Qi Breathing Exercises
Use your breath to stimulate your qi flow
Qi is the Chinese word for life energy, also spelled chi or ki. Here's how to exercise the qi energy by breathing techniques, in some very simple exercises.
The Book
The life energy
qi (also
chi or
ki) explained, with several very easy exercises to awaken, increase, and use it.
Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Breathing is sort of a sibling to qi. That is how close they are — almost like twins, but not identical ones. The air that flows through our lungs at each breath has got many similarities to the qi energy flow, but is still essentially different. That goes for oxygen as well, the substance that breathing transports to the blood, and the blood distributes to all of the body — just like qi energy. Still, they are different.
Anyway, their similarities are enough for correct and concentrated breathing exercises to be the most effective way of getting your qi flow going. So, now it is time for exercises working on your breathing to make it even more similar to the qi flow. If we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to one of the twins, the other cannot stay away for long.
Good breathing is a blessing in life, surpassed by few things. It gives a sense of delight, and is so stimulating that it must be compared to inspiration. That is indicated by the very word inspire, inspirare in Latin, which originally means breathing — more precisely breathing in. That says a lot. Breathing can inspire, especially breathing in. Take a deep breath and feel your soul soar.
When you inhale you receive, and when you exhale you give. That is the rhythm of life. The one is impossible without the other. They are opposites that are forever linked, similar to the pair of yin and yang in classical Chinese cosmology.
At first, inhalation and exhalation need to be treated as two evident opposites, but by time they should sort of blend, so that the change between them becomes less and less perceivable. Breathing shall become a constant life-giving flow through the body, a concrete mirroring of the hidden ether that is qi.
When exploring breathing and its nature, we start by making a clear distinction between in and out.
Qi Breathing Exercises
Here is a set of simple breathing exercises designed to increase your qi energy flow. I recommend that you do them in the given order, when you try them out. Once you've become familiar with them, you can do them in any order you please. Trust your instincts.
© Stefan Stenudd
This is a chapter of my book Qi: Increase your Life energy.
My Books About Life Energy
Here are the two books I have written on the subject of life energy. This website contains some of the material from the first one.
Qi — Increase Your Life Energy
The life energy qi (also chi or ki) explained, with several very easy exercises to awaken, increase, and use it. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Life Energy Encyclopedia
Qi, prana, spirit, ruach, pneuma, and many other life forces around the world explained and compared. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
My Other Websites
The many life force beliefs all over the world, ancient and modern, explained.
Taoism, the old Chinese philosophy of life, based on
Tao, the Way. Also, the complete
Tao Te Ching translated and explained.
Aikido, the peaceful martial art. Its basics, principles, techniques, and more — in texts, images and videos.
The 64 hexagrams of the Chinese classic
I Ching and what they mean in divination. Free online reading.
Other Books by Me
Tao Te Ching
The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained
The great Chinese classic, translated to English and extensively commented.
Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Aikido Principles
Basic Concepts of the Peaceful Martial Art
Aikido principles, philosophy, and basic ideas. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
Fake Lao Tzu Quotes
Erroneous Tao Te Ching Citations Examined. 90 of the most spread false Lao Tzu quotes, why they are false and where they are really from. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).
About Me
I'm a Swedish author and aikido instructor. I've written several books about aikido, qi energy and other life force concepts. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching the thought patterns in creation myths.
Click the image to get to my personal website.