In the Oriental Gymnastics Groups there is a lot of discussion of what is "chi" (or "qi") and what is the purpose of chi-gung (qi gong), the cultivation of chi. From my experience of study, teaching and training, chi is the vital energy, the frequency or communication system of the cells and organs of the body that allow them to function properly. It is a finer system than the nervous or endocrine system.
My training in chi-gung started with the understanding that we interfere with this system due to our life-styles and that the main purpose of chi-gung training was to stop this interference. Other people mentioned that their training consisted of "moving" their chi in the "correct" way, in other words, interfering with it but in a better way.
My training also involved strengthening the awareness of each part of the body so that it could resist the interference by the thinking mind and its habits. The various MA practices of form and push hands, for example, allow "intent" to emanate from the body itself and therefore allow the body to be creative, rather than just a slave of the thinking mind.
In my many years of work with people, as a PT, physiologist and psychotherapist, (specifically in the field of sports and life style behaviour), I came to understand the difference between a consciousness that is distributed equally throughout the body and a consciousness that is locked within the head, and the resulting health issues.
I am convinced that if we learn to stop interfering with the natural flow of chi within the body, then the cells and organs will return to their healthy, natural state. And this is the most powerful thing we can do for our health, along with proper diet, rest and avoidance of harmful chemicals and high stress levels.
My training in chi-gung started with the understanding that we interfere with this system due to our life-styles and that the main purpose of chi-gung training was to stop this interference. Other people mentioned that their training consisted of "moving" their chi in the "correct" way, in other words, interfering with it but in a better way.
My training also involved strengthening the awareness of each part of the body so that it could resist the interference by the thinking mind and its habits. The various MA practices of form and push hands, for example, allow "intent" to emanate from the body itself and therefore allow the body to be creative, rather than just a slave of the thinking mind.
In my many years of work with people, as a PT, physiologist and psychotherapist, (specifically in the field of sports and life style behaviour), I came to understand the difference between a consciousness that is distributed equally throughout the body and a consciousness that is locked within the head, and the resulting health issues.
I am convinced that if we learn to stop interfering with the natural flow of chi within the body, then the cells and organs will return to their healthy, natural state. And this is the most powerful thing we can do for our health, along with proper diet, rest and avoidance of harmful chemicals and high stress levels.
Pedro Proff
