Ways to increase your Qi (Chi)

Qi (also called Chi) refers to the life-force or the life energy that flows through all living things. The literal translation of "qi" is breath, air, or gas. The earliest records of the concept of qi are from Chinese philosophy around 5BC. However this is not a concept only found in China. Although given other names it appears around the word as prana in Sanskrit, humours or vital energy in Western concepts, mana in Hawaiian culture and Lüng in Tibetan Buddhism. It even appears in some form in popular culture such as "The Force" in the movie Star Wars.

Our level of qi depends on our lifestyle habits such as food quality, balance of emotions, physical exercise and so on. If you are low in qi you will few unwell and lethargic. Increase your qi and you will feel more vibrant and energetic. Here are some ways to increase you qi:

- Breathe deeply all day.
- Avoid qi robbing activities such as watching excessive TV, experiencing too many negative emotions, talking too much, and spending too much time in crowded places.
- Meditate.
- Eat a balanced diet of local, organic foods. Qi increasinj foods include lemon juice, brown rice, carrots, chicken, china root, eggs, fish, fox nut, ginseng, green beans, leeks, longan fruit, nutmeg, lamb, lotus seed, oats, onion, pearl barley, potatoes, pumpkin, soybeans, squash, string beans, tofu, turnips, and yams.
_ Stretch your muscles. Yoga is ideal for this.
- Take martial arts or qigong classes.
- See a Chinese medicine practitioner.
- Get decent sleep. Don't eat to close to bed time or drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks. Ideally go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- Wear bright colours.
- Listen to uplifting music.
Unclutter your living and working spaces. Follow feng shui principles in these spaces.
- Surround yourself with the inspiring colors of beautiful flowers. A bouquet of flowers has a powerful influence on a person's mindset; they can uplift a less-than-lovely mood and even eliminate stress. In fact, one study showed that people who sat next to an arrangement of colorful flowers were better able to relax during a five-minute typing assignment than those who sat near foliage-only plants.
- Avoid judgment. Grudges and negative feelings only reduce our Qi. If you are holding hard feelings towards someone it is harming you more than them. As Nelson Madella's said, "“When you hold a grudge, it is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.”
- Have fun and be spontaneous. Enjoy your day!