Summer Qi Chats | Week 6
Build + Bank
This week we dive into the summer investment we can make by doing Qigong and discovering how this will benefit us this Winter.
Intention - Breath - Movement
Qigong has been practiced for centuries because it trains three things the body never stops needing: intention, breath, and movement. While the name "Qigong" is relatively modern, many of its practices evolved from earlier traditions such as Nei Gong, which emphasized cultivating the body's internal regulation through mindful awareness, breathing, and posture. Today, modern research continues to show that these same principles can improve balance, mobility, emotional well-being, cognition, and quality of life, particularly as we age.
At Bamboo Bodies, we view these three pillars through both a Chinese medicine and neurological lens. Yi (intention) directs your awareness inward, encouraging interoception and helping you notice how your body feels before you move. Da Qi (breath) uses the lungs to regulate Qi while also calming the nervous system, improving oxygen delivery, and creating rhythm throughout the body. Finally, movement gives the brain rich proprioceptive input as you learn where your body is in space and how to move with greater control and confidence. Together, intention, breath, and movement help organize the nervous system, improve the quality of sensory information reaching the brain, and create the conditions for Qi to flow harmoniously. Whether we describe it as regulating the Shen or improving autonomic function, the goal remains the same: helping the body become more resilient, responsive, and adaptable with age.
Work the Qi
More or less, the translation of Qigong means to ‘work’ [gong] the Qi. Liu Ming translates Qigong as the ability to play with Qi. I prefer this translation as it gives a more curiosity to the movement. This intentional practice of movement (breath and intention) is to guide Qi through the body for self-healing, self-cultivation and support for other forms of movement. We need Qi to flow if we intent to hike without pain, enjoy an afternoon of pickle ball (what a delightful sport!) or any other activity. Think of Qigong as your foundational work FOR better movement. Qigong has endured for thousands of years because it trains the same three systems we still need for healthy aging today: a focused mind, a regulated breath, and purposeful movement.
It’s important to know that:
Winter determines how much Yang you have.
Summer determines how well you cultivate it.
So the ask for the rest of the summer is to use the abundance of Summer to build reserves that carry you into Autumn and Winter.
Neuro-Qi Tip o’the day!
Just do Qigong
Get outside in the morning light even for 1 minute and swing your arms from Qigong video.
Protect the Shen and practice the 3 Treasures Qigong form (as is displayed in this week’s video!)
*Video posts every Friday by 11:30am MDT
