Chi.  A simple word that conjures images of magic and mystery.  The concept is quite simple: Chi is life, without Chi, life ceases.  Where there is an imbalance, there will be ill health.  But what IS it?

Science has been trying to explain this for a long time, and whilst we are closer than ever to understanding it, Chi remains magical, as it should.

Let us look at Chi in the context of the human condition.  According to the ancients, we inherit our Pre Natal Chi from our parents (remember, our mother's ovums developed whilst she grew within her mother, so we are highly influenced by the health of our grandmothers).  This Pre Natal Chi, the spark of life, known as Jing, is considered our Essence.  It is what makes us who we are. Although Jing is incredibly potent, it is finite and cannot sustain us on its own for very long.The moment we are born, we have to supplement it with Post Natal Chi, which we create from the air we breathe and the food we consume. Jing cannot be increased, but if we look after ourselves, we will use more Post Natal Chi, and less Jing, thus only using our Jing sparingly, providing the conditions for a longer and healthier life. If we do not consume good quality food and air, the Post Natal Chi will be of poor quality and we will have to consume more Jing, using up our supply faster.

Many people are skeptical about Chi. I even once encountered a vicar that would not allow Tai Chi to be practiced in their church hall.  However, if we strip away all the poetry of the ancients, we can all get on board with some very simple scientific facts:

E=MC2 - all matter is made of energy

Every living cell requires an exchange of energy to survive 

Every bodily process, from digestion to muscular contractions, requires energy.

The human energy field has been measured up to 5m away from the body.

So, energy, whether you call it Chi or not, is part of the natural process of living.  I prefer the more poetic language of the ancients, but also love that science is beginning to recognise what the ancients knew.