi

External factors can have a negative influence on your qi — the food you eat (or don’t eat), your lifestyle habits, your environment, even your finances. No matter how good you are at the other dimensions, no matter how much you practice, you’ll plateau in your development if you don’t protect your qi.  In my school, I help students to improve their sleep hygiene, their diet, and also to get rid of negative habits (like smoking).

Dimension 6: Purifying the Qi

Whereas Protecting the Qi is focused on external influences (like the junk that we eat), Purifying is focused on internal influences (like the junk that we think). To reach higher levels of qi mastery, you must purify your thoughts and emotions. In my school, we have a variety of techniques and meditations for purifying, including 1% Forgiveness Meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation, The Gratitude Spark, The Five Animal Play, and Dispelling 1000 Thoughts.

Dimension 7: Mobilizing the Qi

Masters of the internal martial arts (like tai chi chuan) know how to mobilize or summon the qi in an instant. But it’s helpful to learn how to mobilize the qi even if you have no interest in martial arts. Mobilizing the qi is a more forceful expression of energy. This skill helps you to get in touch with the spirit of the peaceful warrior, which will make you more courageous, more decisive, and help you to draw better personal boundaries. In my school, we usually mobilize using techniques from The 18 Arhat Arts, and also One Finger Shooting Zen.

Dimension 8: Directing the Qi

You can’t call yourself a master of qi unless you can easily direct the qi to any part of your body, including any organ. Although this may sound fantastic to beginners and skeptics, it’s actually a natural progression. Most students can do this easily after 6-9 months of dedicated practice. In my school, we use different techniques to direct the qi to different areas. For example, we use Nourishing Kidneys to direct qi to the kidneys, Pushing Mountains to direct qi to the hands, and Separating Water to direct qi to the lungs.

Dimension 9: Consolidating the Qi

Gathering the qi isn’t enough; you also need to consolidate the qi in the major energy centers, or dantians. This dimension goes hand-in-hand with Gathering the Qi, but is more focused on storing the qi rather than just gathering it. If you’ve been practicing qigong or tai chi for years but still can’t feel the golden sphere of energy at dantian, then you need to spend more time consolidating. In my school, we do this in phase 4 of the 5-Phase Practice Routine. We also use other techniques, including Three Centers Merge, Dantian Breathing, and various visualization techniques.

Dimension 10: Transforming the Qi

The Small Universe (or Microcosmic Orbit) is a famous qigong technique for transforming qi (energy) into jing (essence) and shen (spirit). In many ways, all other forms of qigong are child’s play compared to this dimension. Some schools differentiate between qigong (energy cultivation) and neigong (internal cultivation), but that’s just semantical. The two best techniques for this are the Small Universe and the Big Universe.

Dimension 11: Unifying the Qi

The longer you cultivate your qi, the more often you’ll merge with the cosmos, often without even trying. Most meditative traditions aim for a blissful state of union with the infinite, the Tao, Shiva, the cosmos, or God. Sitting meditation is a great way to access this state. If you already have a sitting meditation practice, practicing the previous 10 Dimensions will take it to a whole new level. In my school, we also use Sinew Metamorphosis techniques and the Small Universe to unify the qi.

Dimension 12: Transmitting the Qi

In the 12th dimension, we complete the cycle by giving energy back to your fellow humans. Qi can be transmitted from the hands, and also from the heart. When I teach, when I share these beautiful arts with others, I’m transmitting qi from my heart. I also do hands-on healing, but to this always compliments my teaching. To me, teaching and healing are yin and yang, and they should always go together. In my school, techniques for transmitting the qi for the purposes of healing include: The Sword Finger, Cosmos Palm, and One Finger Zen.

Understanding Skill vs. Technique

As you learn about the 12 Dimensions, make sure that you understand the difference between skill and technique.

Here’s the simplest way to understand the difference:

Techniques are visible; skills are not.

When we’re talking about the 12 Dimensions, we’re talking about skills. Like most skills, they are largely invisible.

For example, if I direct the qi to my index finger, you probably won’t notice. (Some students seem to be able to “see” the qi, but let’s leave this aside for the moment.)

