No hall free?
Qi Gong works in the classroom, during a timetabled class, without moving anything.
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Qi Gong · say "chee gung"
What is Qi Gong?
Qi Gong is a Chinese practice of slow, flowing movement paired with steady breathing. It's closely related to tai chi, but simpler: short sets of movements you can follow from the first session, without a long sequence to memorise. It's done standing, or seated if you prefer, in whatever you're wearing.
What it does
The same benefits people come to yoga for
Side by side
Qi Gong and yoga
| Qi Gong | Yoga | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Standing or seated | Mostly on a mat, including the floor |
| Space | Any room, even between desks | A hall or studio |
| Clothing | Everyday; loose is ideal | Usually stretchy activewear |
| Equipment | None | Mats, sometimes props |
| Getting started | Follow along from minute one | Varies by style |
| Intensity | Gentle to moderate | Gentle to very strong |
When to choose it
Where Qi Gong works when yoga doesn't
Teenagers who'd rather not
No lying on the floor, no tight clothes, nothing to change into, and no awkward poses in front of classmates. For self-conscious students, that's the difference between joining in and sitting out.
People who'd never try yoga
Many men in particular will happily do Qi Gong standing in a shed or a function room when they'd never sign up for a "yoga class".
Limited mobility
Everything can be done from a chair, with no getting down to the floor or back up again.
Mixed groups
Everyone does the same movements at their own range, so no one stands out.
Five spare minutes
Five minutes at a desk is enough for a reset.
And when yoga is the better choice: for a stronger workout, deep stretching (Yin), or a playful class of young children, yoga is often the better fit. Kimberly teaches both, so the session can be built around your group.
The forms Kimberly teaches: Kimberly is certified with the Irish Health Qi Gong Association and teaches standardised "Health Qigong" sets:
- Ba Duan Jin (the Eight Pieces of Brocade): eight simple movements, practised for around 800 years.
- Wu Qin Xi (Five Animals Qigong): movements based on the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird.
- Ma Wang Dui (Mawangdui Daoyin): a flowing set based on 2,000-year-old exercise drawings found in a Han dynasty tomb.
Want to try it with your group?
Send Kimberly a message. She's happy to call in for a chat, or to run a taster session so you can see it first.