What Is Qigong?

A Gentle, Powerful Path to Healing, Energy, and Embodied Presence

Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient movement and meditation practice from China that has helped people heal, restore energy, and cultivate vitality for thousands of years. It’s gentle. It’s accessible. And when practiced with care and consistency – it works.

At its core, Qigong is about working with Qi – your life force, your inner energy – to create harmony in your body, mind, and spirit. The movements are often slow and intentional, paired with breath and awareness. They can be simple and still or flowing and dynamic. And they’re designed to support your nervous system, your emotional health, and your overall well-being.

A Healing Art for Modern Times

Millions of people around the world practice Qigong for one simple reason: it helps them feel better. It clears stress. It improves sleep. It strengthens balance, digestion, focus, and emotional resilience. It’s medicine – in motion.

Many of our students come to Qigong after trying so many other things. They’re tired, depleted, managing autoimmune conditions, burnout, or just sensing it’s time to slow down and come home to themselves. What they often discover is that Qigong isn’t just another wellness trend – it’s a foundational practice for building real, lasting energy.

Three Branches of Qigong

There are over 3,500 documented styles of Qigong – some deeply traditional and lineage-based, others more contemporary and adapted for modern life. Most fall into three primary categories:

Medical Qigong – focused on healing the body and restoring vitality
Martial Qigong – developed for strength, resilience, and physical power
Spiritual Qigong – a path of self-awareness, meditation, and inner clarity

At Great Energy, we’ve developed a unique, trauma-informed style of Healing Qigong that blends elements of medical and spiritual Qigong into an accessible, contemporary approach.

This isn’t a rigid or ancient school requiring years of memorization. It’s a living system – designed for modern bodies, Western nervous systems, and everyday lives. You don’t need any prior experience. And you don’t need to be physically flexible or spiritually fluent.

We focus on movement that restores, breath that regulates, and practices that are doable and deeply nourishing – even if you're dealing with fatigue, autoimmunity, emotional overwhelm, or stress.

What Are the Benefits of Qigong?

When practiced regularly, Qigong can offer profound benefits, including:

Nervous system regulation
Increased balance and mobility
Improved immune function
Reduced stress and anxiety
Support for chronic illness and fatigue
Emotional release and clarity
A deeper connection to your body and breath

Recent studies even show improvements in sleep, focus, gait, and quality of life across age groups – from college students to elders in their 90s.

What Is Qigong Meditation?

Qigong isn’t just about movement – it’s also a meditation practice. In Qigong meditation, you use breath, visualization, stillness, and intention to move Qi through the body’s energy channels (called meridians). There are two primary types:

Active Qigong – movement-based, to build energy and vitality (yang)
Passive Qigong – still and internal, to calm and nourish (yin)

Both forms are incredibly supportive. And both can be done by anyone – no matter your age, body type, or experience level.

Qigong vs. Tai Chi and Yoga

People often ask, “How is Qigong different from Tai Chi or Yoga?”

Qigong vs. Tai Chi: Tai Chi involves longer, more choreographed sequences and martial applications. Qigong is simpler, more adaptable, and more focused on energy cultivation and healing.
Qigong vs. Yoga: Yoga comes from the Ayurvedic tradition, while Qigong is rooted in Chinese Medicine. Both use breath, movement, and awareness – but Qigong tends to be gentler, more circular, and often easier for those healing from injury, illness, or fatigue.

Getting Started

You don’t need fancy clothes or equipment to begin Qigong. Just wear something comfortable and find a quiet space. Many people start with short practices – 5 to 15 minutes a day – and notice a real shift in how they feel. Over time, that consistent care adds up.

You can learn from a teacher, in a class, or through online courses like ours. What matters most is showing up, listening to your body, and allowing your energy to move.