On the other hand, if I use a qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, the physical form is pretty obvious. My body is moving in a particular way (see below), and it’s visible.

In other words, Shooting Arrows is a great technique for the skill of directing the qi to the index finger. But the skill and the technique are separate.

Let’s look at 3 simple examples to drive this point home:

Example #1: Mary is performing the qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, but she is unable to direct the qi to her index finger even though the physical form of the exercise is correct.

Example #2: Laura is performing the qigong technique called Shooting Arrows, and she is able to direct the qi to her index finger.

Example #3: Jane is standing upright and motionless with her eyes closed. She is not performing the technique Shooting Arrows, but she is nonetheless able to direct the qi to her index finger.

Can you see how the technique and the skill are different? Can you see how one can happen (or not happen) with the other?

One final example: I can use the qigong technique called Pushing Mountains for Dimensions 1 (Discovering), 2 (Circulating), 4 (Gathering), 8 (Directing), and 12 (Transmitting).

To you, it would all look the same. It would just look like Pushing Mountains.

To me, Pushing Mountains would feel totally different depending on what I’m doing with the qi.

In Summary

The 12 Dimensions are a useful way to understand the various classical skills of qigong.

Regardless of the style of qigong that you practice, you can conceptualize the skills using the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

This will help you to master the qi. And when you master the qi, you master not only your health and vitality, but your entire life.

Now I’d love to hear from you. Did you find this helpful? Do you have any questions? Go ahead and leave a comment below! 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post Revealed: The 12 Ways of Cultivating Qi appeared first on Flowing Zen.

I’m writing to you from beautiful Costa Rica, where I’m leading my annual (soon to be bi-annual) retreat.

During the retreat, we had a wonderful discussion about what qi really feels like.

This morning, I shot this impromptu video to share some of that discussion with you.

I hope you find it useful!

The post [Video] What Qi Really Feels Like appeared first on Flowing Zen.

“Look, the qi doesn’t have to be so mysterious,” I said.

I was catching up with an old friend over coffee. He was having trouble understanding the core ingredient of my work — the qi.

“Anyone can learn to feel it,” I continued.

“Even me?” he said, laughing.

“Hey, if I can do it, anyone can,” I said.

“That’s true. I remember back when you were quite the skeptic about this stuff!”

It was good to hear someone acknowledge this fact, someone who has watched me change over the years.

These days, people often assume I was never skeptical about the qi, that I believed in it from the beginning.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

My Introduction to Qi

My introduction to the ancient concept of qi (or life energy) happened in 1994.

I had the opportunity to study with a high-ranking Japanese karate master named Teuro Chinen.

Sensei Chinen taught us a traditional kata (a series of karate moves) called Sanchin Kata.

I picked up the moves and the breathing easily. But he kept talking about using something called the ki.

I had no clue what he was talking about.

I later learned that ki is the Japanese word for qi. In fact, the concept of qi was imported to Japan (or rather Okinawa) from ancient China.

Here’s an old (and terrible) image of me practicing Sanchin Kata, c. 1995.

I now understand that Sanchin Kata is actually a form of qi cultivation (or qigong). But back then I didn’t really understand it.

And nothing annoys me more than not understanding something.

My Scientific Study

Ever since learning from Sensei Chinen, I’ve been curious about the whole qi thing.

He sparked something in me, and I grew determined to understand the concept.

So I began an investigation.

And not just any investigation, but a scientific one.

Some people think that science and arts like qigong and tai chi are mutually exclusive.

Is that true?

What does it mean mean to be scientific?

Webster’s defines the scientific method as follows:

 ….the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

In other words, to be scientific means that you study the world through experimentation and observation.

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 22 years.

My Qi Hypothesis

My friend in the coffee shop remembered my original hypothesis.

My original hypothesis from 22 years ago can be summed up as follows:

“I think qi is probably bullshit.”

I’m not joking. That’s what got me started on this journey.

I was a skeptic, and I was out to bust the myth of qi.

Fast forward 22 years, and I’ve dedicated my life to teaching what I once thought was bullshit.

Karma is interesting, isn’t it?

