Qigong (pronounced “chee-gung”) literally means “Effort” or “Time Spent” on qi. Qigong is an extremely broad term, since there are thousands of exercises that you can do to cultivate your qi. Indeed t’ai chi ch’uan itself is a form of qigong since its primary goal is to gather and spread qi throughout the body, energy which can then be used for fostering vitality or engaging in combat. 

The Role of Qi in Wellness

Before describing my Ruler Tai Chi classes and their content, I want to spend a little time defining what qi is and discussing its role in wellness. Qi presents in a variety of forms. For example, every organ system has a form of qi associated with it—Stomach Qi aids in the proper digestion of food, Lung Qi enables you to breathe fully and with ease, Heart Qi is responsible for the pumping and circulation of your blood, etc. 

Another important qi form is Defensive Qi, which is the foundation of the immune system and enables you to fight off illnesses caused by viruses and other unwelcome invaders. Qi can be characterized as either “external” or “internal” in its flow and manifestations—the qi exerted by the muscles, tendons, and ligaments is regarded as an external manifestation, the qi that flows along the invisible internal pathways of your body (the channels or “meridians”) is an internal one. 

In general, for good health to occur, qi must be present in the correct amount, flow unimpeded, and travel in the right direction throughout your entire body. One of the valuable tools we have to encourage this process is through the practice of qigong. 

How We Incorporate Qigong in Ruler Tai Chi

All of the Ruler Tai Chi classes I teach incorporate qigong practice. The Beginning, Continuing, and Advanced T’ai Chi Ch’uan classes are designed to help you discover ways to build your qi and develop strength and balance. The T’ai Chi Sword form is an extension of t’ai chi ch’uan—the movements are similar, as are the qi-gathering elements. 

But in the case of the sword form, the qi you accumulate spreads throughout your body and travels down the meridians of your arm to the very tip of your sword. Ruler Qigong, as the name implies, uses a short wooden dowel called a “ruler” to assist in the cultivation of qi. The arm, foot, and waist movements performed while grasping the ruler spread the qi you gather to your limbs, torso, and head. 

Ruler Tai Chi amalgamates the movements of ruler qigong with t’ai chi ch’uan, thus enabling you to experience all the health benefits inherent in both forms. Performed slowly and gracefully with one or two rulers, Ruler Tai Chi helps you develop focus and balance with a series of postures that are both easy to learn and enjoyable to practice. 

And finally, the Traditional Chinese Qigong class instructs you in methods created by ancient Daoist monks to cultivate and spread your qi using your mind and body. Some of the exercises I teach in this class are stationary, practiced while either sitting or standing in place, and others are accomplished by stepping around the room. All of these exercises gather and spread qi using both hand and foot movements as well as by controlling the breath and focusing on mental images. 

Sign Up for In-Person T’ai Chi Classes in Greeley

So whether you study t’ai chi, the sword, the ruler, or traditional qigong with me, you will be spending time cultivating your vital internal energy, your qi. Your class participation and practice at home will yield the rich dividends of better balance, improved health, and inner peace in the turbulent world in which we live. If you are interested in finding out more about Ruler Tai Chi, go to my website and see my teaching schedule. I look forward to seeing you soon!