While fitness and modern yoga practices may help us enhance our mental and body health status to a certain degree, upholding our Yang energy drive, Qigong and Taichi can help us to stabilize our energetic structure, strengthening our Yin base energy. While the work on the more Yang driven aspects of our physical body encounter age related limits that actually present themselves very early in our lives, the Yin base practices open us development routes that never end.

With the term "Qi" we have bridged theory and practice, and with a quiete modern term we would refer to the action of the practitioner on his own Qi through the practice as "Qi Gong" (or "Qigong"). While in Western fitness we use to activate cardio and physical function, with Qigong we try to create a calmness that is even more still than when we usually sit in a lounge. We don't go up, if we haven't gone deep yet.

In the ancient energetic practices as well and in Chinese traditional medicine, we often see the term "Qi" used to describe the vital force to give birth to reality, life, and health. Even as the term is quiete ancient, it has been used on different circles during the centuries and it does have so different meanings in different contexts. It is something that cannot be seen, but can be perceived and operated upon in order to modify our own reality. We can operate on it with external practices like acupuncture, or with internal practices like Qigong or Taichi.

We perceive Asian philosophy as something very different from our own civilization. As this view may be right on one side, it is not so on the other. Greek philosophy and Christianity itself are of Asian origins, and both Western philosophy and science bring us to paradoxical truths that push us to open our mind to something unthinkable.

The experience of the Mind is at the basis of Taichi and Qigong practices and our own culture, if better understood, is not so different after all.

While the seminal period of the Chinese philosophy before Christ era gave birth to a basically two-folded system where Confucianism and Taoism were the two main pillars of the indigenous society, during the following centuries the foreign religion of Buddhism placed itself as a third pillar that would influence and in turn being influenced by the local spiritual tradition. Taoist and Buddhist practitioners in particular interacted each other, and the internal practices were often a blend of this two roots. A brief talk on how Buddhism and Taoism shaped during the centuries the Chinese energetic internal practices.

Taichi and Qigong originate from the ancient Chinese philosophy, or better say, the energetic practices are at the core of Taoism. Very often the practitioner would follow the Confucian system in the relation with other people, even in the energetic practices circles, while following the Taoist teachings in his personal development path. Personal experience was the engine of this knowledge, while logic construction would be seen as a barrier toward further achievements.

Beyond Yoga, Taichi* and Qigong** are two disciplines that are entering our realm of practice possibilities, bringing with them a great deal of opportunities, while enhancing our general health level and providing at the same time a powerful personal development tool. What are they, what can they do for us, and how can we manage to not make, approaching them, the mistakes usually a beginner does.

Let's talk about it with in a simple and accessible way, starting from what the two terms mean and highlighting how the tradition has been constantly changing while always keeping its core alive. Finally, the professional/vocational issue, and how it is impacting the development of the two arts.

* Taichichuan, Tai Chi, Tai Chi Chuan, TaiJi, Tai Ji, Taijiquan, Tai Ji Quan

** Qi Gong, Chi Kung