Qi and Gong

Hello there! I'm back with a brand new Qigong Flow to help soak up the last bit of Earthy goodness from this lovely extended Late Summer. This sequence is just over 20 minutes long and there's an opportunity for a nice lie down at the end, so make sure you have enough space and a comfortable surface to lie on. We start out from the neutral 'reset' Wuji stance before playing with the polarities of Yin (Earth) and Yang (Heaven) before setting down into a combination of static postures and movements to build and regenerate our Yin and the organ system of spleen, stomach and pancreas. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know how you get on in the comments and I will post a longer version soon for those who like a longer practice. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie. I also have some new Zoom classes starting this Autumn, please visit www.qiandgong.com for more info. Thanks for watching and practicing with me!

Hello! How are you all doing? It's still cold & wintry (here in the UK) but that Spring Yang is rising and it's quite common to feel a little more angry and frustrated than usual! This very quick and easy 5-minute sequence will help channel this nascent Wood energy as it starts to build in our system. These movements will help process strong emotions and soothe the Liver Qi. I hope it's of some help, let me know in the comments. :) Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practicing with me!

Hello there! To celebrate International Women's Day 2023 this week on the 8th March, here's a 25-minute easy qigong flow specially designed for women's health. At the root of our health and energy levels, we have the kidneys and reproductive system so I've included some moves to really build energy in the lower energy centre before gently allowing this nourished qi to move up into the middle dantien / heart centre/breasts. We start with a little warm-up shake and bounce and grow the energy at the centre of the body by working with our Qi ball and turning it over at the lower dantien. We then do an earth / yin-focused Zhan Zhuang to further nourish energy within the reproductive system and continue with these themes by tuning into energy awareness around our belt/girdle meridian which nourishes the uterus as well as the organs around the mid-section of the body. Whether you are pre or post-menopause, have or have not had children, or have had a hysterectomy or oophorectomy, we focus on nourishing energy within the reproductive system and its energetic imprint as this has a direct correlation to our health, longevity and energy levels. After focusing on the lower body we gently nourish the heart centre and clear stagnant energy from the breasts then unite our middle dantien with the energy of earth and heaven. We close with a lovely sequence, Sweeping the Energy Centres, which is like a spring clean for the system. Starting with the pelvic floor/root chakra - all the way up to the Crown chakra / Bai hui and then the Gallbladder channel. Let me know how you get on in the comments and whether you would like to see more Qigong for women! For all the lovely male viewers - you can still do this sequence and focus on building energy in your lower dantien with hands central rather than over the Ovarian palace ;) And go gently when moving the energy up to the heart centre. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Welcome to a special Valentines themed, heart-centred Qigong practice to help us clear blocked energy and nourish the ruler of the body. We start with the vocalised healing sound for the heart to help connect and feel the resonance in & around the organ. We then activate our Lao gong points (and pericardium point) in the palms and connect them, while we do a gentle warm-up called Qi Wave. Then we try Zhan Zhuang position, Standing like a Tree which has more of a focus on nourishing and transforming heart energy at the middle Dantien. After building our energy, we use the palms in a whole-body energy massage and try a movement from the 12 Rivers sequence called 'Wild Goose Beats its Wings' which activates the heart meridian and massages the muscles around the heart. Then we focus on the pericardium with 'Turning and Gazing' also from 12 Rivers before trying the whispered healing sounds for the Heart and the Triple Burner designed to release stuck emotions. I hope you enjoy it! There will be another one very soon. