Everything is energy. Light.
Quantum physics speaks of 94% of the universe as being made of energy or light. That includes you. Spiritual traditions have been speaking of this life force energy as Light or Spirit filling and interconnecting all of creation—including humans—for thousands of years. In India it’s called prana, in Hebrew it’s ruach (Spirit) in Arabic it’s Ruh (Spirit though also soul), in Lakota it’s Wakan, in biblical Greek pneuma or Spirit, and in Chinese it’s Qi.
What is Qigong? What are the benefits?
With Qi meaning universal life force energy or Light, and Gong meaning “skill,” “to work with,” and “to cultivate,” we have the word Qigong.
Qigong involves holistic, age-old Chinese practices that increase equanimity and vitality; improve physical, emotional, and mental well-being; prevent and treat illness; reduce pain; increase longevity; and assist in mystical experiences of bliss, joy, and insight including through non-dual awareness of Oneness. Gentle practices blend mindful inner and outer awareness, breath work, meditative flowing dance-like movement, stretching, seated meditation, acupressure, the power of intention, and Taoist philosophy such as wisdom drawn from nature. As the sympathetic nervous system calms from these various modalities, consciousness drops beneath the agitation of thinking mind into the stillness or Emptiness where one rests in communing Oneness in the field of primordial energy, vibration, or Light. Regular practice helps train us to live, rest, and work from this revitalizing yet calming life force energy Spirit. Therefore, Qigong is not only complementary medicine for rebalancing energy centers and pathways of the body for physical wellbeing. This rebalancing, along with calming the nervous system, helps us dis-identify with difficult thoughts and emotions and re-identify with the inner peace and Oneness it turns out we’ve had all along. What if more people practiced living from this Light or life force in everything, weaving us as One? More inner peace means more outer peace. These tumultuous times filled with societal divides and environmental fragileness makes this the perfect time to practice the healing power of Qigong.
For religious and secular people alike:
Like Taoism itself with its emphasis upon wui-wei—effortless effort—and other ways of being including for overcoming the difficult and hard, Qigong is not a religion. Qigong practices combine readily with diverse religious and spiritual-but-not-religious beliefs. All of us loosening the grip of the little “i” ego-mind as we practice living from universal life force energy in this One Reality of which we all are part.
History and how Qigong differs from Tai Chi:
There are some 3,500 styles of Qigong and historically three main types: martial, medical, and spiritual. What I teach at Prairiewoods is medical and spiritual. The earliest known reference to Qigong is 2,700 B.C.E. in a record on how to ward off illness. Some believe Qigong is 5,000 years old, going back to shamanic practices highly influenced by the wisdom ways taught by animals and nature elements. Qigong remains a daily well-being practice in China including in schools, universities, parks, and hospitals.
Qigong is an older, simpler approach when compared to Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a martial art developed partly from Qigong by Shaolin monks and Chinese military leaders as “T-ai chi Chuan” or “Grand Ultimate Fist” for self-defense purposes. Both Qigong and Tai Chi increase energy, decrease stress, and share many forms. Unlike Tai Chi in which one form moves into another with greater complexity, Qigong meditatively repeats a form. This can make Qigong more accessible for people who find its simplicity leading to less over-thinking and thus quicker, easier access to calm, vitality, peace, awareness of Qi, and Oneness.
Accessible for most bodies—honor your body:
The first portion of class involves standing movement (with optional adapted seated) practices. Then comes seated meditation. Always honor any bodily limitations when using Qigong as it is meant to complement—rather than replace—directives from your healthcare provider. (Consult your doctor if in doubt.)
Qigong classes and retreats at Prairiewoods:
Join me weekly for Into the Oneness: Qigong for Energy, Equanimity & Peace on Thursdays (12:45–1:35 p.m.) and for seasonal retreats like Winter’s Wisdom, Rest & Renewal Retreat Dec. 15–17.
—Rev. Dr. Catherine Quehl-Engel