Sometimes chi is described in magical terms. When I first was learning tai chi it seemed like some incomprehensible element that was way beyond my comprehension, something “the masters” knew but that we beginners didn’t get. But really, chi need not be such a mystery. These day, for me, chi is breath–that elemental necessity. Meditation instructors teach us to breathe with a relaxed belly, feeling it swell on the inhale and sink on the exhale. In tai chi we often refer to the dantian, that imagined energy storage location. So we breathe into the dantain and become energized. We release the breath and share or deliver the energy.
The more I do tai chi, regardless of which form it may be, the more I enjoy really breathing into the movements. This powers the moves, keeps tension from rising, creates a rhythm that gives the movements flow and strength.
This is a wonderful, very accessible description of chi that connects to that important element of the breathing. It make one want to explore this experience more.
I agree, and thanks for the comment! Keep breathing is my mantra…..