We can join a church or follow a religion, but that does not mean we are spiritual. Being a spiritual being means that one at least connects to other human beings at some meaningful level, but first one has to connect to oneself. Thats the tough part.

Beyond the ego structures we create lie intuition and awareness. Unknowing its name, yet knowing its presence, it is the space we seek to reside in during the daily unfolding of our lives. Awareness through movement, breathing, meditation can certainly shift our vision of the world, not because the world has changed but simply because our vision of it has. In that sense we become spiritually, intuitively active, "awake", maybe, as the Buddha's name infers.  Making living your ordinary that little bit extra-ordinary.

Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Ba Gua  and Hsing-I are not spiritual practices in and of themselves, they are presence-based bio-mechanical exercises that upgrade the physical body that can liberate the life force of an individual. The intention of Taoist body arts is, contrary to some popular notions, not to elevate oneself from the earth or transcend it, but to embody (literally) the teachings; to fully feel, taste, smell and accept life in all its shades.

Being spiritually aware arises from the knowledge that everything we experience is temporary and ultimately without meaning (meaning is something we impose upon events); our opinions and attachment to ideas leads to suffering and conflict. The longer we remain rigid and conditioned by our temporary existence the less chance we have of becoming spiritually aware. 

The slow movements of some internal arts can have a calming effect on the observer and the practitioner alike, but appearing calm is different from being calm. Appearances can be very deceptive. I have had people recoil in disbelief at the idea that Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art, because they think in cliches when evaluating slow, graceful movement. Movement done mindfully, however, can be liberating and provide a base from which one can then later learn to cultivate presence and form a connection to others.   

This felt sense of calm can be initiated through a Qi Gong practice, but one must have meditative practices to develop spiritually. Practicing any movement will not move you closer to universal consciousness ; indeed, these Chinese Internal arts were never intended for that purpose.

People practiced Tai Chi and Ba Gua to develop martial skill. Qi Gong was practiced to fulfil a doctor's prescription for healing the sick or was developed by meditators to keep them alert and healthy. People who yearned for spiritual knowledge meditated, studied scripture and sought a life of contemplation.

You can of course practice Qi Gong as a support for your meditative regime, but for those people who need to project a fantasy of pseudo-spirituality onto Qi Gong, the truth is that this is simply not its function.

  One must take care not to project spirituality onto objects, people or so called energy arts (like tai chi). To manifest a spiritual life, one needs a caring attitude for all sentient beings and presupposes a capacity to relax. Qi gong can help achieve this, but true spiritual realisation can only happen by letting go of    conceptual thinking, the cultivation of bodily presence and awareness, meditative discipline and other qualifications but it must be emphasised that this can only arise through a contemplative life, which doesn't mean running away to a cave. True contemplation can take place in a the bustle of any metropolis.