What do tai chi, chi gong, shiatsu and acupuncture have in common? They are all based on the same understanding of health from the perspective of Chinese medicine. The premise of all four of these health systems is that life is energy, and the quality of your energy determines the quality of your health. A healthy body is energetic and relaxed, balanced in body, mind and spirit. Health is not just freedom from disease, it is a dynamic state of being that can be enjoyed well into old age.
“Chi” is the Chinese word for energy.
Other systems have different words for this life energy. In Ayurveda it is called prana. We can also call it bio-energy or life force. Chi that is abundant, open, and flowing freely will produce health, and chi that is stagnant, congested, or restricted will produce dis-ease.
Energy moves through the body in established, predictable pathways.
The pathways are called meridians, and they correspond to different organ systems of the body. The understanding of the organ systems is somewhat different than our Western medical model, but this does not have to mean that the approach will not be effective. Chinese medicine does not acknowledge a nervous system for example, but it can be used advantageously for nervous system disorders. I like to think of the pathways as water systems, like rivers moving through the body. If there are a lot of rocks (restrictions) in one place, the river may get congested and stop flowing.
Facilitating the movement of chi contributes to health, which is defined as a dynamic state of well being.
When a person becomes ill, an acupuncturist will do a comprehensive assessment to determine which meridians are not flowing freely. Opening the flow of energy where it is stuck, or balancing it when it is flowing too strongly, will result in a more balanced and healthy state. An acupuncturist uses needles to stimulate or sedate pressure points, called tsubos. Tsubos and western trigger points (used by massage therapists and physical therapists) correspond by about 70%. Acupuncturists use needles, and a Shiatsu massage therapist uses finger pressure to achieve the same result.
Tai chi uses movement to gently open the energy pathways.
The gentle, flowing movements of tai chi help to effortlessly open the pathways of chi, balancing and energizing. Anyone can do tai chi, and on any early morning many city parks will have young and old practicing tai chi. While its purpose is to balance chi, from a western medical perspective it lubricates joints and gently stretches muscles, easing the pain of arthritis or fibromyalgia. Imagine a gentle stream of water dislodging debris simply by the direction it is flowing.
Chi gong uses more varied types of movement to deliberately impact the flow of energy.
Chi gong is similar to tai chi, except that there is more focus and some of the movements are more deliberate in their intention to affect chi. Some chi gong movements energize, some sedate, some are for cleansing. Imagine a waterway being suddenly filled with volume, moving rocks and other debris as it moves.
Tai chi and chi gong are forms of exercise that enable you to gently or vigorously open and transform your own chi. An acupuncturist will use needles, and a shiatsu therapist will use stretches, palm pressure and finger pressure. Whichever you choose, your chi will hum more happily.
Source:
personal and professional experience
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