You’re not sick, but you have a feeling of being weighed down by the ordinary routine of life. You just can’t seem to shake off this sense of heaviness.
If you are experiencing these feelings, the traditional practice called energy clearing might help you. Energy clearing is a concept found in some kinds of yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, and other ancient practices.
In this guide, we will cover:
Note: Energy clearing and other forms of energy healing may be considered complementary to Western medical treatment, but the Western scientific and medical communities do not universally accept traditional energy principles. Energy clearing or energy healing should not replace a visit to your medical provider. If you are not sure whether yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong is suitable for your condition, please consult your healthcare provider before attempting these practices.
Energy clearing refers to traditional practices intended to release unwanted energy from the mind and body, or to circulate energy that is “blocked.” Energy clearing is a concept found in ancient Indian, East Asian, and native American practices, dating back thousands of years before modern science. It is just one aspect of the energy healing arts. Energy clearing may also be practiced within a physical space or environment, with the same intention of releasing or circulating energy. You may encounter energy clearing today in various kinds of yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, such as in Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi classes, as well as in acupressure, acupuncture, and other kinds of traditional energy healing.
Energy clearing in yoga is a practice that encourages the healthy flow of prana (life force) by a combination of:
Energy clearing in Tai Chi and Qigong is meant to bring our Qi (life force) into healthy balance, with:
As a helpful addition to your routine self-care, circulating and clearing energy through regular yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong practice helps you release heaviness and develop lightness and well-being.
Keep reading to explore the effects of and the need for energy clearing.
Have you ever found yourself feeling sensitive after scrolling social media or agitated after a long day at work?
According to ancient East Asian beliefs, all life forms and all the elements of Nature have some balance of negative and positive (in Chinese, yin and yang) energy. In this tradition, positive and negative energy are neither “good” nor “bad,” but both kinds of energy should be in a state of natural balance. Long ago, a variety of East Asian healing arts and practices were developed to foster this natural balance.
We are exposed to vast amounts of information and external phenomena every day, which can affect our mood and mental clarity. To interpret this effect in terms of traditional energy practices, these factors can also impact our energetic balance.
According to traditional holistic beliefs, negative energy and emotions can become stored in your muscles and joints. Improper breathing, such as shallow, rapid breathing, which may not deliver enough oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body, can also contribute to a feeling of heaviness.
Energy clearing helps circulate and release negative or “stuck” energy affecting your mind and body, restoring the natural balance of Qi. When energy that does not serve your well-being is cleared from your body, you may feel better mentally and physically.
After energy clearing, some people report feeling:
According to East Asian traditional wellness principles, breathing is an essential element in activating, circulating, accumulating, and releasing energy, whether you’re practicing yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong. When people feel like they have an energy imbalance or a sense of heaviness, it may be because they aren't breathing deeply enough.
Learning how to breathe well can help the body:
To practice breathing for energy clearing in yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong, follow these steps:
Read more about breathing and meditation for releasing tension and improving your energy balance: Less Stress with Meditation
According to tradition, energy clearing through the practice of yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong can have these benefits:
Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.
Learning how to move energy within your body is highly beneficial. From the practice of yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, you can get several different kinds of exercise that we need for better circulation, ~ not only stretching, but also breathwork, balancing, and even aerobics, depending on the type of practice you choose.
Movement, especially gentle stretching, can relieve tension in muscles and joints.
The simple stretches, movements, and breathing techniques in yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong can help you move energy and clear unwanted tension or stiffness (“stuck energy”) from your body.
It can be challenging to filter through all of the noise, stress, and burdens of life. It’s easy to hold on to painful memories that no longer serve you, or be anxious about what will happen next, instead of paying attention to this moment, right now.
Traditional holistic practices such as yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong can help you develop mindfulness, the ability to stay present, an essential mind-body skill you need to become more aware of how your energy feels. Once you can focus on how your energy feels, it will become easier to release the negative energy of unhelpful thinking and emotions and feel more balanced.