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Welcome to part 2 of this seasonal Qigong sequence to help us transition from the cool, heavy energy of Winter into the lighter, warmer energy of Spring! We begin by warming and opening the joints and a sequence for practicing balance with Dragonfly touches the Pond and nourish our kidney energy with another variation on Swimming Dragon. We move deeper into the Wood element, activating our Liver meridian with Reverse the River, Flip the Sea work a little more on the liver and gallbladder with Spirit Dragon. I hope you enjoy it! There will be another one very soon. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Firstly, happy Lunar New Year to you all! And welcome to this new, seasonal Qigong sequence to help us transition from the cool, heavy energy of Winter into the lighter, warmer energy of Spring! We begin by harnessing the energy of the kidneys / reproductive system and activate our 'bio-battery' then spend a bit of time, warming and opening the hips. We move deeper into the Water element and build leg strength with the lovely, undulating 'Move the Body like a River' followed by some wide stance 'Swimming Dragon' moves to open up the body and work with the watery energy of the kidneys, bladder and bones. Then we go a little more Yang, with some Tiger and Dragon claw exercises to activate our Liver / Gallbladder energy before calming that newly sprouting Wood with some gentle healing sounds for the liver and Push the Energy Six Ways to soothe this nascent, rising Yang. I hope you enjoy it! There will be another one very soon. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Welcome to the longer 35 minute version of my cold weather series! Keep warm in these chilly temperatures by using our internal energy, our Qi to generate heat from the inside out. First we try some breathing exercises to help magnify our inner fire and move it up and around the body. Then we push this energy out into the body, circulate it and refine it with some dynamic Iron Shirt practices. You should feel nice and warm after this, but it's also great for strength, body conditioning, resilience immunity, and breath capacity. Then we invigorate the spine to allow our Qi to move freely up the spine and use breath and movement to build heat in the centre of the body and push it out through the system. We try kidney packing to nourish energy in our internal battery and water element. We touch on some Wood element practice with Tiger bends then move into Fire with Dragon play, open the chest and massage the heart and pericardium and generate our internal heat. We close with a cooling sequence to help soothe the energy after raising the heat. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! As we take this week to take stock of the year that was and the year ahead, you may like many of us focus on new routines to help you feel less stressed and more energised in 2023. So this is the perfect time to let you know I am launching my first ever Zoom class in January 2023 and I’m offering a January Sale 20% discount off class bundles. The classes are Friday morning 9am GMT/ UTC and Monday 5pm GMT/ UTC which for those of you in the US is 9am PST and 12 noon EST😃 They are 50 minutes long and require no prior experience, they are designed for newcomers and seasoned practitioners alike. All you need is comfy attire and something to sit on for the seated practices. Please message me if you would like any further info and do take advantage of this special offer before it finishes at the beginning of January! Booking is available through my website qiandgong.com/classes or just DM me on here🙏🏼I look forward to practising with you in the New Year and making 2023 the healthiest, happiest Qi filled year yet! 💫