My Data-Driven Conclusion

If we use Webster’s definition of the scientific method from above, then I started with this:

Problem: I don’t understand the phenomenon of qi.

Hypothesis: I think qi is probably bullshit.

This is where most people stop.

In the 21^st century, we are used to having other people (i.e. researchers and scientists) prove things for us.

The concept of running an experiment for and on yourself is downright foreign.

Somehow, at the tender age of 22, I knew that I would need to run my own experiment if I was going to get to the bottom of this qi thing.

Running the Experiment

After doing some research, I decided that the best way to run an experiment was to practice the art of qigong.

I started reading books. Then I started looking for teachers. And I eventually found myself wandering around S.E. Asia.

Needless to say, I’ve collected quite a bit of data in 22 years.

Continuing with Webster’s definition above, we arrive at the following:

Data:

1. 10,000+ hours of personal qigong practice.
2. 1500+ hours of acupuncture training (which also uses the qi).
3. 5000+ hours of teaching.

After collecting a ton of data, I came to the following conclusion.

Conclusion: My hypothesis was incorrect. The qi is not bullshit.

Why Scientists Can’t Measure the Qi (Yet)

Let’s go back to the coffee shop conversation.

“Why can’t scientists measure the qi?” my friend asked.

He wasn’t being rude. I consider this a fair question from both friends and students.

“I’ve thought about this a lot,” I said. “Before I answer, I need to ask you a question. Are you aware that science doesn’t yet fully understand the human sensory system?

“I read your article on the subject. Does that count?”

The article he was referring to was this one: The Big Secret to Sensing Your Qi.

You can read that article later, but here’s the most important part:

It turns out humans might have as many as 20 senses. Whether we have 8 senses or 20 depends on which scientist you ask.

The only thing agreed upon by the research is that there are definitely more than 5 senses.

Understanding this information is critical.

Once you accept this information, then you must also accept that your way of viewing the world might need to change.

In other words, once you realize that humans have more than 5 senses, you can suddenly view the concept of qi with new eyes.

(Ha! See what I did there?)

A High-Tech Device for Measuring Qi?

We’ve established that science still doesn’t fully understand the human sensory system. Heck, scientists don’t even know how many senses we have!

With that in mind, here’s the answer to my friend’s question about why science can’t measure the qi:

“What if the only device currently capable of measuring a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon like qi is a human being?”

In other words, what if researchers can’t find the qi because they are looking for it with the wrong equipment?

The Missing Ingredient

The equipment I’m referring to, of course, is the human sensory system.

But it’s more than that. You need more than just your senses.

Or rather, you need more than just your 5 senses.

There is a key ingredient that is often overlooked by skeptics.

I’m referring to what is called The Zen Mind.

The Zen Mind is simply a different state of consciousness than our everyday, normal consciousness.

(You can experience a taste of the Zen Mind with the free audio found in this blog post here.)

When you are in a meditative state, when you are in The Zen Mind, then you perceive things differently.

The lesson here is that you need meditative skill in order to truly run the qi experiment on yourself.

You need to be in The Zen Mind to feel the qi.

Why I Can’t Take Skeptics Seriously

The first question I ask hardcore qi skeptics is this: “How many hours have you meditated?”

A big problem with skepticism is that it is purely intellectual.

Skepticism happens in the frontal cortex of the brain.

But meditation involves other parts of the brain.

In other words, you can’t be skeptical and also be meditating.

It’s like trying to write poetry from the analytical part of the brain. It’s possible, but the result is some very bad poetry.

A skeptic who refuses to explore outside ofthe frontal cortex will never understand meditation.

And someone who doesn’t understand meditation will never understand qi.

Discovering the Qi

Recently, I’ve been writing about the 12 Dimensions of Qi Mastery.

I have plans to write in depth about all 12 dimensions (which are just ways of cultivating the qi).

What you may not yet realize is that this entire article is actually about the 1st Dimension — Discovering the Qi.

Discovering the Qi is a lifelong journey.

But beginners don’t need 20 years, or even 1 year to feel the qi.

They just need proper instruction, and proper practice.

Some people might look at the 12 Dimensions and wonder if it’s really possible to direct the qi to various parts of the body.

