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I have started a routine now with Tai Chi. I was, up until not long ago, a church going person. I noticed something interesting when I first started doing this. It felt the same as when in church. I mean to say I got the goosebumps and sense of well being after I was done. I know that everyone has a life force within them. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this?

Thanks I really like it. I feel at peace when done and energized in a strange kind of way. It makes me wonder what else I've missed out on...

I study and do Tai Chi, also I do some Chi focusing with other arts, the feeling you mention, I never experiencexd it, I do experience a feel of well being but never felt it when going to my other religious activities before, I do think the feeling is inter link with beleif but with energy and the being itself evolving and releasing.

Dunno if this matters or not, but I have always been able to turn certain senses off. Like I used to be really ticklish, now I can turn it off. Additionally, I do already practive Muay Thai and BJJ. But these are power forms of the Arts. I have always thought of everything else as well, I'll be honest here, girly. No offense, but I am finding that this is really helping me with my soul so to speak. The other is taking care of the beat down areas...lol.

The feeling of peace and well being felt after a worship experience can come from the thought process involved or by the experience of being "in communion" with others.

Tai Chi, yoga or even "regular" physical exercise can cause the same feelings.

I believe what you are sensing is the release of endorphins. These powerful brain chemicals result in the euphoric feelings you describe. They can be released by and of the above described experiences or others.

Well they need to sell this stuff!! I have heard of it before, I thought it was involved in a runners high too, right?

I bet that can be scientifically explained, but I believe it definitely has a metaphysical meaning. What the meaning is, probably varies from person to person, though.

I think that tai chi or any kind of exercise will give you the same feeling of well being, i personally do not think that their is anything to it, they are supposed to make you feel better...

I never really went to church, but I know how you feel with the Tai Chi. I love it. It always makes me feel at peace with the world! :)

I think this is an interesting topic. I am familiar with but not part of a religion that bases everything on that feeling that you describe. They say that it is the "Holy Spirit" in your body. Since I have experienced the feeling in many other places than church I have always wondered a little about that. I think that it must just be our bodies creating positive energy.

I have gotten the same feelings when i would go to church. Also I notice nearly the same feeling while in meditation.

Well....yes. Faith and awe are really big energy raisers for the Normal population. The singing, the shouting praises...all of that is another way of ritualized energy building. Sort of like our Wiccan friends will tell you to do with dancing or chanting, but with different deities in mind. This energy, chi, is all pretty much different flavours of the same stuff. The tai chi classes are just helping you become more aware of your own life energies, giving you the techniques and discipline to use it effectively.

Not to shift direction in this too much but the thing I mentioned about a kind of mind over matter with turning certain aspects of my body off (like the over reaction to tickling) is that something that can be used with focussing the chi, maybe making it a more powerful balm for the soul? Dunno, but I am trying to quit tobacco right now and am using the gum. I have a helper here, wonderful woman BTW, but I wanted to have something I can call upon inside of me too. Does anyone think this may help?

yes ive done tai chi and in one chi gung exersise we had to visualise holding a ball in our hands and moving energy back n forth and i swear i saw a ball of sparkling energy in my hands ,was aswum

Now that is what I am talking about. I mean even if the ball is not visable to others that is ok with me.

I have experienced similar things. I have have been involved in Easter Meditation and martial arts since I was an adolescent. I was able to turn off the annoying ability to be tickled also. It's an awesome feeling when you can control things like this.

I have experienced similar feelings myself, while in a meditative state. I believe it is a matter of what makes a person feel at peace with themselves.

The only time I have ever felt well being inside a church was when the sermon was over and I could go home!! lol

This energy is as hurtsouless has stated, a natural energy. Some people may call it positive depending on their interpretation on it.

As RavenKnight mentions exercise will give you a feeling of well being. However we are all capable of this feeling and there are so many different techniques to reach this state of mind

I have experience in blocking out pain, I can feel energy in a building, I can see a persons energy, I can feed off that energy. I can give them back energy, I'm a part of that energy...you understand?

I get strange feelings with goose bumps, chills, etc, when I read a book that talks about religion, or I'm in a deep conversations with someone about religion and mysteries of life. Sometimes my voice will go out because I straining to say something that I know, but I can't quite get it out like I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I think it has to do with your mind growing and reaching trying to find lost memories and picking at your conscious mind trying to find it. I also think it has to do with your soul as will. Like a small since of being at peace or one with, "God."

**theban** Yes, I think I understand.

About endorphines, I will admit there is a way, I've learned that some will over do exercises just to built up first the adrenaline then after it turns to endorphine, so just do some work out, actually over do it.
Some ppl in Japan from what I heard do more then 3 or 4 hours of jogging just to get endorphine, its like a drug over there.

