Foundation, and feeling the qi

[Soaring]

Hello eveybody,

 

Like the title says, I'm starting out with qigong/neidan, but after a bit of research and watching this video of Nathan Brine, he mentions that in order to start doing internal alchemy you first need a foundation, basically being able to sense qi. Therefore I was hoping that some senior could help me with some basic info about some meditions or breathing excercises that would help me start building basic qi awareness. Also I would also apreciate some advice on how to visualize and/or start to feel the lower dantien in order to start building qi and what are some breathing meditions that i could use to build qi, I like those quite quite a bit after having a good time with the Wim Hoff method.

i 

[Trunk]

I went to google, searched “zhan zhuang”, and the AI overview was astonishingly good (scary good, actually).  I suggest you check that out, as well as the linked article

https://balancehealth.com.hk/zhan-zhuang-tai-chi-exercise/

[yugenphoenix]

9 hours ago, Soaring said:

Hello eveybody,

 

Like the title says, I'm starting out with qigong/neidan, but after a bit of research and watching this video of Nathan Brine, he mentions that in order to start doing internal alchemy you first need a foundation, basically being able to sense qi. Therefore I was hoping that some senior could help me with some basic info about some meditions or breathing excercises that would help me start building basic qi awareness. Also I would also apreciate some advice on how to visualize and/or start to feel the lower dantien in order to start building qi and what are some breathing meditions that i could use to build qi, I like those quite quite a bit after having a good time with the Wim Hoff method.

i 

Did you achieve any kind of results with the Wim Hoff Method? No feeling of CHI from it?

 

Did you utilize his online instructions or did you receive training in person? Only reason I ask is I have heard he emphasizes doing Horse stance in his in person seminars but never mentions it in books or internet articles and information he puts out. And Horse stance is a key to CHI development IMO. 
 

As for CHI awareness exercises, it is not so much the system or technique you use, it’s how deeply you apply yourself to it.
 

You need to get very comfortable with the movements until you can do them “mindlessly” and instead of focusing on how you are doing the movements or whether they are right, you begin to focus on your breathing, how it feels, where it goes, etc and once you are doing the movements with a focus on your breath, which IS Qi you are now doing “qi awareness exercises” same ones you were doing before but now it’s Nei Kung and you are beginning to learn what you need to do to manipulate you own energies and then others for purposes of healing or destruction. 
 

Do you do any standing meditation now? 
 

I still do this “Chi Circulation Exercise” from this system. It’s a great example of what I am talking about, even though it’s “basic” it can be very powerful and helpful throughout your training no matter what level.

 

Good luck with your personal practice 🙏🙇
 

Edited September 5 by yugenphoenix

[yugenphoenix]

8 hours ago, Trunk said:

I went to google, searched “zhan zhuang”, and the AI overview was astonishingly good (scary good, actually).  I suggest you check that out, as well as the linked article

https://balancehealth.com.hk/zhan-zhuang-tai-chi-exercise/

Nice article, love this diagram! 
 

Very succinct and pretty much hits all the points you need to be aware of to begin your standing practice. 

 

Edited September 5 by yugenphoenix

[Soaring]

7 hours ago, yugenphoenix said:

Did you achieve any kind of results with the Wim Hoff Method? No feeling of CHI from it?

 

Did you utilize his online instructions or did you receive training in person? Only reason I ask is I have heard he emphasizes doing Horse stance in his in person seminars but never mentions it in books or internet articles and information he puts out. And Horse stance is a key to CHI development IMO. 
 

As for CHI awareness exercises, it is not so much the system or technique you use, it’s how deeply you apply yourself to it.
 

You need to get very comfortable with the movements until you can do them “mindlessly” and instead of focusing on how you are doing the movements or whether they are right, you begin to focus on your breathing, how it feels, where it goes, etc and once you are doing the movements with a focus on your breath, which IS Qi you are now doing “qi awareness exercises” same ones you were doing before but now it’s Nei Kung and you are beginning to learn what you need to do to manipulate you own energies and then others for purposes of healing or destruction. 
 

Do you do any standing meditation now? 
 

I still do this “Chi Circulation Exercise” from this system. It’s a great example of what I am talking about, even though it’s “basic” it can be very powerful and helpful throughout your training no matter what level.

