I’m sorry, but Bruce Lee was wrong.

Chi, the ancient Chinese term that means energy isn’t the magical force you see in martial art films. It goes much deeper than that. It’s not even the zen-like state you achieve through meditation. It goes much deeper than that.

So what is chi then? If it’s not the fantasy force of masters in anime or the feeling of peace in a yoga studio, what is it? And why should you care?

Chi is an energy force that circulates in our bodies. It is an ancient Chinese art that brings people back into a state of vitality and alignment. Chi is the energy around us and within us. Externally, it is all the energy in the universe. Internally, it connects the mind, the body, and the spirit. According to traditional Chinese healers, there are blockages in our body that prevent chi to flow through. Trauma, emotional pain, and neglect cause obstacles in chi, which later provoke physical symptoms, like

• fatigue
• irritability
• hormone imbalance, pain
• muscle weakness
• depression
• cramping
• stress

When we routinely keep blockages from forming, we allow chi to circulate through our body through its main paths and live a life full of vitality. Who doesn’t want to live a life with more enthusiasm and energy?

I know this concept of chi and energy seems a bit woo-woo and unrealistic, but the beauty of it is chi doesn’t have to be understood. It has to be felt. Describing chi is hard because it is restricted to the observations using our five senses. Some identify chi as a tingling or buzzing sensation, but this description is insufficient. If you want to understand the mystical feeling, you have to explore it yourself.

The best method to balance your chi is by making sure you get enough sleep and rest. Slow movements, like stretching and yoga, can increase blood flow throughout the body and balance the flow of energy. Tai chi and yoga are both exercises that help you focus on the breath and movement to control your chi. Tai chi is a series of slow and balanced movements that remove those stressful blockages. Yoga encourages the release of congestion by building up tension in a pose and then slowly restoring the flow of chi as you release from the position. Breathing exercises and meditation help sync movements in yoga and tai chi with the breath, so they work together to bring you into balance and allow you to relax and become aware of the energy flowing through your body. A simple exercise you can do right now is inhaling through the nose and slowly exhaling through the mouth. Sit in a comfortable position and focus on the rush of air through your nose. Then, gently breathe out through your mouth.

Chi is balanced by resting. It is the perfect art to master in a hustling culture. Zest in life is available to anyone. The question is, are you willing to set aside your previous beliefs on non-traditional ways to alleviate stress and give chi a chance?

References:

• Mohoric, M. (2019, April 23). A Helpful Guide to Understanding and Harnessing Your Chi Energy — Qigong Energy Healing | Powerful Distant Healing – Worldwide. Qigong Energy Healing | Powerful Distant Healing – Worldwide. Retrieved from qigongenergyhealing.com/blog-qigong-energy-healing/understanding-chi-energy
• Jones, H. (2018, August 4). Chi Gong 101: How to Feel Your Chi Energy. Martial Development. Retrieved from martialdevelopment.com/how-to-feel-your-chi/
• Gonzalez, I. (2019, October 18). Imbalanced Chi Energy Could Be the Reason You’re So Tired Lately. Oprah Magazine. Retrieved from oprahmag.com/life/health/a27079502/what-is-chi-energy/
• Korahais, S. A. (2017, August 30). The Big Secret To Sensing Your Qi Energy. Flowing Zen. Retrieved from flowingzen.com/16952/sensing-your-qi/

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