i'm no expert but having practiced kung fu for 12 years and a little chi kung, as far as i can see, the breathing excercises are used to build up the energy in ones self, then your aim is to channel the energy into the client, the disadvantage of this can be that you are giving off the energy which you have accumulated and can if you are not careful give out too much, leaving yourself depleted whereas Reiki actually flows through you from the higher source and if practiced correctly does not leave you drained of energy.
This is in no way a criticism or qi gong or any other energy system as they are excellent systems and have great benefits for ones health.
namaste
omshanti
