Qi has its origin in the Chinese language and has many meanings: air, gas, breath, vital force, energy. In Zhineng Qigong it has the meaning of „essence made of fine matter from the universe“- a very light form of energy.

Neither we can see Qi nor smell or taste it. But we can feel Qi in our body. It feels like a prickle, it feels warm or cold, it expands. There is a feeling that something is getting bigger or smaller.

Plants and trees absorb Qi from the universe. Qi exists in the soil, in the water, in the air, in crystals, in animals, in human beings, in the whole universe. Even our food contains Qi. The intake of Qi can take place through:

Ø food and water 

Ø our breath 

Ø pores of the skin (exchange of Wan Yuan Qi – the purest Qi of the universe) 

The Chinese character for Qi also includes the meaning of steam and rice: Steam rises from a pot of boiling rice. The character indicates the nurturing aspect of the Qi. Qi activates all vital movements and causes transformation processes in our body. With our mental power and our imagination we steer, direct and change the Qi.

There are two different forms of Qi: prenatal and postnatal Qi. The prenatal Qi, also called primary Qi, comes into being when ovum and sperm cell are merging. This type of Qi accumulates in the kidneys. The postnatal Qi, or secondary Qi, we take in through our nutrition (food and drinks) and through our breath. Together both aspects built the „real Qi“- (Zhen Qi).

The Chinese divide between good (Bing Qi) and used or bad Qi (Hao Qi).

Good Qi (Bing Qi)

Ø fresh air 

Ø energy and power from specific places in nature 

Ø sun 

Ø healthy nutrition 

Ø inspiring people, music, specific odors

Bad (used) Qi (Hao Qi)

Ø  polluted or bad air 

Ø  bad aeration 

Ø  TOO much heat 

Ø  negative people, negative music 

Ø  unhealthy places in nature or in the big cities 

Ø  polluted places 

Ø  unhealthy nutrition

Ø  negative thoughts 

One of our aims while training Zhineng Qigong is to nurture our Qi. Another goal is to increase the intake of Qi and to accumulate and cultivate it in our body. We improve and better the quality of Qi that already is in our body.

Through movement and visualization we release inner blockades. The Qi can flow freely again. At the same time we enhance the substitution process from bad and used Qi into fresh and healing Qi from the universe.