 

Good luck with your personal practice 🙏🙇
 

Thank you for the reply and the knowledge , I just followed the guide videos for the Wim Hoff method on youtube, never received training in person. I very much enjoy the silence during the breath hold allowing me to feel alot of sensations in the body, also after the breath hold I usually get to see  blue light behind my eyelids if my eyes  are closed. Also a couple of times I could feel warmth in the area of the LDT, after trying to breathe lower in my belly with a focus on gathering qi there. A few days ago I also started to do Zhan Zhuang thanks to a recomendation from @Trunk

[yugenphoenix]

All that sounds like the great beginning of a flame that you could slowly and carefully be blown into existence. I think combining a seated practice with a standing one is best, however that looks in your system or what is best for your personal energetic situation and state. EVERYTHING is individualized. 
 

I have used Hof’s method and “vase breathing” is an arrow in my quiver for sure. I also love that silence and openness of the holds of breaths and in between…love to just let the engine maintain, just feel and observe, be aware, let breath, energy, colors, images, all go where they want, help where they can, dissolve into emptiness eventually…balance any work with energy with grounding and “just sitting” Shikantza…In my own personal system I call it, “Being alone with the weight of Being” or “Wrestling with the Void of Self”

 

Can’t recommend standing meditation to you enough. It is key and my practice really took off when I learned to combine both. Highly highly recommend Ma bu or Horse stance but only when you can sit in it comfortably, correctly, and aligned…that’s when the magic happens 😁 but start higher in the stance so called “easy horse,” then gradually lower your thighs as your channels open and can handle more and more current and your thighs and hips open (squatting is great for this)

 

Great amazing reference on aligning in horse stance and Nei Kung in general. This is an incredibly powerful system and forms the foundation of my “standing” practice. All the best 🙇🏻🙏

https://ckchutaichi.com/shop/books-and-dvds/books/the-book-of-nei-kung/

 

Edited September 6 by yugenphoenix

[Trunk]

19 hours ago, yugenphoenix said:

Nice article, love this diagram! 

 

yeah, I dug it too.  

.. made a few minor adjustments, because I'm just that anal.   

 

 

[Trunk]

I wrote a little free essay, Zhan Zhuang: Getting Started

It's a primer, assumes no knowledge, gets you started, familiarizes w/ common terms

and includes some key tips that I've picked up over ... several decades.

cheers,

Trunk

 

 

[yugenphoenix]

15 minutes ago, Trunk said:

I wrote a little free essay, Zhan Zhuang: Getting Started

It's a primer, assumes no knowledge, gets you started, familiarizes w/ common terms

and includes some key tips that I've picked up over ... several decades.

cheers,

Trunk

 

 

 

Dude this amazing! And I love your use of imagery and diagrams and your style is very engaging. I see you have quite a few other articles on that site...think I found few hours of incredible reading and teaching material here!  Thank you for sharing this!

 

I am sure you guys already have a pinned Zhan Zhuang post that is perfect for a beginner somewhere around here, but this would be perfect for anyone starting out.  Lots of great succinct information here too those a bit further along the path too 

 

 

[ChiDragon]

On 9/5/2025 at 1:24 AM, Soaring said:

Like the title says, I'm starting out with qigong/neidan, but after a bit of research and watching this video of Nathan Brine, he mentions that in order to start doing internal alchemy you first need a foundation, basically being able to sense qi.

If one have not practiced any qigong method, how can anyone get the qi sensation to begin with?

Edited Thursday at 01:31 AM by ChiDragon

[Trunk]

I do find that w/ hands' qi sphere, if practiced w/ the right tips, gets to palpable qi quickly.

 

Qi Sphere: Beginning

 

[ChiDragon]

On 9/6/2025 at 7:11 AM, Trunk said:

FYI
Please pay close attention to "breath is slow, deep and even, using the lower abdomen. " Otherwise, even all the postures are correct, it would have no effect in you practice!  Just don't ignore the breathing part. It is the most important part of qigong. BTW To be effective in martial arts, it is very important to practice the ultimate method of breathing (UMB).

Just to refresh your memory of UMB.

 

Edited Thursday at 09:34 AM by ChiDragon

[Sanity Check]

I don't know why.

 

But when I see the name Nathan Brine.

 

I stop paying attention & couldn't care less what he says.