Qigong in QigongDharma
Embodied Awakening for Universal Well-Being
Integration of Ancient Wisdom,
Universal Dharma and Modern Science
QigongDharma brings together ancient wisdom traditions to create a complete system for health, spiritual growth, and personal transformation. This practice bridges Eastern energy cultivation with universal spiritual principles, making profound wisdom accessible to modern practitioners, and enhances overall physical, mental, and emotional health and vitality by improving energy flow and fostering spiritual growth through embodied insight. Through QigongDharma, the holistic systems of Qigong (氣功), Daoyin (導引), and Neigong (內功) merge the wisdom and skills of ancient practices with modern science.
This integration forms a unified system that honors both the timeless wisdom of contemplative traditions and contemporary understandings of human physiology and psychology.
The Essence and Origins of Qigong
Qigong is an ancient practice system that harmoniously coordinates breath, purposeful movement, and postures with the heart/mind-intention of cultivating well-being. For over 4,000 years, Qigong has played a significant role in Chinese culture, being extensively studied and practiced to enhance physical and mental health, amplify martial arts prowess, and pursue spiritual cultivation. The term “qigong” is relatively modern, having come into use only in the mid-twentieth century, although the practices themselves have ancient roots.
Archaeological evidence from China suggests that the origins of Qigong extend back thousands of years and are closely tied to health traditions such as The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic (Huangdi Neijing, 黃帝內經). Early forms of Qigong health practices, depicted in the 馬王堆 Mǎwángduī Daoyin Tu Scroll, unearthed in 1973 in Hunan Province, China, and dated to 168 BCE, reveal that people of all ages utilized these practices.
Qigong serves as the deepest root of Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM and martial arts, embodying a profound integration of physical movement, breathwork, and focused intention. These are known as the Three Pillars of Qigong.
They are:
Movement and Alignment (調身 Tiáo Shēn): The Body (Shēn 身) referred to here is cultivated through skillful posture and movement. Movement patterns, performed slowly and mindfully, clear energy channels, release tension, and develop refined bodily awareness. These meditative movements integrate mindfulness directly into and through physical actions.
Breathwork (調息 Tiáo Xī) in Qigong harmonizes the body and mind, influencing autonomic nervous system functions, reducing stress, and improving energy circulation. Practices range from natural abdominal breathing to specialized techniques that enhance vitality and coherence.
Intention (調意 Tiáo Yì): Conscious intention directs energy (Qi) to enhance health, healing, and insight. This mental clarity links physical actions with deeper spiritual and energetic dimensions, reinforcing embodied presence.
Movement (調身 Tiáo Shēn): Embodied Wisdom Through Posture and Flow
Movement in Qigong utilizes specific, time-tested patterns of posture and gesture refined over millennia to enhance bodily coherence and energy flow. These movements range from simple to complex forms, typically performed slowly and repetitively to develop proprioceptive awareness and subtle control of the body’s internal states. Unlike conventional exercise focused primarily on muscular development, Qigong movements aim to open energy pathways, release tension from connective tissues, and create balanced tone throughout the body’s systems.
The deliberate and meditative quality of these movements enables practitioners to explore the body as a living laboratory of sensation and awareness. This is an application of Mindfulness of the Bodyfrom the Buddhist Satipaṭṭhāna teachings.
Through careful attention to alignment, weight distribution, and the sequential unfolding of movement patterns, practitioners develop refined body intelligence that transfers to everyday activities. The slow pace is purposeful in facilitating deeper learning, allowing the nervous system to establish new patterns without triggering stress responses that might interfere with the integration process.
This embodied wisdom becomes increasingly intuitive with consistent practice, enabling practitioners to maintain centered awareness even amid challenging circumstances.
Breath (Qì 氣): The Bridge Between Body and Mind
In Qigong, breathing is more than ordinary respiration. Breathing in Qigong involves breath patterns that are often synchronized with the flow of specific movements or gestures, promoting the development of strength, poise, and systemic harmony through improved energy flow and balance, as well as enhanced oxygenation and nervous system regulation.
