Qigong is the deepest root of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as traditional Chinese martial art.

Most forms of qigong originated from Daoist practices focused on cultivating and maintaining personal health. Included in those practices are exercises made up of postures, breathwork, and intention setting. People around the world train qigong for health, spiritual, and wellness benefits.

Qigong follows traditional Chinese medicine principles, which claim that qi flows through our bodies. People tend to feel their best when qi travels freely, but health problems can crop up if the energy becomes stagnant or blocked in a certain area of the body. Through simple poses and patterned breathwork, qigong is believed to remove obstacles to promote a healthy flow of qi. It may sound simple, but there’s a lot happening within the body and mind during a qigong practice.

For starters, the slow, gentle movements are believed to warm up your tendons, ligaments, and muscles; mobilize the joints; and promote the circulation of body fluids (like blood, synovial, and lymph). By tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system, qigong can help reduce stress and anxiety.