I have the same feeling when I 'tune in' to Spirit....which is good, as four hours of jogging and I would be 'in' Spirit lol

I've experienced what you refer to through meditation during yoga. Also, I run..and the runner's high you refer to is very much like that...it's almost a euphoria..you breathe more deeply and your body hums with excess endorphins.

Also, being in certain places can have the effect on me...natural places. Parts of Sedona, mountains, certain places along the coast of California....this peaceful relaxing state. Perhaps if your mental imagery is well developed you can try to recreate the feeling that you enjoy by simulating the action that caused it in your mind.

I think taichi make the body relaxed in a way that is special. I belive if you do it proper so be also the mind in harmony and that lead to a harmonic feel.

Honestly - I think some of it comes from centering one's self. I don't want to call it psychosemantic, but in a sense it is. If you're calm, at rest, focused, it can give you goosebumps...

I believe you have just found things that make you feel at peace and all around good. You should keep up both and anything else that makes you feel that way

Well brothers and sisters I can tell you that it is helping with the nicotine addiction cravings finally. Yesterday was a bad day for me, and I want to give a shout out to the one who took the brunt of my mood swing, she knows who she is here and will read this. Thank you very much for being a good listener.

Now as to the posts. The goosebump thing is kind of unusual. I got it in church when I had prayed through and was receptive to the message.

In Tai Chi, I am obviously not in that setting. So my question was more rhetorical I guess, but I thnks you all anyway for giving me some insoght into what it was I was feeling. It is kind of strange in that I get it every songle time I do the warm up breathing. I get it too when the position is 'right', not real sure how to describe what right is other than it is maybe correct? Dunno, but if I am off even a little bit the feeling goes away. Weird.

I am interested in the glowing ball thing. And maybe energy manipulation. I wonder if it is possible to manifest Chi in any other areas. Not that I really want to go there but dare I say sex? Now here is the thing, nothing raunchy I am trying to be serious, ok?

there are many ways to cultivate chi be it from an internal artform such as tai chi or using the meridians/pressure points to awaken the circular activity of what was once stagnated energy that can now flow freely in your body i find that many of the eastern meditation can help in building up such a power and in my experiences i have felt the slight tingling feeling of movement,as always with any practice you can only progress if your willing to open yourself and learn from your experiences.

That has happened to me when 1st exploring the martial arts. I feel it's a way of your body expressing the alignment of your spirit to your physical. Atleast that's how I feel about it. To me it's much more than just a physical feeling but a spiritual one as well.

Not with Tai Chi...but I do understand what you mean. And actually...I usually had better feelings when I wasn't going to church and being told what to believe, what was right or wrong...and so on.

I believe the chill/goosebumps is from all the positive energy you feel around you. May if be church, meditation, or even when you are relaxed with friends. No stress just relaxing mind and body causes this. Felt it myself at these "odd" times". Just enjoy it.

I think the thing with church is that you are getting the feeling of energy from so many different people all in one place where doing the thai chi is letting the natural energy flow through you by opening up all you chakras without the need to get it from anyone else

Bruce Lee used his Chi to draw power for his 1 inch punch..he could knock a man off his feet...that was 6 feet tall and 200 lbs...with the power of Chi.You can center your Chi and use the energy in many ways.

I think that if you are open enough to your energy flow, that it can be manipulated, or directed, in many ways, sex included. It is something that takes a lot of practice, focus and concentration.

plz, sure it can....
Researchers in california and Japan have for several years been studying metaphysical energies, the effects of it are measureable by energy detection sources.... will try to find a link to that one article that i thought was so great. will post it when i do.

Tai Chi is very much just as good for your spiritual well being as it is for your physical and mental. The (dance, Kata, etc) and the fluidic movements therein allow the body to fall into a trace-like state that is relaxing to the mind/spirit as allows one to meditate on many spiritual aspects whilst going through the forms. Once these forms as learned and put into muscle memory, it becomes easier to reach this state. The bonus is, you get in shape! You won't lose 200 pounds in 3 months, you won't get pumped like a bodybuilder, but you will definately notice the change.

There are other benefits to Chi / energy work like Grounding and calming self, releasing tension, wiping stress/venting , the side effects are improvement to overal health and outlook on life.

I believe that anything that helps you tap into your own life force is a good thing just people have differing ways to go about it. Eastern religion has focused on the living life force in all things and practice it in martial arts, feng shi and meditation exercises.

Once you feel your won life force or 'holy spirit' you then notice and see the same life force flowing through everything from the earth to the elements to others. Its a huge spiritual connection you have made Maximus so honour it and continue to develop it. :) The rewards are amazing and magificent.