The breath patterns in Qigong serve as a bridge between conscious and unconscious processes, and range from natural abdominal breathing to more specialized techniques, such as reverse abdominal breathing, which directs qi to specific regions of the physical and energetic/subtle body. This conscious breathwork oxygenates the blood more efficiently, improves physiological circulation, and regulates the autonomic nervous system to promote natural alert relaxation
These breathing techniques help reduce stress and anxiety, creating a cascade of positive health effects throughout the body.
Practitioners often describe a sensation of internal massage as the breath moves energy through blocked or stagnant areas, thereby restoring the optimal functioning of organs and tissues. The rhythmic nature of Qigong breathing and the cultivation of the qualities of the breath also entrains brainwaves toward more coherent patterns, facilitating the mental clarity essential for deeper practice.
Intention (調意 Tiáo Yì): The Guiding Force of Practice
Intention in Qigong represents the meditative aspect that differentiates it from mere physical exercise, infusing movements with purpose and awareness. This focused attention directs qi where needed for healing and vitality while cultivating a state of mindful presence that transcends ordinary consciousness. The Chinese language recognizes that Yì Dào Qì Dào, 意到气到, meaning “where mind/intention goes, qi follows,” acknowledges the profound connection between how our focused intention directs our vital energy, thereby bridging mental focus and energy cultivation. Through skillfully directed guidance, practitioners develop the ability to sense subtle energetic phenomena that typically remain below the threshold of awareness.
Intention works by engaging neural networks associated with both attention and interoception— the perception of internal bodily states — creating beneficial changes in brain function and structure over time. This practiced quality of effort is known as “Kung Fu” and activates the body’s inherent healing capabilities by triggering positive psychoneuroimmunological responses that strengthen resilience against illness and stress. The meditative qualities of Qigong intention have been linked to improvements in emotional regulation, cognitive performance, and overall psychological well-being through mechanisms similar to those observed in conventional meditation practices. As intention deepens through consistent practice, practitioners often report expanded awareness that extends beyond personal boundaries to encompass a sense of interconnection with all life.
Systemic Coherency or Unity is formed by integrating these three primary aspects of qigong practice—Skillful Movement and Posture, Breath, and Heart-Intention—to cultivate harmony and coherence within the practitioner. This trinity of elements transcends the sum of its parts, providing practitioners with a pathway to enhanced vitality, mental clarity, and spiritual growth that resonates with contemporary seekers worldwide.
Qi (氣) and Li (理): Energy and Natural Principle
The practice of Qigong rests upon two fundamental concepts that form the backbone of Chinese philosophy and medicine: Qi (氣) and Li (理).
These principles provide the theoretical framework that explains how Qigong affects practitioners on multiple levels of experience.
Qi (氣) represents the vital energy or life force that permeates and animates all living things. From a Western perspective, qi can be understood as the dynamic energy fundamental to the body’s physiological processes. The quantum physics perspective of Qi is ‘Field Energy’ and connects all manifestation as the essential nature of being. This energy derives from multiple sources: the food we consume, the air we breathe, and our surrounding environment. While there is no precise Western scientific equivalent for qi, it’s often compared to bioelectricity or the electromagnetic energy that circulates within living organisms. In Qigong practice, practitioners learn to sense, cultivate, and direct this subtle yet powerful energy through specific movements, breathing techniques, and focused awareness.
Li (理) represents the underlying organizing principles or natural order that governs the universe. In neo-Confucian philosophy, Li refers to the inherent organizational structure and patterns reflected in the natural forms of the universe, such as the potential in a seed. It embodies the intelligence and innate unfolding of all existence, both seen and unseen.
Zhu Xi, a prominent neo-Confucian philosopher, posited that Qi and Li depend on each other to create the structures of nature and matter, with their sum constituting the Taiji or Supreme Ultimate. This concept parallels certain Buddhist notions, though it remains distinctly rooted in Chinese philosophical traditions.
Together, these twin concepts of Qi and Li provide a comprehensive framework for understanding how Qigong works: practitioners cultivate and balance their vital energy (Qi) following the natural principles and patterns (Li) that govern optimal human functioning. This theoretical foundation explains why Qigong isn’t merely physical exercise but a sophisticated system for aligning with universal principles of health and harmony.
