self-healing qigong faq
What is qigong?
Qigong emerges from Chinese ancestral practices. It involves breathwork, gentle movement, and can include visualization. There is substantial research pointing to the health benefits of this practice.
Jahnke, Roger, et al. "A comprehensive review of health benefits of qigong and tai chi." American journal of health promotion 24.6 (2010): e1-e25.
Johansson, Mattias, Peter Hassmén, and John Jouper. "Acute effects of Qigong exercise on mood and anxiety." (2011): 60.
Horowitz, Sala. "Evidence-based health benefits of qigong." Alternative and Complimentary Therapies 15.4 (2009): 178-183.
Sancier, Kenneth M., and Devatara Holman. "Commentary: Multifaceted health benefits of medical qigong." The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 10.1 (2004): 163-165.
Who is Self-Healing Qigong for?
Everyone. Self-Healing Qigong is a low-impact, gentle practice. It's accessible to people with mobility and endurance challenges. This class is trauma-informed and body-positive.
Is this a workout class?
No, it is more of a mindfulness class.
What exactly are we going to be doing?
First, we will gently warm up our bodies through stretching and tapping along the "meridians" (rivers of lifeforce energy) of the body.
Next, we will do specific breathing exercises to concentrate healing energy in our hands.
Then, we will practice movements paired with visualization to direct the healing energy through our bodies. We will also awaken specific "elixir fields" (energy centers). Through the practice, vital energy from the four directions joins with twenty-eight constellations, the North Star, the Moon, the five planets closest to the Sun, and the Big Dipper.
We will close with a guided visualization to integrate the experience and shield your energy.
Do I have to practice Daoism to do this?
Nope! These are not esoteric or secret practices, and you don't have to believe in them to feel better.
What results can I expect?
People usually say they feel lighter, more energized, and more connected after they practice.
How do I know if this would help me?
Self-Healing Qigong can help if you identify with any of the following statements:
I feel so burnt out.
I can't fall asleep at night.
I can't stay asleep.
I keep being woken up by nightmares.
I'm overwhelmed.
I feel so furious that I lash out at people I love.
I feel guilty about the ways I manage stress.
I can't calm down.
I feel disconnected from my higher purpose.
What is special about “self-healing” qigong?
Self-Healing Qigong focuses specifically on empowering people with tools to feel better wherever they are. These practices can carry you through a lifetime, with specific movements that you can choose from when you face different challenges.
There are so many mindfulness teachers doing stuff like this. Why should I buy this course when I can watch videos for free, or learn from someone else?
Camellia offers free meditations on Insight Timer to make these resources more accessible. If you are able to compensate Asian diaspora teachers for their labor, it is an important way to counter cultural appropriation.
Much of what is called "mindfulness" has historical roots in specific Asian traditions. Often decontextualized and commodified, these practices are profitable for businesses and individuals that often stay silent about anti-Asian bigotry and violence. Paying Asian practitioners is a way to honor the ancestors who preserved these modalities across millenia, and the living communities that still face structural racism.
Mindfulness teachers also may engage in spiritual bypassing and lack cultural competency. This course is trauma-informed, so it's a good fit for anyone who wants to heal with their feet on the ground: facing the realities of the world we live in.
Where does this practice come from?
Self-Healing Qigong comes from the Ni lineage tradition as passed down by Great Grandmaster Yo San Ni, Madame Yo San Ni, Hua-Ching Ni, and Drs. Mao-Shing Ni and Dao-Shing Ni.
The Ni family has dedicated dozens of generations to healing, and transmits their movement forms through the College of Tao and the Chi Health Institute. Camellia is certified by both to teach this modality.
Is this the same as neidan or taichi?
Neidan can be translated as inner work, while qigong is sometimes translated as work with lifeforce energy. The Ni lineage calls this modality qigong. If you have experience with neidan, you may experience similarities.
There are also similarities between qigong and tai chi. Both share similar health benefits as low-impact movement forms that promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Tai Chi forms may be longer and have less of an emphasis on visualization, internal awareness and the breath.