There is a whole nother world out there you have just started upon my friend. I hav experienced what you stated and it only gets better.The harder you study and work in this field the more rewards there are.Especially to share thisi with another is incredible.
The energy exchange between two people can be mind blowing to say the least.
I just recently got my masters in Reiki energy healing and that is a wonderful experience too.Atonement leading up to my higher degree was very interesting. I wish you well.

As being a 17 year martial artist and a shidoshi, I will try to explain some of the basic principals, if not some idea of how the energies work.

When first starting out in any art, whether it be Tai Chi or not, always start out small. As the energy will always be very small. It is somewhat like weight lifting for the first time. Save for instead of your body aching, you feel energized.

The breathing excercises are there for a very good reason, not only does it ground you, but it also focus's your mind and body for what you are both about to and what you are going through.

As the chi circlulates throughout your body, with the breathing excercises, the arm movements denote where the energies are being directed. If you wish to study a certain style, I would suggest the Tai Chi 24 form. This is an easy to memorize step, that both circlulates the energies as well as teaches you training for opponents.

With the art I teach and have been with for those 17 years, which is the Shotokan-Aikido, I train first off with Tai Chi as warm up. As I have stated, the breathing excercises along with the step and arm movements, give the chi free flow within your whole body. Which grounds you very well and gives you the sense as if you had just gotten out of church. It just depends on which method you are using, simply put some forms direct the energy, whilst others just give you good practice and balance training.

I get that sensation a lot when I meditate, work with my crystals or am out when there is a full moon. The best way I can describe it is that my life force becomes rejuvenated, and I'm ready to start things anew with a fresh clean slate. It really is a refreshing feeling!

*Soulshroude* No offense but I would just not use Thai Chi in a defensive or offensive manner. It is being practiced more for my inner man so to speak. I practice Brasillian Jui Jitsu and Muay Thai for bone breaking and knockouts. I know there are many who say this style or that are better for offense or defense, but it always comes back to the octagon and my experience on the streets. In a real fight I have seen someone roundhouse a man to the ground and then start to beat him senseless, but as soon as his friend stepped in who wrestled the guy was lost. I think beyond any doubt in my head that some martial arts are better than others for real combat. I won't bag on anyone else's, but I feel very confident in my abilities to put a hurting on virtually anyone, trained or not. A strong man wears out on the ground and boxers don't expect a kick. Outside of an armed man who knows what he is about, these two styles with two years practice will take out 99% of the offenders out there.

I have felt my inner peace by just relaxing and meditating or concentrating on a certain relaxing thought. just I have not ever tried Chi. it sounds like it could be another good way of connecting with oneself. Might try it

Tai Chi is a relaxation technique and maybe you just feel comfortable with it as you do in church.

Believing in a faith and an inner strength of self are one in the same to me.

Yes! I have been practicing Tai Chi for quite some time. When I first started, i found it just helped me calm my mind and concentrate on keeping my movements fluid. After a time, I began to allow my mind to reach out further and further, soon it kind of felt like flight. I only got goosebumps the very first time I felt this complete sense of peace. Now? It's a second skin.
Good for you!!

I've gotten the same feeling after going to the gym.. or alot of physical activity in general really. I don't know much about Tai Chi at all though... I might look into it.

Maybe it is just because of the relaxing and peaceful nature that both provide....

you need to be centered in order to become balanced with one self.

I find the same peace within prayer and breathing exercises. That sense of well being is present with both.

I also feel that a person must be balanced and centered in order to become at peace with in yourself and the world in general

I am not an active Tai Chi practioner but I have tryed it and I'd say that I defenitly felt very at peace. After trying Yoga I got a similar sensation, but it was kind of like I was floating after the Yoga, must have been all the deep slow breathing. Either way I felt very energized by it.

I being active in the martial arts, the flow of ones "Ki" or "Chi" is of a high priority, you could say its similar to praying, but that depends on what and how your praying (wrong or right).
(but lets not get into that.)

I,too, have utilized Tai Chi in my daily life. I have studied three forms of the martial arts, Aikido being one of them, and Tai Chi has helped me to utilize my inner strength. I have yet felt the euphoria that you speak of, but that does not mean it couldn't have happened.

Well, don't forget everyone is different so the effect on an individual varies form person to person.

I get similar feelings of peace when doing Yoga. I think Tai Chi and Yoga both involve meditation.
I find by stretching or moving your body during meditation it seems to enhance the serenity.

i dont know much about this, but it does sound like it is a good feeling on how you tell us. it make me what to try it.

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