It’s possible — but not if you skip the 1st Dimension.

And that’s what many skeptics do, unfortunately.

If you use the right equipment, if you use some of the hidden human senses, and if you use them in a deep meditative state — then you can feel the qi.

I’ve taught thousands of students to do this.

Many of them had been practicing qigong or tai chi for years prior to learning from me.

After learning from me for a few hours, they were able to feel the qi better than ever.

Why?

Because I taught them how to discover the qi.

Summing Up

I can sum up this article in 4 sentences:

1. The human body may be the only thing capable of measuring the qi.
2. To measure the qi with the human body, you need meditative skill.
3. To gain meditative skill, you need proper instruction and proper practice.
4. Go practice.

What about you? Can you feel the qi? What do you feel? Let me know in the comments below. 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post The Skeptic’s Guide to Feeling the Qi appeared first on Flowing Zen.

[Edit: This post was originally published with 15 questions, but I later added 4 more for clarity.]

You know, it’s funny. I’ve been teaching qigong for over ten years, I’ve published over 100 blog posts, I’ve taught over 10,000 amazing people — and yet for some reason I don’t have a post that clearly answers the most common questions about qigong.

Let’s change that right now, shall we?

Here are the 19 questions I most frequently hear from students.

1. What is Qigong?

If I had to describe qigong in 23 words, I would say:

Qigong (pronounced “chee gung”) is an ancient Chinese mind-body practice that restores wellness, builds mental and emotional strength, reduces stress, and increases vitality.

If I had another 40 words, I’d add the following:

Qigong, sometimes called the grandmother of tai chi, is one of the four major branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Because Qigong incorporates a variety of gentle breathing methods, flowing movements, and mindfulness meditation, it can be practiced by absolutely anyone, regardless of their age, health, religion, or fitness level.

For most people, these descriptions are enough. But if you want to know more, read on!

Watch this 97 second video to get a visual explanation:

2. What are the benefits?

At present, there are over 500 research studies on qigong, and over 1800 studies on tai chi.

I created a free infographic with a list of the 13 proven benefits, as well as links to the research.

Click here to download the free infographic.

3. What Does the Word Mean?

Qi means “vital energy”, and gong means “cultivation”.  The Chinese characters are as follows:

氣    功
qì gōng

In essence, it means “vital-energy cultivation”. To make it more poetic, we might translate Qigong to “the art of vital-energy cultivation”.

4. What is Qi?

You’ll find all sorts of definitions out there.

You’ll even find people who are upset that qi has all sorts of definitions.

Me, I like things simple.

Qi is energy.

Whether it is the energy that moves food through your digestive system, or the energy that mobilizes your immune system, or the energy that powers your cells — all of that is qi to me.

5. How Do You Spell It?

The transliteration of the Chinese word 氣功 varies. The main variants that you’ll see are:

• qigong
• qi gong
• chi gong
• chi gung
• chi kung

Of these variants, the 1st one (qigong) is now considered the official transliteration.

To read more on this subject, check out this article: 9 Reasons You Should Stop Spelling Qigong Incorrectly

6. Why So Many Different Spellings?

Remember that there is no alphabet in Chinese. The Chinese use logograms (or characters).

Also remember that there is a difference between translation and transliteration.

For example, the translation of 氣功 is “life-energy cultivation”.

The transliteration of 氣功 is “qigong”.

When we transliterate a Chinese word into English, we must use our alphabet to approximate their characters and syllables.

So we must choose a way to spell it. Before an official system was adopted, people chose differently.

And some still choose differently.

7. What’s With That Confusing “Q”?

Short answer: The “Q” was chosen to represent an aspirated “ch” sound that doesn’t exist in English.

The modern transliteration system, called Pinyin, aims to be 100% phonetic. And it gets pretty damn close — closer than any previous system.

The problem is that there are several “ch” sounds in Chinese —  more than we have in English.

The officials who created the Pinyin system probably chose “Q” because they ran out of ways to spell the various “ch” sounds.

It’s confusing. I know. We see the Q as a “k” sound. That’s why many people pronounce “qigong” as “key gong” instead of “chee gong”.