Daoyin (導引) and Qigong (氣功): Complementary Approaches
Within the broader landscape of Chinese energy arts, Daoyin and Qigong represent complementary approaches with distinct emphases and historical trajectories. Understanding their relationship enriches appreciation for the diversity within these traditions.
Daoyin (導引), meaning “guiding and leading,” predates Qigong in Chinese history. Daoyin exercises generally emphasize clearing and stretching the tissue channels to open and invigorate the body, directing attention to the extremities and sometimes beyond the physical form. The breathing patterns in Daoyin tend to be more vigorous than in Qigong, supporting the more dynamic movements and precise body mechanics characteristic of this approach.
The complexity and intensity of Daoyin practices make them more demanding and strenuous than typical Qigong forms, with their primary intention being to cleanse impurities, resolve stagnation, and align the body’s tissues. These exercises often involve sophisticated coordination patterns that challenge practitioners to develop refined body awareness, coordination, and control. Many traditional Daoyin sequences systematically address specific meridians or body regions to create comprehensive rejuvenation effects.
In contrast, Qigong emerged later in Chinese history, heavily influenced by Daoist conceptions of transformation reflected in internal alchemy practices. Qigong places greater emphasis on nourishing and regulating the body’s energy, working with the channel systems described in Chinese medical theory. The mind focuses primarily within the body rather than extending outward, creating a more internalized awareness that supports deeper states of meditation. This contemplative focus is also the domain of Neigong, with the emphasis on internal development. Qigong movements are characteristically simpler, softer, repetitive, and rhythmic, producing calming effects that cultivate mental and emotional ease.
In essence, Daoyin represents a more yang or activating approach compared to Qigong’s more yin or receptive qualities. However, both aim to enhance health and prepare practitioners for deeper energetic work. Modern practitioners often integrate elements from both traditions, recognizing the complementary benefits they offer for different purposes and constitutional types. Together, these approaches provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the full spectrum of human energetic needs across various life phases and conditions.
Neigong (內功): Internal Skill and Deep Energy Cultivation
The term Neigong (內功) consists of:
- 內 (Nei) – Inner, internal.
- 功 (Gong) – Skill, cultivated effort.
Neigong often involves contemplative practices that refine direct experiences of Qi and open the realms of spiritual perception and understanding that are accessible only through such meditative practices and endeavors.
Neigong is not about controlling qi, but rather about connecting with the intelligence of being that enables a harmonious deepening of direct knowing. Some teachers may introduce what they consider ‘advanced’ breathing techniques. Still, these practices also fall within the general realm of qigong, depending on the practice tradition and the structure of the teaching provided. Mindfulness meditation, distinct from mindfulness as a daily practice, can act as a gateway and even a Neigong process for deepening experience.
Neigong delves into internal cultivation, refining the subtle energetics of Qi, breath, and meditative awareness. It emphasizes inner alchemy (Neidan, 內丹)—the transformation of Qi and consciousness from within. Still, practices of Neigong can integrate contemplative and active forms of movement.
Key Features of Neigong Practice
- Stillness & Internal Awareness – Developing direct perception of Qi through mindfulness meditation and inner vision.
- Energetic Refinement – Transforming Qi into a more refined, radiant state.
- Deepening Meditative Absorption – Awakening profound inner stillness for Insight.
- Subtle Breath & Qi Mechanics – Accessing various forms of pranayama-like breath training and specific practices, as in the Microcosmic & Grand Circulation pathways, along with other skills for well-being.
In some traditions, Neigong is seen as a gateway to higher-level internal practices, leading to a more profound realization of emptiness (Wu, 無), stillness (Jing, 靜), and flow (Liu, 流).
A perfect example of Neigong is Dr Yang Jwing Ming’s teaching and practice of Embryonic Breathing and Grand Circulation. Embryonic Breathing is a well-documented Neigong system that refines Qi through deep breath absorption, energy storage, and transformation. Grand Circulation expands this to move Qi throughout the entire body, requiring an established Qigong foundation. These advanced practices require establishing the foundations of Qigong.
At its core, Qigong is an art of self-regulation, refining how Qi is cultivated, circulated, and stored.
