Qi: Not a Noun, But a Verb – Experiencing the Living Flow of Life Force
In qigong practice, the word qi often gets translated as "life force" or "energy." For a long time, I thought of qi as a “thing”—something that flows, yes, but more like an invisible fluid moving through my body. But lately, I’ve come to see qi not as a noun, but as something more dynamic, more like a verb. What if, instead of being an object, qi is something we do, or more accurately, something that is doing us?
This way of thinking has started to reshape how I teach qigong and how I relate to my own practice. The more I explore, the more I realize that qi is not just an abstract concept but something we actively engage with, and even invite into our lives.
Understanding Qi as an Active Presence
One thing I’ve noticed while teaching qigong is how different the experience of qi becomes when I stop trying to “have” it and start to “be” with it. It reminds me of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s beautiful insight in Braiding Sweetgrass, where she describes how in the Potawatomi language, nouns like “tree” are seen as verbs. A tree is “tree-ing”; it’s an action, a state of being. Qi, I feel, is like that—it’s qi-ing, constantly moving and interacting with us and the environment around us.
“When we shift our understanding of qi to something that’s more of a verb, we open ourselves to a new way of relating to it. Rather than “getting” qi or “feeling” it, we start to recognize that qi is actively happening. As we engage in qigong, we become participants in this living process, working with qi as it animates us.”
The Mysterious, Verb-Like Nature of Qi in Qigong Practice
When I step out for my morning qigong practice, I find myself gathering qi from my surroundings. The crisp morning air, the soft, golden light of the sun rising in the east—all of it feels like part of the qi. I sense qi differently each day, depending on my own state of being, my surroundings, and even my intention. There’s a sense of inviting the qi to flow, like a conversation. It’s as though I’m “qi-ing” with the sky, with the trees, with the earth beneath my feet.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, qi doesn’t include air as a separate element; instead, we work with Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, and Water. But the sensation of qi sometimes reminds me of air: something we can’t see, but that we know is there, sustaining and surrounding us. Just as we feel the air moving when the wind stirs, we can feel qi within and around us when we practice qigong.
Guiding Qi with Intention: The Role of Mindfulness in Qigong
Another powerful aspect of qigong is how we can guide qi with our minds. In my classes, I often work with individuals who are discovering how to harness their intention to direct qi. Whether they’re focusing on an area of tension or working to strengthen the flow to a particular organ or system, they’re learning to do qi rather than just feel it. By bringing awareness to the breath and engaging in slow, mindful movements, we become more in tune with the life force within us.
One of my students, for example, recently shared an experience of focusing her qi to soothe tension in her lower back. By breathing deeply and visualizing warmth and vitality moving into that area, she found her pain easing over time. It’s as though the qi responds to our attention, becoming more than just an energy to be “had” and transforming into a process that we participate in actively.
How Viewing Qi as a Verb Can Transform Our Health and Well-Being
In qigong, we don’t just observe qi; we become active participants in its flow. This participatory view of qi can deepen our connection to our own bodies and help us manifest health and vitality. When we approach qi as something dynamic and alive, we begin to notice subtle changes in how we feel, not only during qigong practice but throughout our daily lives.
Imagine what happens when you approach a health concern, not as a problem to “fix” with qi, but as an opportunity to invite the flow of life force into that area. By directing our attention to the organs and systems we want to nourish, we start to embody this flow, supporting our natural healing processes. In qigong, we’re not just working with energy; we’re qi-ing, actively cultivating and nurturing the qi within us.
The 2024 Fall Qigong Challenge: Exploring the Living Flow of Qi Together
If you’re curious about experiencing this approach firsthand, I invite you to join my upcoming Fall Qigong Challenge starting November 2, 2024 (or try a community qigong class any day Mondays through Fridays). Over the course of this 8 week-long journey, we’ll dive deeper into the mystery of qi as a living, flowing presence. Together, we’ll explore what it feels like to not just “find” qi, but to be qi. Through movement, mindfulness, and community, you’ll have the opportunity to direct this flow to nourish your mind, body, and spirit.
Whether you’re new to qigong or have been practicing for years, I think you’ll find this perspective both refreshing and empowering. Join me in discovering the beauty of qi-ing—of becoming part of the life force that flows within us and all around us!
