The 4 Types of "Qi" in Qigong

In our school of Baguazhang and Qigong in Bali we teach techniques for energy development and cultivation of the three different "types" of qi in the body and one on the spiritual plane.

The first is what called "skin qi." This is the qi that moves through your body's meridians, channels, and associated collaterals. When the practitioner practices qi gong and feels warmth, tingling, heaviness, and fullness, they are experiencing awareness of the "skin qi." We cultivate this kind of qi through both static and moving exercise such as 14 Meridian Flow Set, Standing Tree Qigong and other standing exercises, some breathing Qigong, Sitting Qigong and more.

The second kind of qi is "nerve qi." This is the energy we associate with the nervous system. This energy is best developed and trained through movement of the joints through their full range of motion while maintaining proper body alignments and mental intention. This kind of qi cannot be developed fully without body movement. Practitioners usually feel this kind of qi as an electrical kind of tingling or shock that they usually first notice in the area of their joints. We cultivate this kind of qi energy also through our 14 Meridian Flow Set, 5 Organ Qigong set, and more. Our Fire Qigong is very beneficial to development of this kind of energy cultivation.

The third type of qi in our system of training is "bone qi." This is the energy, which runs through the bones. This type of qi energy is usually the most difficult to cultivate because in order for it to develop their needs to be a good balance and cultivation of the other two types of qi (skin and nerve). For the fullest development of this kind of qi energy, movement is necessary, especially rotational movement and articulations of the joints.

When practicing Qigong, the practitioner will usually first experience awareness of this qi energy as a dull ache inside the bones as if something inside the center of the bones is trying to expand outward.  Keeping the important point in mind that in order to develop these three types of qi in the body is that in order to progress beyond the awareness and cultivation of "skin qi," the practitioner needs to move the body and practice the various sets through a period of sustained practice.  Our methods for cultivation of this kind of qi energy are our Bone Qigong Set, Circle Walking practices, and more. When you practice our system’s Qigong sets together in a single practice session, it is the best way to develop and feel each type of qi energy.

The fourth type of qi energy development is nature or spiritual qi energy. In order to cultivate this, we need to be able to connect to heaven and earth energy, to learn to become a conduit. Opening of the Crown Point the third eye, while staying centered in the lower Dan Tian is key for this type of qi development.

To train this type of qi we have 5 Gate Breathing, Embryonic Breathing, Body Breathing, Esoteric Circle Walking and more. The feelings of this kind of qi you will feel outside and inside your body and every practitioner could have a different experience of what this feels like.  Some more common feelings of awareness of this qi energy are feelings of a bubble of energy outside of your body, warmth and tingling and vibrations.

The practitioner may feel energy coming in from outside of your body and then flowing into one of the 3 types of body qi feelings. We usually start beginning students practicing various components of qi gong separately and thus static posture holding, motion qi gong sitting or standing meditation, and sitting or standing breathing exercise may be included in the curriculum. However, later in the development process, all of these components are brought together and practiced in conjunction with progressively more difficult physical body movements and circle walking. If the student begins the more complicated movements without first being able to get qi feelings in the basic movements, then it is wasted time. Eventually the student will learn how to project their qi energy outside of their body into a patient for healing, for self-defense, and also to be able to move it within their body on will.