It strengthens the Three Treasures (San Bao, 三寶):
- Jing (精, Essence) – the foundational energy associated with vitality, cellular regeneration, and longevity.
- Qi (氣, Energy) – the dynamic force that animates and sustains life.
- Shen (神, Spirit) – the refined awareness that emerges from deepening meditative practice and inner cultivation.
By nurturing these Three Treasures, Qigong promotes radiant health, longevity, and inner balance, serving as both a preventive health system and a contemplative path for deepening self-awareness and well-being.
QigongDharma: The Integration of Embodiment and Insight
QigongDharma represents a profound synthesis that “brings together the rivers of qigong and meditation – embodiment and insight.” This innovative approach, developed by Teja Bell (Fudo Myoo Rōshi), creates a seamless integration between the somatic wisdom of Chinese energy practices and the contemplative insights of the Buddhist tradition. As a recognized Zen Master in the Rinzai lineage and a 6th-degree black belt in Aikido, Teja Bell has dedicated his life to integrating Dharma, Dao, Qigong, and martial arts with special emphasis on their healing and transformative potential. At its core, QigongDharma empowers practitioners with calm, clear energy, strength, and vibrant health while simultaneously opening doorways to more profound spiritual realization. This integration acknowledges that genuine meditation isn’t separate from embodied experience but flourishes through it. The practice creates an exquisite opportunity for healing on all levels by engaging and uniting body and mind through awakened consciousness. This unity naturally resolves the false dichotomy between physical cultivation and spiritual insight that sometimes appears in contemplative traditions.
The Radiant Heart Qigong system forms a central component of QigongDharma, offering specific practices, such as the standing meditation form, where practitioners align with Earth energies while simultaneously feeling a natural upward lift through the body’s core. These practices consciously cultivate qi through specific breathing patterns, mindful movements, and clear intention, creating a foundation of embodied presence that supports more profound meditation. The approach recognizes that actual spiritual practice isn’t an escape from the body but rather a profound inhabitation of it with awakened awareness.
QigongDharma particularly excels at helping practitioners navigate life’s challenges through embodied resilience, rather than relying solely on conceptual strategies. By establishing a direct experiential relationship with energy and awareness, practitioners develop resources that remain accessible even during difficult circumstances. This integration supports what might be called “embodied awakening” – spiritual realization that manifests through the vehicle of the body rather than attempting to transcend it.
The Five Regulations (五調 Wǔ Tiáo) and Wú Wéi (無為) in QigongDharma
QigongDharma further refines traditional Qigong Theory and practice through five essential regulations:
- Regulating the Body (調身): Establishing a relaxed alignment and maintaining structural integrity
- Regulating the Breath (調息): Harmonizing breath patterns to support physiological and psychological balance.
- Regulating the Heart–Mind (調心): Cultivating steady, compassionate awareness to promote emotional equilibrium.
- Regulating Qi (調氣): Enhancing energy coherence and responsiveness through focused practice.
- Regulating the Spirit (調神): Developing clarity, joy, and awakened presence.
Each regulation supports and enhances the others, creating a dynamic framework for holistic growth and well-being.
Wú Wéi (無為): Effortless ActionCentral to Daoist philosophy, Wú Wéi describes action that aligns with natural processes, characterized by effortless spontaneity rather than forced effort. In QigongDharma, Wú Wéi manifests as a non-striving presence, with movement arising naturally from stillness and gentle, intuitive alignment with life’s unfolding.
Universal Dharma Principles in QigongDharma
The concept of Universal Dharma represents a profound understanding that spiritual truth transcends cultural boundaries while manifesting uniquely through different traditions. QigongDharma embodies this perspective by integrating Eastern and Western approaches to contemplative practice in the service of universal well-being and awakening. This integration occurs not through superficial borrowing, but through a deep recognition of the common principles underlying diverse practices.
QigongDharma recognizes the paradoxical nature of the essential non-duality present in each unique existence. We coexist in the finite dimensions of time and space, and simultaneously with the infinite ‘non-local’ position that lies truly beyond our time-space continuum.