They’re wrong, but you can hardly blame them.

8. How Does Tai Chi Fit In?

In a nutshell, tai chi is a martial art, and qigong is an umbrella term for any form of qi cultivation.

There’s a lot of overlap though, especially in the 21st century.

For example, tai chi is often practiced in a non-martial way, making it similar to qigong. And qigong is typically incorporated into tai chi.

Qigong is the art of energy cultivation. Since energy is useful for martial arts, many martial arts other than tai chi have adopted qigong.

If you want to learn more about the differences between the two arts, I wrote an entire article on it:

Click here to read: The Difference Between Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Chai Tea

9. Should I learn Qigong or Tai Chi?

Good question! Ideally, you would learn both at some point

There are advantages and disadvantages to both arts.

Watch this video blog where I explain the differences:

Should You Learn Qigong, Tai Chi, or Both?

10. Are there different types of Qigong?

There are several hundred different styles of qigong, but there are 5 historical categories of qigong:

1. Medical Qigong for healing pain and illness.
2. Longevity Qigong for prolonging life.
3. Scholarly Qigong for boosting intelligence.
4. Martial Qigong for internal power.
5. Spiritual Qigong for enlightenment.

Many styles of qigong incorporate more than one category. For example, Flowing Zen Qigong includes all 5 categories (starting with Medical Qigong).

It’s important to clarify what type of qigong you are learning, and to match it with your personal goals.

Click here to read more about the 5 historical categories of qigong.

11. How Old Is Qigong?

Qigong history dates back at least 3000 years.

The early era of qigong history began in roughly 1100 B.C.

Tai chi came much later. There are endless debates about the origins of tai chi, but the 2 main arguments either put the origins in 12th century or the 17th century A.D.

Either way, qigong is older than tai chi by a few thousands years.

12. Is it Like the Force?

Well, sort of.

Actually, George Lucas loosely based his concept of the Force off ancient kung fu legends. So the connection is not coincidental.

Just about every superpower you see in Star Wars can be found in the old kung fu novels.

Whether these powers are real or fantasy is another subject.

The superpowers that I’ve developed — health, vitality, mental clarity, resilience, fortitude, happiness — are enough for me.

13. Is Qigong Religious?

Short answer: no.

In the early days of qigong (1100 B.C. to 206 B.C.), the art had zero religious flavor to it.

Later, some of the techniques were picked up by Buddhist and Taoist schools to be used for spiritual cultivation.

The qigong that I teach is 100% non-religious. The same is true for may of the qigong teachers you’ll find in the West.

I have taught Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, Muslim Imams, Zen and Taoist priests, and Jewish Rabbis.

I doubt these people would have learned from me if I was teaching religion.

Don’t get me wrong. What I teach can absolutely be spiritual. Meditation and mindfulness are spiritual because they allow us to look more deeply at ourselves and the world around us.

Some schools of qigong will have more of a religious tinge to them. If this makes you uncomfortable, then you should clarify this with the teacher before joining.

14. Is Qigong Dangerous?

If you have a good instructor, then practicing qigong is safer than getting in your car.

My personal approach to qigong is extremely safe because a) all students start with Medical Qigong (see answer #8), and b) all students learn a rare technique called Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow.

To learn more about this technique, read: The Secret of Energy Flow

If you are practicing without the guidance of an instructor, or if you are practicing advanced techniques that are unsuitable for your condition, then yes, you can have some adverse side effects.

General speaking, these side effects are minor, like insomnia or headaches. In extremely rare cases, there can be an exacerbation of mental-emotional disturbances.

Amazingly, the side effects can be remedied with proper instruction (and with Flowing Breeze Swaying Willow).

And let’s be clear that most of these side effects, however uncomfortable, are still far safer than many prescription medicines, which carry risks ranging from nausea to organ failure to death.

In the final analysis, I think the real risk is in NOT practicing an art like qigong. The health risks of failing to manage your stress and your qi are too numerous to list!

15. Is Qigong Hard?

No. Anyone can do it.

And that, my friend, is one of the best things about qigong.

