Nei Gong – (內功)
Nei Gong is the Art of Inner-Cultivation. Development of the Body, Energy System and Mind
Nei Gong – (內功)
Nei Gong (內功), meaning “internal skill,” is a method of personal transformation that comes from the Chinese spiritual traditions. At its heart, Nei Gong is about changing the way your body, energy, and mind function together so that you can live with greater clarity, health, and spiritual connection. It’s a structured path of internal cultivation that goes far beyond simple health exercises; it leads you on a journey of discovering who you are beneath the surface.
To understand Nei Gong, it helps to begin with what it isn’t. It isn’t just about feeling relaxed and it isn’t purely a medical practice.
It also isn’t a random mix of breathing techniques or stretches. Nei Gong is a clearly defined process. It uses specific physical exercises, breathing methods, and mental training to spark changes inside you. These changes unfold step by step and gradually reshape how you experience yourself and the world.
While Qi Gong exercises are commonly taught for health or stress relief, Nei Gong views these exercises differently. In this system, Qi Gong is a set of tools, not the final goal. These tools are used to help you move through the internal stages of Nei Gong. They establish causes so the deeper effects of internal change can naturally arise.
A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong
Damo Mitchell has written a number of books on the subject of Nei Gong and other internal arts. Without a doubt, the most comprehensive of these titles is the one you may purchase via the button below. We recommend all members of the school get ahold of this title.
Nei Gong as a Spiritual Practice
Nei Gong is inseparable from the spiritual framework of the Chinese wisdom traditions. This isn’t about religion or dogma; it’s about understanding the way life moves, changes, and evolves. Daoism, a major part of the teachings, is often translated as “the Way,” and that’s exactly what Nei Gong is: a way to walk a personal path of internal development.
According to classical Daoist teachings, everything in the universe comes from a source called Dao. From this source arises stillness (Wuji), which gives birth to movement (Taiji), which then splits into the complementary forces of Yin and Yang. These give rise to the five elements, and eventually to the division between Heaven (representing spirit and mind) and Earth (representing the physical body). Nei Gong reverses this unfolding. It leads the practitioner back, step by step, through these layers of experience toward stillness and unity with Dao. This is known in the tradition as “returning to the source.”
Importantly, this process isn’t about imagining mystical ideas or visualizing spiritual symbols. Nei Gong is rooted in experience. It asks the practitioner to feel, to observe, and to discover the reality of these changes for themselves. There are no shortcuts, and nothing is based on belief alone. It’s a practice of cultivation, discipline, and deepening awareness. Nei Gong is for those who wish to learn a way to experience the path of Dao for themselves.
One of the central ideas in Nei Gong is that we don’t just have a physical body, we also have an energy body. This energetic structure is made up of channels, centers like the Dan Tian and a field of internal currents that govern how our physical, emotional, and mental systems interact.
From the Daoist perspective, Qi (氣) is the key to this energy body. Qi is often translated as “energy,” but that doesn’t quite capture its meaning. In Nei Gong, Qi is best understood as a kind of conscious information. It is a direct extension of the mind, circulating through the body and connecting spirit with form. This is why, in some ancient texts, the energy body is sometimes called the “hall of lights” — because when it’s awakened, it illuminates from within.
Through consistent and correct practice, the energy body begins to activate. The practitioner may feel things like heat, pulsing, vibration, internal shaking, or heaviness. Over time, these experiences evolve into more refined sensations, such as flowing electricity (Yang Qi) or internal magnetic pressure (Yin Qi). These are not imagined or symbolic; they are real, tangible signs that the energy body is being awakened, purified, and strengthened.
A big part of Nei Gong involves opening and regulating the energy channels, which are much more intricate and dynamic than the neat maps we see in acupuncture books. When these channels begin to open, our health improves, our emotions stabilize, and our mind becomes clearer. This is how Nei Gong creates lasting change.
At the heart of the energy body lies the Dan Tian (丹田), one of the most important elements in the entire Nei Gong system. Specifically, the lower Dan Tian, located deep in the abdomen, is the central hub for storing, refining, and generating Qi. In many modern systems, the Dan Tian is mentioned but not deeply understood. In Nei Gong, it is absolutely essential.
The Dan Tian acts like a furnace. It’s where the raw materials of your practice—movement, breath, attention—are refined into a stable inner force. Early in the Nei Gong journey, much of the work is centered around locating this space, learning how to breathe into it, and gradually filling it with Qi. As this develops, the Dan Tian becomes a stable foundation. It draws the mind inward and gives your practice and body a center of gravity.
