Frequently Asked Questions

What is Qigong?

Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese practice that combines gentle movement, breathing and focused awareness to support health and wellbeing.

The word Qi is often translated as vital energy, while Gong refers to cultivation, so energy cultivation.

Through simple movements, we explore how the body opens, closes, expands and contracts, gradually releasing unnecessary tension and encouraging greater balance, coordination and ease.

Qigong isn't about forcing the body into positions or getting movements perfectly right. It's about developing awareness, noticing how your body responds and creating the conditions for it to function more naturally.

Over time, the practice can become a way of helping you help yourself — physically, mentally and emotionally. description

Qigong, Tai Chi and Neigong are closely related Chinese practices that share many principles, but have slightly different areas of emphasis.

Qigong focuses on cultivating health and wellbeing through gentle movement, breathing and awareness. It includes both moving and still practices designed to improve coordination, release tension and encourage the natural flow of Qi throughout the body.

Tai Chi (Taijiquan) originated as a martial art, combining flowing sequences of movement with principles of balance, relaxation, alignment and sensitivity. Today, many people practise it primarily for its health benefits rather than its martial applications.

Neigong, meaning internal skill or internal work, explores the deeper processes taking place within the body. Through posture, breath, awareness and internal exercises, practitioners gradually develop greater sensitivity to how the body is organised, connected and functioning.

How do they work together?

The three disciplines overlap considerably. Qigong provides accessible movements, Tai Chi offers principles of fluidity and balance, while Neigong develops awareness of the internal processes underlying both.

My own teaching draws on all three, with a strong foundation in Neigong and an emphasis on Qigong.

Rather than learning complicated sequences or martial applications, we explore the principles behind the movements, developing a practice that can support you in everyday life.

The aim is not simply to learn what to do, but to begin understanding what is happening within you as you practise.

Nope - comfortable clothing, water and an open mind.

Start with a minute to feel the breath and your feet. Repeat this as often as possible. Build up over to time, practise the lesson 5 minutes a day over a few days before continuing. Add the next lessons movement to the practise, and keep building up.

There is no falling behind. Move at your own pace as you can in the moment.

100% and returners too, everyone can benefit from going back to the start and remembering the basics

Qigong offers a gentle but surprisingly powerful way to support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Through regular practice, Qigong may help to:

• Release tension — encouraging the body to soften and let go of unnecessary muscular effort.

• Improve balance and coordination — developing greater awareness of posture, alignment and movement.

• Reduce stress — combining gentle movement, breathing and attention to encourage relaxation and calm.

• Improve mobility and flexibility — exploring comfortable ranges of movement without forcing or straining.

• Develop body awareness — becoming more sensitive to how you move, breathe and respond to everyday life.

• Support emotional wellbeing — creating space to notice thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting to them.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is the relationship you develop with your own body.

Rather than constantly trying to correct or control it, Qigong invites you to listen, notice and create the conditions for your body's natural processes to work more effectively.

With regular practice, these principles can gradually become part of everyday life.

Helping you help yourself.

Yes, if you are injured, recovering or just less mobile, all of the exercises can be done sitting down.

No the sensitivity of your chi or energy will develop over time, there is no pressure to feel chi from the off. it may well show up as heat, tingling or some other feeling quicker than you expect though.