I’ve taught all kinds of amazing humans — people in wheelchairs, stroke victims (with limited mobility), people with severe hearing impairments, and people with learning disabilities.

I’ve taught students as old as 91 and as young as 6.

I’ve taught professional athletes and professional couch potatoes.

That’s not to say that ALL qigong exercises are easy. They aren’t.

But with Qigong, you can get amazing results even with the simplest, easiest exercises.

Which is awesome.

16. Does it Work?

I dedicated my life to this art precisely because it has worked for me. In fact, it saved my life.

It has also worked wonders for my students.

Oh, and millions of Chinese also swear by it.

My attitude is that you should give it a try, and see for yourself if it works. It’s safer than getting in your car, and most people find it really enjoyable.

There’s a catch though: you have to practice, or else it definitely doesn’t work.

If you want evidence, then click here to see a database of over 500 research studies on qigong, or click here to see a database of over 1800 studies on tai chi.

Remember that there is a ton of overlap between tai chi and qigong. Studies that use the term “tai chi” often incorporate lots of qigong, and vice versa.

In general, the research (so far) suggests that qigong and tai chi can be effective for the following:

• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• fall prevention
• improved cognitive performance
• osteoarthritis
• depression
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• chronic pain
• improving balance
• building muscle strength
• increasing bone density
• improving overall quality of life
• strengthening the immune system
• reducing inflammation

And that’s just the current research! New studies are being done every year!

We live in an age when ancient wisdom is being validated by modern science! How cool is that!

17. How Much Do You Have to Practice?

This depends on the style of qigong, and the teacher.

Some masters ask you to practice for 2 hours per day.

I ask my students to practice for 10-15 minutes, preferably twice per day.

This sounds easier than it actually is.

Although 15 minutes is definitely doable, it is harder than it sounds. If you struggle to make qigong a daily habit — welcome to the club.

Although I myself have solved this problem over the years, I would estimate that 90% of my students struggle with it sooner or later. So you’re in good company!

18. Where Can I Learn the Traditional Way?

Oh, so you want to learn the traditional way?

Okay. Let me paint a picture for you.

Imagine a stricter version of Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid. Now imagine washing the car and painting the fence every day for 3 months before learning a single qigong technique. Imagine enduring verbal and even physical abuse from Mean Mr. Miyagi.

And then imagine washing Mean Mr. Miyagi’s feet every evening.

That’s the traditional way!

Being a traditional disciple of qigong or tai chi is not a walk in the park.

My own discipleship was not like the picture above  — but it was still incredibly difficult. If people knew the sacrifices I had to make during 17 years of discipleship, they wouldn’t be so keen on “the traditional way”.

19. How Do I Find a Teacher?

In the old days, finding a master was difficult. (Apparently, there was no Internet 500 years ago!)

Once you found a master, he or she would continue to make your life difficult (see the previous question).

It’s tempting to think that things have changed in the 21st century. Certainly, there are more qigong teachers than ever before. And there’s more information too, which is a good thing.

But percentage wise, your chances are probably about the same.

In other words, it’s just as hard to find a good qigong teacher today as it was 500 years ago.

I’m doing my best to help change that — with this blog, with my retreats and workshops, with my online teaching, with my teacher certification training — but it’s a big job.

Here’s my best advice on how to learn more:

1. Start right now. You can learn one of the best qigong exercises right now — for free. Just click here.
2. Learn from me. Something brought you to my blog, and something about my methodology resonates with you, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading. Now that I teach online, you can even learn from me without leaving your house.
3. Learn from others. Unlike most traditional teachers, I actually encourage students to learn from others. Just watch out for the bad ones. One of my most popular posts is about spotting bad teachers (and thus finding good ones). Read it.
4. Search. Qigong is my passion and my profession. It’s my full-time job. There’s already a ton of information on this blog, and I’m constantly adding to it. There’s a search function on this site, and I encourage you to use it!
5. Ask Questions. You can ask me questions in our wonderful Facebook group, or you can post them on the bottom of any blog post.

Did I miss anything in my FAQ? Any other questions you think belong on here? Go ahead and post them in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post The 19 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Qigong appeared first on Flowing Zen.