Think about your body right now. Is your jaw clenched? Are your shoulders rigid and tight? Like many people, you may be carrying stress or emotional tension in your muscles and joints.
Our negative thoughts and emotions can result in physical stress, as well as unwanted tension in our muscles and joints ~ in traditional terms, your Qi energy is “stuck.” It’s even possible that this kind of tension may be aggravating pain in your body.
Practices like yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong that incorporate energy-clearing techniques may help you release unwanted tension in your muscles and joints. This release can help your body return to its natural balance of Qi, making you feel lighter and at ease.
A side benefit of yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong is that the stretches and movements used also help strengthen your core. The reason for this is that all three practices traditionally emphasize the importance of the lower abdomen as key to wellbeing: 2nd chakra in yoga; Dahnjon (Korean) or DanTien (Chinese) in Tai Chi and Qigong.
Strengthening your core may help you to:
Holding on to negative energy, stress, and tension can feel like a constant cloud over your head. Energy clearing by practicing yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong can help lift the heaviness and tension that you feel in your body.
As you get used to setting aside external distractions and develop your mind-body connection, you may find yourself feeling more inner calm and peace.
The tradition of energy clearing is meant to increase your sense of well-being. Making energy-clearing practices such as yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong a frequent practice can help you live a more peaceful life.
When your mind is encumbered with unhelpful thoughts and baggage, it can be overwhelming and leave you struggling just to make it through the day. Clearing away mental clutter and releasing negative thought patterns through energy-clearing practices like yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong can sharpen focus, improve concentration, and cultivate clarity.
Poor sleep has consequences that can endure for weeks. Without proper sleep, it’s hard to think and be productive. By easing stress and fostering relaxation, holistic energy clearing practices like yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong have been shown to improve sleep, allowing you to be more prepared to meet each day as it comes.
Let’s go over a few things you should remember while exploring energy clearing practices with Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi, Korean yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong instruction:
With any kind of energy work, practice and consistency are key. It is more important to maintain small consistency every day than to try to accomplish a significant feat in one session and do nothing for days in between.
However, this does not mean that you must practice many hours of yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong each day to experience its benefits.
You may not be able to join a Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi in-person or online class every day to practice, but you can take the techniques you learn from Body & Brain classes and incorporate them into your daily routine.
The results from energy clearing through the practice of yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong can vary from person to person.
The first time you practice yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong, you may only notice a subtle difference, as you are just beginning your journey to balance your Qi energy. The benefits to your sense of well-being come after regular practice.
Whether they choose yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong, Body & Brain students often say they feel calmer, more grounded, and lighter. It’s easy to lose the benefits of mindful movement when returning to the everyday world of stressful phenomena, which is why regular practice is best.
Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong are time-honored practices that improve physical and mental well-being. However, they should not take the place of advice from your health care provider.
If you have any concerns about trying these holistic wellness practices, consult your health care provider.
Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi classes and workshops are based on Korean wellness traditions, including practices that move and balance your vital Qi energy.
Whether you choose Body & Brain yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong training, you can expect an emphasis on activating, circulating, and accumulating energy. Body & Brain instructors will guide you through techniques such as body tapping, meridian stretching, flowing movements, deep breathing, and moving meditation.
You may find Korean yoga classes include more mat time, while you may spend more time standing in Tai Chi or Qigong classes, but the underlying energy principles are the same.
Body & Brain classes are uniquely designed to develop your awareness of internal Qi energy by including exercises for the three main energy centers, called dahnjon, in your lower abdomen, chest, and head. You’ll learn more about how to balance your energy and the wellness principle called “Water Up, Fire Down,” as you attend class.
Start your journey with a Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi instructor and learn how to manage your vital energy for a happier, healthier life.
Schedule a 50-minute private introductory session today. One of our trained instructors will check your current energy condition and provide energy-clearing yoga techniques and guidance on how to utilize our programs best to help:
The content in this blog should not be used in place of direct medical advice/treatment and is solely for informational purposes.