Meditation and Qi Gong are the keys to a deep level of Acupuncture treatments and T’ai Chi practice. I approach giving an Acupuncture treatment as both a meditation and a Qi Gong practice. And I teach you to practice T’ai Chi Ch’uan as both a meditation and a Qi Gong practice.
What is “Qi Gong”? “Qi” is the life force flowing through us. “Gong” means exercise, and the skill that comes from practicing something for a long period of time. So Qi Gong is any exercise that is focused on that life energy. It develops the skill of feeling the life energy and improving its flow. Master Qian Zhao Hong often said that all movements should be approached as a form of Qi Gong.
Meditation moves a little deeper. It is the practice of being consciously conscious. This is easiest to do when you are sitting still or moving very slowly so that you can be deeply aware of the body and the mind. Meditation goes to the root of the mind and the Qi so that we can see how they function. In deep states of meditation obstacles and issues can simply dissolve. T’ai Chi is an opportunity to practice meditation on how the mind moves the energy, on the movement of the body, and extending our awareness and our energy out into the world around us. Dr. Wang Zhi Xiang taught that all movements should be approached as a meditation.
When I give an Acupuncture treatment, I am practicing meditation and Qi Gong. It helps put you into a deep relaxed state where the Qi flows strong and free. You don’t have to do anything other than relax and you find yourself in a natural state of meditation. Mental and physical blocks can relax and dissolve effortlessly.