I can hear the question: "What is Qigong?"

We have some really special qigong insights to share! You may have noticed more qigong offerings becoming available around the Southeast in recent years. Qigong is the perfect antidote for our busy lives, chaotic news cycles, and constant overstimulation. Yet it’s still relatively new in the West, and many people who could benefit from this ancient art don’t yet know what it is. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that hardly anyone knew what yoga was!

Let’s start with the word itself. Qi (pronounced “chee”) translates to something like life-force or energy. Gong means cultivation or skill. Together, qigong means “to cultivate the life-force.” There are qigong exercises designed for many different purposes, but the intention behind the styles discussed here is to cultivate abundant health and vitality at every level of being. In fact, qigong is considered one of the five branches of Chinese medicine because of how effective it is as a health practice.

So, what does the practice actually look like? Imagine the balance and grace of Tai Chi, but without all the complex choreography. Movements in qigong may be done seated or lying down, but most commonly while standing. The practice uses relaxed, flowing motions along with gentle shifting of weight from leg to leg to create simple, repetitive patterns that are easy to follow. Breath is coordinated with movement (“inhale as the arms float up to the shoulders, exhale as they lower to the waist”), and visualizations may be used to deepen focus and add meaning. All of this together becomes a powerful moving meditation with profound benefits for the body, mind, and spirit.

People often report feeling calm, grounded, and invigorated after practicing qigong. And while its benefits go even deeper, it’s also simply enjoyable—fun, relaxing, and uplifting. A smile itself is medicine!

Whether you’re brand new to qigong or already familiar with it, this beautiful practice has endless layers to explore and countless ways to support your well-being.