Merry Christmas! I'm taking a few days off over Christmas but wanted to share this quick and easy Qi Boost with you, working with the amazing power of nature. I hope you enjoy this sequence. Hopefully you're able to get out into nature during the Festive season and give it a go. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

This is a simple 15 minute flow for Winter Solstice. This time of year is an especially magical and still moment in the natural cycle of life in the Northern Hemisphere and is the perfect time to practise gentle and mindful movement honouring the energies of Heaven and Earth. I hope you enjoy this flow and wish you all a wonderful festive season. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Welcome to part two of my cold weather series! Keep warm in these chilly temperatures by using our internal energy, our Qi to generate heat from the inside out. We start out by invigorating the spine to allow our Qi to move freely up the spine and use breath and movement to build heat in the centre of the body and push it out through the system. We try kidney packing to nourish energy in our internal battery and water element. We touch on some Wood element practice with Tiger bends then move into Fire with Dragon play, open the chest and massage the heart and pericardium and generate our internal heat. We close with a cooling sequence to help soothe the energy after raising the heat. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Welcome to part one of my cold weather series! With the temperatures dropping we're all trying to keep warm without putting the heating on and what better way to use our internal energy, Qi to generate heat from the inside out. We try some breathing exercises to help magnify our inner fire and move it up and around the body. Then we push this energy out into the body, circulate it and refine it with some dynamic Iron Shirt practises. You should feel nice and warm after this, but it's also great for strength, body conditioning, resilience immunity, and breath capacity. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's part 3 of my introduction to Winter Qigong for the Water element, focusing on nourishing our kidney energy. In this 20-minute flow we nourish the kidneys with kidney breathing and tuning into our internal energy by Turning the Water Wheel. We stimulate our kidney meridian and bladder channel with some Animal Snake Play and some movements from Wuji Hundun series to clear the energy field, restore energy to the body and draw energy into the Dan Tien. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's part 2 of my introduction to Winter Qigong for the Water element, focusing on nourishing our kidney and bladder energy. In this 20-minute flow we stimulate our kidney meridian with some bouncing, activate the Microcosmic orbit with Crane neck / Turtle neck, and build strength in the bladder with Black Tiger Straightens its Waist from the 12 Rivers. Also from the 12 Rivers (and 8 Brocades) we work a little more with the kidneys in Riding a Horse, Shooting a Bow and Arrow. and from the 18 moves of Wuji Hundun, we try 'Kūn' giving our kidneys an internal massage and building flexibility in the spine. We try another flowing Wuji Hundun sequence and energy field cleanser 'Jian' using the sword fingers Qi lock (mudra) then warm ourselves us focusing on fire and the pericardium with Tūo (Snake arms.) We conclude by moving through the whispered healing sound for the Kidneys 'Chooo' to help release fear and make room for peace and tranquility. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's a short intro to Qigong for the winter season and the Water element, focusing on nourishing our kidney energy. We try some Snake play and some Swimming Dragon, giving our kidneys an internal massage and building strength and flexibility in the spine. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

I hope you enjoy this half hour Qigong session working on the channeling the Wood element to improve our liver (and gallbladder!) We do a little acupressure to stimulate the liver meridian and try a couple of exercises from the 12 Rivers which stimulate both the liver and gallbladder meridian and organs. We also do a couple of forms designed to clear Liver Qi stagnation combining them with healing sounds. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Another 30 minute flow for starting your day and based around the Waking the Qi sequence which starts out on the floor - so you may want something under your knees. You can also do this seated if that's preferable. We use breath, movement and tapping to stimulate the Kidney energy - a key part of activating your morning energy burst and then work this energy up the channels of the body and back down again so that we begin our day energised and calm. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's another longer Qigong flow to help you release stuck energy, build Qi and increase resilience in the body. Suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners alike. We focus on the seasonal Metal element with some Crane Animal Play and another held posture Great Rock Spreads its Wings to help flush out the lung meridian. We then try some Tuo (Snake Arms) from the Wuji Hundun series and wash away the metal with some Watery Swimming Dragon. I hope you enjoy this longer class format. I'll be doing some shorter ones soon also. Let me know how you get on in the comments and pop any questions in there too. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's another longer Qigong flow to help you build Qi and increase resilience in the body. Suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners alike. We start with the wonderfully restorative practice of Bone Breathing - infusing the skeletal system with fresh energy. Then we use tapping and breathwork to activate and feel our energy. We centre and align our body, harmonising yin and yang the tune into each of the 5 elements with a gentle flowing 5 waves sequence, then build inner strength and try a whole body workout with some Rising Phoenix. I hope you enjoy this longer class format. I'll be doing some shorter ones soon also. Let me know how you get on in the comments and pop any questions in there too. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's another longer Qigong flow to help you build Qi and increase resilience in the body. Suitable for beginners or experienced practitioners alike. We start by focusing on our breath and breathing with the whole body. Then we warm up with shaking, hydrate the joints with fresh energy and spread Qi throughout the fascial network, building energy awareness in the hands with the Qi Wave. We try a few minutes of standing meditation, Zhan Zhuang, building strength in the muscles, tendons and ligaments and replenish our organs and tissue with abundant, flowing energy. To close we spend some time tuning in to the Metal element, lungs and respiratory health with Dragon Clears a Path from the 12 Rivers sequence. I hope you enjoy the longer class structured practice. Let me know how you get on in the comments and pop any questions in there too. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practising with me!

