Busting 22 Misconceptions About Qi Gong - Part 3/3

April 5, 2024

Qi Gong is dangerous

Interestingly, many people in Asia are actually hesitant to learn Qi Gong. The reason for this is the scary Chinese term for negative effects of incorrect practice, "Fire escapes, Evil enters" (Zou Huo Ru Mo).

However, this term is not to be taken literally, but simply means "negative side effects". To avoid these, it's important to find a good teacher and follow their instructions.

In general, Qi Gong is a very safe practice. In Shaolin Wahnam, we also have our safety valve, the “Qi Flow”, which immediately eliminates any unwanted effects, if they even arise.

So, don’t be shied away from possible dangers of Qi Gong. If you practice with the support of a good teacher in-person or by following a systematic online program and they will help you avoid and – if necessary – overcome deviations.

Keep the mouth closed and breathe out through the nose

It is a widespread practice among many practitioners to exhale through the nose, but this actually deprives them of a crucial effect. The mouth is far better suited to get rid of bad energy and toxins.

When we clear away blockages, which is the ultimate aim of Qi Gong, it may also result in yawning, sometimes long and loudly. This is a good indicator that for effective practice and at the same time a proof how important it is to keep the mouth open during practice.

Exhaling through the nose slows down the breath and, consequently, the pace of the practice, but as mentioned in the previous point, slow motion is not necessarily the ideal tempo.

In martial arts, if exhaling is done only through the nose and the mouth is always kept closed, it can lead to very negative effects in the long run.

The mouth expresses a variety of emotions. For example, we use it to laugh, cry, yell, and scream. Keeping the mouth closed prevents emotions from flowing freely and being released.

Qi Gong is always performed in slow motion.

In most Qi Gong presentations and schools, techniques are performed very slowly. This is not necessarily wrong, but it’s generally recommended to maintain a comfortable, moderate pace, as this stimulates the flow of energy better.

Especially exercises designed to generate a powerful “Qi Flow”, such as the “18 Jewels” and "5 Animal Play", are performed vigorously.

Exercises such as "Punching with wide Eyes" or some of the “18 Lohan Arts” are relaxed but also executed powerfully and fast. These techniques also debunk another prejudice, namely that Qi Gong is always quiet, as they are accompanied by powerful shouting or other sounds.

As mentioned before, Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan are also forms of energy work, or Qi Gong. Especially Tai Chi is usually practiced like a slow-motion solo dance. However, as we practice it as a martial art, as originally developed, we have to execute the techniques far faster than most practitioners in order to use them effectively and in a timely manner.

Drawing energy from the ground

Directly taking in earth energy is not suitable for us humans. We live on cosmic energy and breathe it in with every breath.

We also depend on “earth energy” in the form of "grain energy", which corresponds to “food energy”, as the second important component in our energy supply but when we eat food, its energy is then transformed to vital energy during the process of digestion.

By the way, the reason why we should always wear shoes during practice is to prevent earth energy from seeping in while we are practicing and therefore open all “gates”.

I know that this topic is controversial, but rest assured that the past masters who developed this art always wore shoes and advised their students to do so too.

To meditate, you have to sit

Just by the fact that Qi Gong is a form of moving meditation, this misconception is already disproven.

But not only Qi Gong is meditation in motion. Cycling, dancing or washing dishes can also become a meditative practice. What is essential is not the external form, but the focused state of mind.

Therefore, the first skill we learn is to enter the "Qi Gong State of Mind". This improves the results in everything we do, especially in our practice.

Not thinking about anything is Zen.
Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.”
- Bodhidharma

There are many types and external forms of meditation.

Our “Qi Flow” is often referred to as "flowing meditation".

At the end of each practice session, we stand quietly in a “Standing Meditation”.

Sitting meditation constitutes the highest form of meditation and is the primary tool for those who cultivate for Enlightenment.

But most people just want to live a healthy and happy life. For those who don’t intend to become a monk or nun, Qi Gong provides them a much easier, safer as well as more convenient and effective approach to reach their goals.

The "Small Universe" (Micro-Cosmic Orbit) is a fundamental skill.

Some teachers believe that the first thing to do is to break through the “Small Universe” along the Ren and Du meridians. Only then can one practice effectively.

However, the "Small Universe" is one of the most advanced and highest arts of all.

Not only are the chances very low for beginners to attain this ability, the approach is inefficient and not entirely safe.

In our school, we continually witness the refutation of this assumption. Many of our students have achieved incredible results, which from the perspective of Western medicine, can only be described as miracles. They only had to learn relatively basic Qi Gong skills, such as generating “Qi Flow” or the “18 Jewels”, in a basic course.

The "Small Universe" should be reserved for advanced practitioners who have already cleared the grossest blockages and accumulated enough energy to allow the energy to overflow in the two meridians.

Qi Gong requires a lot of time

That brings us to another misconception. Qi Gong and other meditation practices are considered time-consuming, which is probably due to the large number of inefficient styles available. However, the daily effort required for authentic, high-quality Qi Gong is very low.

Anyone willing to do something good for themselves will have to admit that 10-15 minutes a day is always possible, no matter how busy they think they are.

So, if your teacher advises you to train for 1-2 hours a day, and especially if you feel little effect from it, you should question whether the style is worth the time and effort you need to spend.

What is true, of course, is that the path to mastery is long, but along the way, you will be rewarded with wonderful experiences and successes.