This multi-dimensional understanding aligns perfectly with QigongDharma’s approach to practice, which addresses both immediate embodied experience and broader awareness beyond conceptual limitations. The practice acknowledges that Universal Dharma and the manifest universe are not two separate but are ‘one’ in essence, offering practitioners direct access to this non-dual reality through embodied experience rather than abstract philosophy.
Through QigongDharma, practitioners discover that “when the mind and body are purified, the world beyond the direct influence of the Buddha-Dharma is also purified and transformed.” This understanding reveals how personal practice extends outward to influence the broader field of existence, creating “a profound ability to transform the world through a quiet and peaceful method.” The somatic practices of QigongDharma ground this understanding in direct experience rather than theoretical knowledge, making universal principles accessible through the wisdom of the body.
QigongDharma particularly emphasizes the integration of contemplative insight with daily life, recognizing that genuine spiritual realization manifests through ordinary activities rather than apart from them. This approach aligns with the Buddha’s teaching that liberation occurs not by escaping the world but by understanding its true nature through direct experience. By cultivating both somatic awareness and spiritual insight, practitioners develop the capacity to navigate life’s challenges with greater wisdom, compassion, and effectiveness.
The Seven Factors of Awakening and Qigong
The Seven Factors of Awakening (Satta Bojjhaṅgā) represent essential qualities developed through Buddhist practice that culminate in spiritual liberation. QigongDharma offers a unique somatic pathway for cultivating these factors through embodied experience rather than relying solely on conceptual understanding. This integration demonstrates how ancient wisdom traditions converge when approached through direct experience rather than dogmatic interpretation.
The first factor, Mindfulness (sati), develops naturally through Qigong’s emphasis on present-moment awareness of breath, posture, movement, and internal sensation. Each practice session serves as an opportunity to strengthen this faculty, establishing a foundation for the remaining factors to emerge. The practitioner learns to maintain continuous awareness without judgment or reactivity, thereby creating the essential conditions for more profound insight.
Investigation (dhamma vicaya), the second factor, arises through the practitioner’s curious exploration of energy, sensation, and awareness within Qigong practice. Rather than accepting concepts intellectually, practitioners directly investigate phenomena as they arise in embodied experience. This quality of discernment develops as practitioners become aware of the subtle distinctions in sensation, energy flow, and mental states that emerge during practice.
Energy (viriya), the third factor, manifests both physically and mentally through the cultivation of vital force and focused intention in Qigong. The practice simultaneously develops physical vitality and sustained mental effort without tension or straining. This balanced energy provides the necessary strength to maintain practice through challenges while avoiding the extremes of lethargy or agitation.
Joy (pīti), the fourth factor, emerges naturally as energy flows more freely through previously blocked channels. Practitioners often experience spontaneous delight, pleasure, or rapture as the body-mind system harmonizes through regular practice. This quality provides essential nourishment for the spiritual path, maintaining enthusiasm and positive engagement with practice
Tranquility (passaddhi), the fifth factor, develops through Qigong’s emphasis on relaxation within structure and movement. The calming effects on the nervous system create physical ease while simultaneously quieting mental agitation. This factor represents the balanced middle way between excessive tension and collapse, creating optimal conditions for concentration to develop.
Concentration (samādhi), the sixth factor, is strengthened through the sustained attention cultivated in both moving and still forms of Qigong practice. The mind develops the capacity to remain steady and present without wandering or fixating. This one-pointedness creates the necessary conditions for deeper insights to arise spontaneously rather than through conceptual effort.
Equanimity (upekkhā), the seventh factor, develops as practitioners learn to maintain a balanced awareness in response to changing sensations, emotions, and circumstances. Qigong cultivates this quality through continuous practice, regardless of varying conditions of comfort and discomfort. This even-minded presence enables practitioners to respond skillfully to life situations without being tossed about by reactivity.
Health Benefits: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Dimensions
Qigong in QigongDharma provides comprehensive benefits that encompass the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of well-being. These practices exemplify holistic approaches to health that focus on addressing root causes rather than merely suppressing symptoms. Research continues to validate traditional understandings of their effects while revealing new insights into mechanisms of action.
