The word "energy" in English generally is defined as "the capacity for activity" or "the capacity to do work".

Rarely, however, do we use the word as a standalone term. Usually we add a modifier to specify what type of energy we're talking about, e.g. electrical energy, wind energy, wave energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, etc.

At Moving Tiger we use the phrase "life energy" to describe the energy within you that enables you to perform the basic functions of life - to move, to talk, to breathe, to digest food, to sleep, etc.

This is the energy that we all commonly refer to when we wake up and say something like "Yes, I have a lot of energy today" or "I feel really depleted today."

Life energy is the primary energy upon which Chinese medicine focuses. The word for "life energy" in Chinese is "chi", which is pronounced "chee" and which can also be spelled "qi". Like the word "energy" in English, the word "chi" in Chinese is a catch-all term for all types of energy. When used in the context of Chinese medicine or qigong (also spelled chi gung) exercises, the word chi refers to what at Moving Tiger we call life energy.

Life energy is known as "ki" in Japan and "prana" in India.

For more information about life energy, see Energy Development.

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