| Many things has been said about the Chi, the Chinese | | | | other parts of the body. Through these meridians, the |
| word for "internal energy." Some say it is the "power | | | | chi enters the body and flows deeper to organs, blood |
| within" that emanates from the air we breathe and | | | | vessels, glands, and other body parts. This flow of the |
| transforms into a life force within our body. In Eastern | | | | chi gives these body parts life, nourishment, and |
| beliefs, the chi is responsible for self-healing, | | | | energy. |
| self-recovery, and self realization. All life in the universe | | | | The chi as stated can be developed by breathing, chi |
| is inspired by the chi, it is the life force or vital energy | | | | reflection, and visualization. These entities can be |
| that is present in every living thing. According to | | | | achieved by undergoing activities that includes |
| Chinese beliefs, the chi also enables martial artists to | | | | meditation like tai chi, yoga, and martial arts. These |
| accomplish physically impossible feats like breaking | | | | moments of stillness may bring short periods of |
| bricks with bare hands and feet. Once the chi is | | | | relaxation and improve one's self-esteem. Activities |
| manipulated, performing such feats would be easy. In | | | | that aid in developing the chi also improves one's libido |
| addition, the chi is also seen as the force that controls | | | | and overall sexual health. People who frequently |
| the entire universe. This life force is called 'pneuma' in | | | | undergo yoga, tai chi, and martial arts training partake in |
| Greece and 'ki' in Japanese. | | | | physical and conditioning exercises. Studies show that |
| What is the chi? And where did it begin? History says | | | | undergoing such activities leads to more energy, better |
| that in A.D. 527, an Indian monk named Bodhidharma | | | | self-esteem, and increased testosterone levels. |
| traveled to China. The purpose of the journey was to | | | | Additionally stretching warm-ups involved in this |
| teach his fellow monks exercises to develop and | | | | activities massages the internal organs of the body |
| strengthen their bodies. In his journey to China, | | | | enabling them to function properly. |
| Bodhidharma wrote a book entitled "Xi Sui Jing." This | | | | Still, Bodhidharma was careful to teach his |
| book was about breathing and meditation, it is believed | | | | monk-students about the virtue of moderation. He |
| that this book taught the power of the chi. | | | | taught them that even in martial arts and other physical |
| Bodhidharma, is also the author of a book entitled, "Shi | | | | activities, care must be exercised to avoid |
| Bao Luo Han Shou" (The Eighteen Hands of Lohan). | | | | over-training. Some studies show that too much |
| Historians consider this book as the first manual on | | | | intense physical training may have an effect on one's |
| offensive and defensive combat movements. This | | | | sterility. An investigation by health experts revealed |
| book gave birth to "Kalirapayat," believed to be the | | | | that over-training causes fatigue, which then |
| mother of all martial arts. These facts explain the close | | | | temporarily reduces sperm count and quality. |
| similarity of the postures in Chinese martial arts and | | | | Specialists say that this happens because the body |
| yoga. Both traditions focused on the lower abdominal | | | | literally "kills" itself during training. To build muscles and |
| region as the center of all human energy (chi, pneuma, | | | | improve the body, it needs to recuperate to attain |
| ki). Martial arts and Yoga were both developed to | | | | normal cell development. Intense physical activities may |
| promote a healthy body, increase lifespan, and attain a | | | | reduce the level of hormones in the bloodstream that |
| state of bliss. | | | | affects sperm production. Medical experts believe that |
| The chi, according to traditional Chinese medicine can | | | | sperm levels return to nearly normal after about three |
| be developed by breathing, chi meditation, and | | | | days. They added that drinking coffee after a few |
| visualization. The Chinese discovered that the chi | | | | hours of training may protect sperm quality because |
| travels in the human body through channels called | | | | of the antioxidants that are found in caffeine. |
| meridians. These channels are the pathways of | | | | In this era of technology, the power of the chi has |
| positive and negative power-the 'yin' or 'yang', the basis | | | | been taken for granted. More and more people have |
| of the direction in which the chi flows on the body. The | | | | been busy with work and prefer to watch movies, TV |
| 'yin' energy comes from the earth and flows from the | | | | programs, and video games instead of sweating out. |
| feet to the torso, the arms, and the fingertips. 'Yang' | | | | They spend more time in front of computers instead |
| energy flows from the sun to the 'yang' meridians | | | | of taking time and keep in touch with their body. These |
| from the fingers to the face, or face to the feet. | | | | activities may lead to poor health and energy and low |
| Meridians are found in the teeth, organs, tissues, and | | | | self-esteem. |