If you’ve tried acupuncture or consulted a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in some way before, then you may have heard the term “chi” (also spelled “qi”). This is possibly the most important part of both TCM. Chinese martial arts centre around or at least make use of the idea of chi, too, however; in fact, it’s been described as being potentially very powerful. 

Here are a few examples of what chi can do, and how you can unlock yours. 

Benefits of Chi

When someone has enough chi, they can be seen as energetic and overall healthy, often with enough vigour to handle what they need to do for the day without tiring easily. Specialists describe it as having enough vital energy to meet the body’s needs. 

With enough chi, you can heal quicker than you would without, bounce back from an illness or injury, and be less susceptible to illness in the first place. You also will be able to move better, not to mention have a good appetite and good digestion, so you won’t have to worry about getting constipated whenever you eat a lot. 

If you’ve seen someone who practices a Chinese martial art such as qi gong, you may have noticed that they’re outwardly very calm, with good control on their emotions – but not to the point of being robotic, of course. Or you may find that they choose their words carefully, even if they seem angry. This is because having enough chi also makes you more physically, mentally, and emotionally resilient, so not only are you less likely to let emotions rule your head, but you’re also able to think clearer instead of reacting on instinct. 

However, you can’t just unlock your chi and not cultivate it. The two are intrinsically tied together. 

Get Enough Rest

Getting enough sleep is the first step to unlocking and then cultivating your chi. Being tired is often seen as a sign of chi deficiency, and even from the perspective of Western medicine, this makes sense. When you’re constantly fatigued, your body’s immune system isn’t as robust, and your body can’t repair itself as easily – both benefits attributed to chi. 

Work On Your Breathing

Struggling to breathe can be caused by anxiety, which can contribute to a chi deficiency. You can combat this by practising belly breathing, also known as diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing. Take a slow, deep breath through your nose and let the air enter your stomach, making it expand. Then exhale through your mouth, and repeat as often as you need.

Practice Tai Chi or Qi Gong

Gentle Chinese martial arts like qi gong and tai chi, as opposed to impact-based systems like kung fu, aim to help you get in touch with your body and find balance. Not only are these practices easier on the joints and suitable for all ages, but the slow, flowing movements will help in first unlocking and then cultivating chi. 

As you can see, given all of the above, being able to unlock and cultivate chi is beneficial. While you can certainly practice on your own, it will help if someone guides you. So if you want to learn more or get in touch with someone to teach and mentor you, you can visit this page to get started.