What is Qi?

Qi is life-force or universal energy -- that which animates the forms of the world. It is the vibratory nature of phenomena -- the flow and vibration that is happening continuously at molecular, atomic and sub-atomic levels. In Japan it is called “ki,” and in India, “prana” or “shakti.” The ancient Egyptians referred to it as “ka,” and the ancient Greeks as “pneuma.”  In China, the understanding of qi is inherent in the very language. For instance: The literal translation of the Chinese character meaning “health” is “original qi.” The literal translation of the character for “vitality” is “high quality qi.” The literal translation of the character meaning “friendly” is “peaceful qi."

Many Different Kinds of Qi

Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have identified many different kinds of Qi.  Within the human body there is the qi that we’re born with, called Yuan qi, or pre-natal qi. The qi that we absorb during our lives from food, water, air and qigong practice is called post-natal qi. The qi that flows at the surface of the body, as a protective sheathe, is called Wei qi or protective qi. Each internal organ also has its own qi/life-force, e.g. Spleen-qi, Lung-qi, Kidney-qi.  According to ancient texts the two most fundamental forms of qi are Yin-qi and Yang-qi -- the primordial feminine and masculine energies and together they represent the perfect harmony that underpins all creation.

Balance and Free Flowing Qi
The balance between yin and yang is never static. The two forces are in constant flux, as yin first gains supremacy over yang, and then gives way to it. This ebb and flow of energies is a kind of cyclical dance that never ends. It is a bit like the progression of the seasons: the dark, cold days of fall and winter (yin) lead inevitably into the spring and summer (yang). One season asserts itself as the previous one wanes—it is all part of the same universal process.
This natural see-saw effect is present in every life and in each person’s body. Balance between yin and yang is essential to happiness and good health. Problems arise if one force dominates for too long. So, for example, if we continue to be busy (activity is seen as yang) when really we need to pause (rest is yin), then we are likely to become overtired and stressed. Illness will eventually be the result.  Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) asserts that the body has natural patterns of qi that circulate in channels called meridians.  In TCM, symptoms of various illnesses are believed to be the product of disrupted, blocked, or unbalanced qi movement through the body's meridians, as well as deficiencies or imbalances of qi in the Traditional Chinese medicine often seeks to relieve these imbalances by adjusting the circulation of qi using a variety of techniques including, acupuncture, herbology, moxibustion, tui na, cupping, gua sha,food therapy, and tai qi quan.
                                             
Feeling of Qi
The capacity to perceive the flow of qi directly or to actually see or feel it, is something that can be cultivated through training in qigong or acupuncture. Like any skill, some people are better at it than others: for some it seems to come “naturally,” for others it’s more of a challenge. Even if it’s not consciously cultivated or acknowledged, most of us can tell the difference between someone who has “great energy” and someone from whom we feel a “bad vibe.” And most of us are able to notice, when we enter a room, whether the atmosphere seems relaxed and uplifted, or tense and heavy. To the extent that we notice such things, we are tuning into the level of Qi.