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When the blockbuster movie “Star Wars” hit the big screen way back in 1977, it made quite an impact on audiences for many reasons. One of the features of the Star Wars universe that continues to fascinate people is the concept of “the Force.”
In the movie, the Force refers to an unseen power that binds the universe. This power is studied, harnessed and wielded by a group of warrior monks known as the Jedi.
With it, the Jedi can sense the subtleties of the world around them, control the minds and behavior of other people, and perform feats such as moving inanimate objects.
Of course we know that “Star Wars” is science fiction, and the Force is nothing more than the product of the fertile imagination of a young and talented filmmaker by the name of George Lucas. But the Force may actually be the most realistic aspect of Star Wars because there exists a power that people have been calling on for centuries to accomplish unnatural feats of strength and healing.
The Chinese call it Chi (pronounced “chee”), and the practice of harnessing this power is called Qigong (pronounced “chee gung”).
Traditional Chinese culture defines Chi as the life force. Chi’s literal translation is, in fact, “breath” or “vapor.” The Chinese developed Qigong some 4,000 years ago as a system of coordinated breathing, movement and awareness.
Qigong aims to help a person balance the intrinsic life force, chi, by reaching a state of inner calmness through rhythmic breathing and slow, fluid and repetitive stylized movement. Balance is the key here. Once a person achieves that zen-like state of harmony, it’s as if the mind, the body and the spirit are one, and the person also becomes one with the entire universe. And this is where the magic starts.
Through the ages practitioners have developed their own individual and distinct styles of Qigong, but all these different forms share the same four basic types of activities:
1. Dynamic training involves carefully choreographed fluid movements coordinated with breathing. These give Qigong its outward visible appearance, often mistaken by those unfamiliar as merely a slow dance-like exercise or mild calisthenics.
2. Static poses require the practitioner to hold a posture for a specified amount of time. This aspect of Qigong closely resembles Yoga.
3. Meditative training focuses on breathing awareness, visualization and meditation.
4. Some Qigong systems also include the use of external agents such as herbs, massage and physical interaction with others such as a training partner, for example.
The benefits from Qigong far outweigh its deceptively simple practice. It may sound a little too much like the description of a Jedi monastery, but people have in fact been practicing this ancient art for exercise and recreation, strengthening the body and disease prevention, meditation and martial arts training.
The deliberate and repetitive movements help strengthen and stretch the body, while they also enhance circulation and improve balance.
The slow movements and rhythmic breathing allows the practitioner to enter a state of calmness and intense meditation that can be compared to the zen concept of nirvana.
It’s not uncommon for Qigong practitioners to report that they reach a state of serenity, clarity and bliss. Martial artists capable of withstanding heavy strikes and breaking hard objects attribute these feats of strength and power to Qigong practice.
Today, with modern research methods and the opportunity to integrate knowledge from various similar fields of practice, much more is understood about the mysteries of Chi and Qigong. As it turns out many of the benefits of this practice that were once considered magical are actually deeply rooted in science and psychology.
To understand more about Chi and how to control this power, check out Chi Power Secrets.
You may not become a Jedi master overnight, but you will gain the understanding and skill to be able to use the power of Chi to accomplish some very amazing feats in your own life.
Click Here to Learn More Chi Power Secrets
Tags: chi, ki, qi, qigong, self healing
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