Chi Kung
Chi Kung (qigong) are excercises designed to help stimulate the chi (internal energy) of the practitioner. Through the repetition of exercises that unify the breathing, motion, and mental intention a person may gain increased or improved chi circulation throughout their body.
There are various views about chi kung (also spelled qigong). Some methods of practice consider that visualization of the pathways that qi (chi) circulates, while practicing breathing and motion is the standard and most effective way to practice qigong.
It is important to be clear that taijiquan and qigong are not the same thing. Qigong is distinctly for the purpose of cultivating qi in the body. In contrast, Taijiquan uses qi to achieve its ends. In addition, taiji is designed to move in accordance with qi and to stimulate qi circulation so that qi can be utylized. Despite this, taiji and qigong are separate practices. Though some forms of qigong may complement taijiquan, other forms may not. The argument could also be made that taijiquan has its own form of qigong imbedded within it, and therefore a separate practice of qigong is unnecessary.
In taijiquan, depending on the school, there may be the view that mental visualization of chi flow is a necessary part of practice. Another perspective is that qi is present in the body regardless of thought, and that while thought can adjust and in some cases direct the flow of qi, by practicing proper strucure, relaxation, and breathing, qi will move through the body naturally and freely, providing the greatest benefits healthwise. Given my present knowledge and experience, I favor this perspective. Therefore, by practicing taiji properly, you are also practiving qigong, without even considering it.
At a seminar which I recently attended I was offered a perspective from a teacher which I, as an ecologist liked very much and will now offer to you.
In the study of ecology, we recognize that systems are often far more complex than is easy to detect. By modifying one area in a way that seems superficial, or even beneficial to the system as whole, the results may (and tend to) be unexpected or even disasterous.
The specific case, described by this teacher, who is not an ecologist, but a taiji master stated that the Everglades in Florida had a very complex flow of water across the landscape, providing water across a broad region. The army core of engineers then "corrected" the flow because of floods or other problems that occured periodically. They dug canals and reservoirs changing the ecosystem dramatically, and altering the way that the Everglades function. Amongst the unintended and unanticipated changes that occurred, there are now droughts and dry seasons where there never were before. Should I explore this further, and provide a more detailed explanation, it may make a very poignant point.
Suffice it to say that the body should also be considered as an ecosystem. By directing the chi flow along specific, intended, and simplified paths, it is not predictable or clear what deficiences are created in other areas in turn. Rather, by excercising taijiquan, we open the joints and stretch the tendons, ligamints, muscles etc, so as to free up clogs and blockages (an alleged cause of illness) and let the chi flow throughout the body as it will, naturally.
Updated 8/01/05