CHAPTER 1

FOUNDATIONS

People know when they are sick; they also know how they feel whenthey are well. This is a matter of awareness of what the Chinese call"Qi." The practice of Qigong (pronounced chee-gung) focuses on refiningthis awareness. Which part of the body is sick? What is wrong with theQi? Is it stuck? Is there too much or too little? Through the meditationsand exercises of Qigong, we can answer these questions—and learn howto remedy problems. By practicing them, we can experience and createvibrant health.

Just as we know in our bodies when something is not quite right, wecan also feel differences in the weather, as well as in people, even beforethey speak. All of this awareness involves energy. The ancient Chinesedevised a universal system to describe the various forms of energy, notonly in the human body and in the weather, but also in space (in landscapeand geography) and over time (in history and astrology). By understandingthat everything in the cosmos is an expression of Qi, from the material tothe insubstantial, one can glimpse the ultimate truth of the universe andcome to a deep understanding for and appreciation of the natural world,including one's own true nature.

The core text of Chinese philosophy is the I Ching, or the Book ofChanges. Its basic premise is that energy evolves from the unmanifested tothe manifested realm. These manifestations maybe broadly described as Yinand Yang. Beyond Yin and Yang, all manifestations may be more precisely(but still generally) described in terms of the Five Elements. Beyond that,there are the "ten thousand things," all of which are permutations of thesebroader concepts.

Health is an expression of the smooth flow of life-giving Qi in the body.Disease manifests when the flow of Qi is blocked or stagnant, or when thereis too much or too little. Physical and mental exercise can clear blockages,dissolve stagnation, reduce excess, and supplement deficiency. I will usethese terms "excess" and "deficient" often throughout this text because theseare the terms used in Chinese medical theory. They describe conditions inwhich there is too much of something, i.e., when an organ is hyperactive,or when there is too little, i.e., the organ is weak or hypoactive.

In these chapters, we will learn how to interpret the signs and signalsof the body in terms of these patterns and how to correct and improve theflow of Qi. That is the practice and purpose of Qigong. It can benefit youas well as your clients or patients if you are a health practitioner.

Centers of Energy: The Dan Tians

Three is a number often used to describe or tosimplify the complexity of our human experience.In Christianity, the aspects of God are described asFather, Son, and Holy Ghost. In Chinese metaphysics,the components of the universe are described asHeaven, Earth, and Man. In the human body, Chinesemedical theory sees three "Dan Tians" (pronounceddahn tee-ens), or energy centers, corresponding to thephysical, emotional/mental, and spiritual aspects of aperson's being. These vital energy centers are locatedalong the midline of the body and store energy muchthe way batteries do.

Upper

The Upper Dan Tian relates to our spiritual being. It roughly comprisesthe upper and posterior portions of the skull. In Western medicine, theUpper Dan Tian corresponds to the central nervous system, which, throughnerve impulses, controls the functions of all the organs.

Middle

The Middle Dan Tian relates to our mental/emotional state and isassociated with the heart center in the middle of the chest.

Lower

The Lower Dan Tian relates to the physical aspect of our being andis located about an inch below the navel in the center of the body. This isthe center most people refer to when they speak of "the Dan Tian." As allphysical energy is stored and used from this region, we will refer to it oftenin our Qigong practice.

Basic Guidelines for Practicing Qigong

Practical Aspects

The goal of Qigong is to harmonize and develop your energy. If youdo what you can to harmonize the physical aspects of the practice—yourbody and the environment—you will achieve your goal more quickly andto a much greater extent. When your body and mind are nourished, rested,calm, and relaxed, you will be in a natural state of equilibrium....