Exercise Your Energy with Qi Gong

Want more energy?  Why not do energy exercises?

This is not just exercising, but actually exercising your qi, or energy. Qi (pronounced chee) is the body’s energy. I explained the basic idea of qi in a previous post. In this post I will teach you a basic exercise called the qi ball, that can help you start improving your qi.

Exercises for your qi are called Qi gong, which means “qi work” in English. They are slow moving exercises and self massage techniques which will make you feel more energetic, improve your immune system and your mood, and can help treat many disease like chronic pain, migraine headaches, sinus headaches, asthma, allergies, and improve you immunity (just to name a few).

This basic exercise is called the qi ball. There is a great description of it in this Qi gong book, which I consider to be one of the best out there.

1. Sit in a chair with your back straight. Take a few deep diaphragmatic breaths.

2. Hold your hands below your belly button and imagine that you are holding a ball of energy in them. This area below the belly button is called the dan tian, and is the center and major storehouse of the body’s energy.

3. As you are imagining the qi ball in your hands, they will begin to feel warm and tingly. This is good, and a sign that you are collecting the qi.

4. Imagine that you are playing with this qi ball. Gently rotate the ball with your mind, and feel it in your hands. With your mind, move the back and forth from your right to left hand and also, feel the stretch of the qi between your hands.

5. Breathe relaxed feeling the qi in your hands for about 5 minutes.

6. When you are finished you hands should be warm. Rub them together and then rub your belly and dan tian area to store the qi.

This is a powerful first exercise and I’m sure you’ll want to learn more to improve you health and energy.   It is best to learn from a teacher not books or the Internet, so try to find a teacher in your area.