Here's a 40-minute Qigong class suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. We focus on diaphragmatic breath, gently warming and opening the fascia and joints, and some moves to energise the spine and move Qi (energy) up and down the back. Working on increasing mobility and strength in the spine we continue with a little fire element work, opening and stretching the chest and pericardium. Then working with the metal element, we move and stretch the area around the large intestine, opening the lower back and building strength in the upper arms, legs, and glutes. We conclude with a short, standing meditation in which we practice breathing with the whole body. I hope you enjoy the longer class structured practice. Let me know how you get on in the comments and pop any questions in there too. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practicing with me!

Here’s a special flow designed for Equinox, a magical time of year when day and night reach equilibrium, and in the Northern Hemisphere the warm, yang of Summer gives way to the cool, yin of Autumn. After the expansive fire and grounding earth energy of Summer the focus now shifts more to the sharper, clearer metal element themes of letting go and cutting away what we no longer need. This flow is also good for Spring Equinox (for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere!) because we harmonise the yin and yang elements of the body and play with the different ways these forces interact as we move through the world. This of course leads us to centre our energy making this a great practice to help calm the nervous system. This sequence also features some exercises where we balance on one leg, so feel free to use the back of a chair or wall to steady yourself while you practice. We’re now realising how important the ability to balance is, particularly as we age and from our forties onwards our balance declines because of shrinking muscle mass and sensory degradation. But don’t worry, we can slow that down and even reverse it with Qigong! Spending a little time focusing on rebuilding that strength and training our eyes, ears, and neural pathways to balance is really good for overall health, physical agility, and longevity. We also try a little more Animal Play with some Crane moves. Due to its Shamanistic origins, pre-Daoism or Buddhism, Qigong animal postures and movements invite us to channel the spirit of the animal. So with Crane, our totem for Autumn’s Metal season, we find balance, clarity, perspective, and discernment as we let go and rise above what no longer serves, aspiring to lightness and elegance. Let me know how you get on in the comments and pop any questions in there too. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie Thanks for watching and practicing with me!

A 20-minute sequence focusing on the Metal element and the lungs. This is a flow to gently introduce us to the Metal element. It’s ideal for those of us in the Northern hemisphere as we move into Autumn / Fall but also for those who wish to focus on strengthening the lungs and increasing the breath capacity at any time of year. We work on the lungs, the lung meridians, and the breath. We also look at the emotional theme of letting go of what no longer serves us, which is also a seasonal motif as we notice the first signs of blooms dying off and the leaves starting to drop. But cleansing and releasing is something we need to regularly dip into whatever the time of year so I hope you enjoy this sequence and find it useful. If you enjoy the healing sound within the sequence do check out my Qi gong healing sounds video which explains this emotional release technique in more detail. I am also thinking of doing 40/45 minute flows - a bit more like a recorded class, so do please let me know if you would like any of these longer sequences in the future. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, I appreciate you watching and practicing with me. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie

A 30 minute flow drawing up the last rich earth energies of Late Summer as we approach the sharper, cooler Metal of Autumn. Featuring some exercises from the Wuji Hundun sequence, we use the lao gong points on the palms of the hands to feel and absorb yin energy from the earth and draw it up into the body, nourishing the stomach and spleen. We play with energy between the hands to open and close our energy centres (dan tien.) We observe the energy flow in a 'Qi wave' formation noticing the yin and yang moments of the cycle as we approach the time of year when those energies start to reach equilibrium at Autumn equinox. Spending some time in a standing meditation we grow roots into the earth to draw up the cool, refreshing yin energy to soothe and hydrate our system after the firey heat and heavy earth of summer. As the earth yields its precious metal, we shift our focus into one of the metal organs, the lungs, stimulating the meridians with some acupressure and movements to open up and expand the lung capacity. Using our breath to cleanse the system we look towards the Autumn / Fall themes of letting go and releasing anything which no longer serves. I hope you enjoy this longer flow, let me know how you get on in the comments, and thank you for taking the time to watch and practice along with me. Don't forget to come and say hi on Instagram @qi_and_gong & if you like, you can also buy me a coffee here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/QiGongMaggie