Saish Prabhu says that practicing taichi is one of the best ways to achieve inner peace and good health. Photos by Alywin Chew / China Daily

"Imagine that you are standing in front of a door and behind that door is water. The moment the shifu (teacher) pushed me, it felt as if the door swung opened and I was instantly swept away by rushing water. It was amazing," said the 23-year-old, who had become Ying's first disciple on that very day.

As a self-confessed Star Wars fanatic, Prabhu likened qi to "The Force", a mystical energy in the film series that can be manipulated by certain characters like Jedi knights and members of the Sith Order.

"Taichi is all about working the mind. Anyone who is as skinny as me can achieve a high level of power. Physical size doesn't matter. It's how you harness the energy around you. That's the beauty of taichi," said Prabhu.

The incident was actually not his first brush with qi. Ancient Chinese medical practices, which involve correcting imbalances in the flow of qi in the body, have always been an intrinsic part of his life.