Physical Benefits
On the physical level, Qigong optimizes the flow of energy throughout the body’s meridian system, preventing stagnation that could lead to dysfunction or disease. Regular practice enhances flexibility, balance, posture, and coordination while improving overall vitality and immune function. The gentle movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; strengthen vital organs and connective tissues; and promote the circulation of body fluids, including blood, lymph, and synovial fluid. These effects help explain why practitioners often report significant improvements in conditions related to chronic pain, digestive disorders, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular health.
One particularly noteworthy benefit relates to aging. When the body, mind, and heart are relaxed through regular practice, they operate in a natural state of harmony that supports overall well-being and longevity. Qi and blood flow freely through the meridian network and blood vessels, dispersing blockages or stagnation that might otherwise lead to physical or emotional imbalances. This improved circulation helps maintain cellular health and function, potentially slowing age-related decline. The practice also enhances functional capacity in daily activities, reducing the risk of falls and maintaining independence in older adults.
Mental and Emotional Benefits
The mental and emotional benefits of QigongDharma stem from their profound effects on the nervous system and brain function. By activating the parasympathetic “rest and digest” response, these practices counteract chronic stress and its deleterious effects on mental health. Studies have demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress among regular practitioners. The rhythmic, meditative nature of the movements induces a state of alert relaxation that calms the mind without dulling it.
Through its emphasis on mindfulness, Qigong enhances emotional awareness and regulation, allowing practitioners to recognize and manage their feelings more effectively. This increased self-awareness creates a space between stimulus and response, enabling more skillful choices in challenging situations. The practice also improves sleep quality by releasing physical tension and quieting mental chatter, addressing a fundamental aspect of psychological well-being that is often disrupted by contemporary lifestyles. Perhaps most profoundly, Qigong fosters a stronger connection with nature and others, countering the isolation that contributes to many modern mental health challenges.
Spiritual Benefits
The spiritual dimension of QigongDharma extends beyond religion to address universal human needs for meaning, purpose, and connection. These practices cultivate what might be called “embodied consciousness” – awareness that penetrates and illuminates physical experience rather than attempting to transcend it. This integration lays the foundation for authentic spiritual realization, grounded in direct experience rather than abstract concepts or beliefs.
QigongDharma particularly excels at bridging contemplative traditions by recognizing their common ground in embodied awareness. It offers practitioners direct access to states of consciousness that are traditionally described in various spiritual vocabularies while remaining accessible regardless of belief system. Through consistent practice, practitioners often report experiencing profound states of unity consciousness, a transcendence of limited identity, and a direct perception of interconnectedness with all life. These experiences naturally give rise to qualities such as compassion, equanimity, and wisdom, benefiting not only the individual but also all beings they encounter.
Modern Applications and Scientific Understanding
Contemporary research continues to validate traditional knowledge about Qigong while uncovering new insights into its mechanisms of action through modern scientific paradigms. This growing body of evidence has facilitated the increasing integration of Qigong into healthcare, education, corporate wellness, and other mainstream contexts. Understanding these developments positions QigongDharma within the broader landscape of mind-body practices that are gaining recognition worldwide.
From a physiological perspective, research has identified several mechanisms through which Qigong benefits health, including improved vagal tone, reduced inflammatory markers, enhanced immune function, and normalized blood pressure. These effects occur through the practice’s influence on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions. Studies employing functional MRI have also revealed changes in brain activity and connectivity among regular practitioners, particularly in regions associated with attention, emotional regulation, and interoceptive awareness.
The psychological benefits of Qigong have been extensively documented, with studies indicating significant improvements in mood, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. These effects result from the practice’s combination of mindful awareness, gentle movement, and breath regulation, which together address multiple dimensions of psychological well-being. The growing recognition of embodied cognition in cognitive science also elucidates how Qigong’s movement patterns influence thought processes and emotional states through bidirectional mind-body pathways.
QigongDharma’s integration of somatic practices with contemplative traditions aligns with emerging trends in both neuroscience and contemplative studies. Researchers are increasingly acknowledging that consciousness isn’t separate from embodiment but instead emerges through it, challenging earlier models that treated the body merely as a vehicle for a disembodied mind. This understanding substantiates QigongDharma’s emphasis on awakening through rather than from the body, offering practitioners direct access to spiritual insights via somatic experience.