Once the Dan Tian is strong and active, it begins to radiate through the body. This supports everything that follows in the Nei Gong process. It allows the Qi to sink and circulate, supports the opening of the channels, and eventually becomes the base from which spirit (Shen) is cultivated. Without a functional Dan Tian, deeper alchemical work is not possible. This is why a large degree of Nei Gong training is focused on this centre for some time.
Nei Gong is not a quick fix or a casual pursuit. It is a system that invites you into a different way of being, a way that grows from discipline, presence, and direct experience. It teaches you how to understand your body, awaken your energy and rediscover your connection to the Dao.
Study Nei Gong
The process unfolds systematically. Qi Gong and Dao Yin exercises are practiced to develop and strengthen the body. Once a solid foundation is established, Nei Gong is used to awaken and cultivate the energetic system. These practices serve as a platform to guide the practitioner’s mind toward union with Dao (道).
Throughout this journey, energy is cultivated, channels are opened, and a deep inner-healing process begins. Nei Gong training is one of the most transformative and beneficial practices a person can undertake, offering a gateway into the profound esoteric arts of ancient China.
At the Lotus Nei Gong School, Nei Gong is used to enhance the health and inner vitality of students. Beyond this, advanced alchemical training is built upon this strong foundation, leading practitioners further along the path of personal transformation and connection to the Dao.
Our philosophy is one of using the system as a tool and nothing more; a way to establish the causes required for a student to go deep inside and find the truth of what the ancient Eastern wisdom traditions were pointing at.
In the video to the right, Damo gives a brief introduction to the Nei Gong process and Nei Gong training. Nei Gong is taught on various courses and classes around the world by Damo and his seniors. It is also taught through the Internal Arts Academy which can be found at:
Lotus Nei Gong has branches all around the world. If you would like to move forwards in your study of these arts, with high quality guidance by experienced teachers, please visit this link and see where your nearest branch can be found:
Principles of Dan Tian Development
Within Nei Gong, three key principles summarize the process of filling the lower Dan Tian with Qi. Understanding these principles reveals how Qi is cultivated in this area.
1. Yi Shou Dan Tian (意守丹田) – Guard the Mind within the Dan Tian
To guide Qi towards the lower Dan Tian, focus your awareness on the lower abdomen. Precision is not necessary; simply bring your attention to the lower abdominal cavity, allowing the Qi to move naturally. Avoid intentionally leading the Qi, as this mental effort causes the fragile Yang Qi to disperse. Instead, let your mind sink gently to the abdomen, allowing the Yang Qi to follow naturally.
While moving your awareness, thoughts may arise. This is why the mind must be guarded (“shou”). Avoid overthinking, as it disrupts and depletes Yang Qi. Instead, maintain stillness and stability, sealing off the senses and keeping the mind calm.
. Qi Chen Dan Tian (氣沉丹田) – Submerge the Qi in the Dan Tian
Yang Qi should then be submerged within the Yin Qi field of the lower Dan Tian. This process is represented in the Yi Jing by the hexagrams Ji Ji (既濟) and Wei Ji (未濟):
Ji Ji (Fire submerged in Water): Represents the successful integration of Yang Qi into the Yin Qi field, symbolizing completion.
Wei Ji (Fire and Water not yet united): Indicates the need for further refinement, as the Yang Qi has not yet merged with Yin.
The use of Fire and Water (instead of pure Yang and Yin) highlights how acquired patterns of thought distort Qi. The integration of Yang within Yin rectifies this imbalance.
3. Dan Tian Xi Qi (丹田吸氣) – The Dan Tian Inhales the Qi
Before Yang Qi can be submerged in the Yin Qi field, it must be drawn into the lower Dan Tian. While awareness can guide Qi toward the abdominal cavity, the body often resists storing Yang Qi at first, leading to leakage. This challenge reflects the body’s natural hesitance to hold onto Qi.
The term Xi (吸) means “to inhale” or “to suck.” It describes how Yin Qi draws Yang Qi inward, similar to magnetic attraction. To facilitate this process, develop the Yin qualities of the lower Dan Tian. Strengthening Yin allows it to “inhale” Yang Qi into its core.
An alternative phrase, Dan Tian Hu Xi (丹田呼吸), meaning “Dan Tian breathing,” is sometimes used. However, this is often misunderstood as referring to physical expansion or contraction. Instead, it describes the interaction where Yin Qi pulls in and stores Yang Qi—a principle often described as “immersing Fire in Water” in Daoist classics.