As scientific understanding continues to evolve, QigongDharma serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge, demonstrating how traditional practices can complement modern approaches to well-being. Their holistic orientation addresses the limitations of reductionist models that separate the body from the mind, emotions from physiology, or the individual from the environment. This integrative perspective increasingly resonates with those seeking more comprehensive approaches to health and human potential in our complex, interconnected world.
Cultivating a Sustainable Practice
Developing a sustainable Qigong or QigongDharma practice requires understanding certain principles that support consistent engagement and ongoing growth. Rather than treating these practices as occasional activities, committed practitioners integrate them into daily life as foundations for overall well-being and spiritual development. This consistent approach yields cumulative benefits that deepen over time, transforming not just specific symptoms but one’s entire relationship with life.
Beginning practitioners benefit from starting with simple forms that establish fundamental principles before attempting more complex sequences. The standing meditation postures provide an excellent foundation, enabling practitioners to experience the vertical axis through the core of their body while simultaneously feeling a connection to the earth below and the sky above. This seemingly simple practice encompasses the essential elements of all more elaborate forms: an aligned structure, relaxed musculature, natural breathing, and a clear intention. Regular practice of these basics yields more substantial benefits than sporadic attempts at advanced techniques.
Community support significantly enhances practice sustainability, which explains why QigongDharma often incorporates group sessions where practitioners can experience collective energy fields and receive guidance from experienced teachers. Teja Bell’s weekly Qigong Dharma community meets for 75-minute sessions divided into standing Qigong, seated Dao Yin, meditation, and interactive dialogue. This balanced approach addresses multiple dimensions of practice while creating social connections that motivate continued engagement.
Many practitioners find this combination of personal and collective practice creates optimal conditions for sustained growth. The integration of Qigong into daily activities represents another key to sustainable practice. Rather than compartmentalizing practice as separate from “real life,” mature practitioners integrate Qigong principles into everyday movements, such as walking, standing, sitting, and working.
This integration transforms mundane activities into opportunities for cultivating energy and maintaining mindful presence. Simple techniques, such as conscious breathing, postural awareness, and energetic sensing, can be applied throughout the day, gradually dissolving the artificial boundary between formal practice and everyday living.
The Ongoing Evolution of Qigong in QigongDharma
Qigong in QigongDharma represents living traditions that continue to evolve while maintaining a connection to their ancient roots. These practices offer comprehensive approaches to well-being that address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of human experience through the cultivation of energy, awareness, and embodied presence. Their integration of Eastern and Western perspectives creates accessible pathways for contemporary practitioners seeking both practical health benefits and more profound spiritual insights.
The principles underlying these practices remain as relevant today as throughout their long history, perhaps even more so given the particular challenges of modern life. Chronic stress, sedentary lifestyles, environmental toxins, and digital overwhelm create unprecedented demands on human adaptability, which Qigong in QigongDharma addresses by restoring natural balance to body, mind, and spirit. Their emphasis on prevention and self-regulation aligns with the growing recognition of lifestyle factors in health and disease, offering practical tools for maintaining well-being amid complex modern conditions.
QigongDharma particularly exemplifies how ancient wisdom traditions can undergo creative renewal without losing their essential qualities. By integrating qigong with dharma practice, Teja Bell has developed a system that honors both the somatic and contemplative aspects of the human experience. This synthesis doesn’t dilute either tradition but rather reveals their complementary nature, demonstrating how embodied energy cultivation naturally supports spiritual insight while meditative awareness enhances energetic sensitivity.
This integration offers contemporary practitioners a comprehensive path toward what might be called “embodied awakening” – spiritual realization that manifests through rather than despite physical existence.
As these practices continue spreading globally, they offer powerful resources for addressing collective challenges while supporting individual transformation. Their universal principles transcend cultural boundaries, honoring diverse expressions and creating bridges between traditions that might otherwise remain separate.
In a world often fragmented by specialization and cultural division, QigongDharma represents an integrative approach that recognizes the fundamental unity underlying apparent differences. This holistic perspective may prove increasingly valuable as humanity faces unprecedented challenges requiring both individual resilience and collective wisdom.