HEALTH QIGONG®
Traditional Chinese exercises for health and wellbeing
Health Qigong® is a system of traditional Chinese exercises combining movement, posture, breathing and focused attention.
Its principal purpose is to preserve and improve health. Regular practice supports mobility, flexibility, balance, coordination, posture and body awareness while helping to release physical tension and calm the mind.
Some forms use slow and graceful movements, while others include deeper stretching, stronger postures, controlled breathing or more dynamic exercises. This variety allows the practice to be adapted to different ages, abilities and levels of experience.
BODY, BREATH AND MIND WORKING TOGETHER
The word Qi can refer to breath, air or vital energy, while Gong means work, practice or cultivated skill.
Health Qigong brings the body, breathing and mind together. Movements are performed with attention and control, allowing the practitioner to develop greater awareness of posture, alignment, coordination and the internal sensations produced by the exercises.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, regular practice is intended to encourage the circulation of Qi and blood through the body’s meridians and to support balance between the body’s internal systems.
Different forms place particular emphasis on specific movements, breathing methods and areas of the body. Some focus more strongly on the muscles and tendons, while others emphasise the spine, joints, lungs, digestive system, internal organs or the general circulation of Qi.
AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED SYSTEM
The Health Qigong forms taught by Patrizia are part of the system promoted internationally by the International Health Qigong Federation.
The system draws upon the essential characteristics of ancient Chinese Qigong practices. It was developed through extensive research by experienced Qigong masters, Traditional Chinese Medicine professors, and medical and sports specialists from Chinese hospitals and universities.
The exercises were studied, organised and standardised to preserve their traditional principles while making them suitable for consistent teaching and practice throughout the modern world.
Their development is based upon traditional Chinese theories of Yin and Yang, harmony between body and mind, the functions of the internal organs and meridians, and the circulation of Qi and blood.
Patrizia has trained in and mastered ten different Health Qigong forms taught through this system. She is also a qualified Health Qigong referee, a title requiring detailed knowledge of the movements, principles and technical standards of each form.
This extensive training allows her to identify precise details, provide accurate corrections and select or adapt exercises according to each student’s health objectives, physical abilities, energy and experience.
HOW HEALTH QIGONG SUPPORTS THE BODY
- Muscles, tendons and joints
- Breathing and relaxation
- Meridians, Qi and internal organs
- Balance, coordination and body awareness
THE TEN HEALTH QIGONG® FORMS
Each Health Qigong form is the result of extensive research, testing and refinement by Qigong masters, Traditional Chinese Medicine professors, and medical and sports specialists.
Developing and standardising each form, compiling its detailed official manual and creating its accompanying music can take between one and two years. The manuals carefully document every movement, principle, breathing method and technical detail. Qualified Health Qigong instructors may use the official music when teaching and presenting these forms.
Eight Pieces of Brocade
Ba Duan Jin consists of eight elegant exercises combining stretching, posture, breathing and focused attention. It is one of the most accessible and widely practised Health Qigong forms.
The movements mobilise the whole body and are particularly helpful for developing flexibility, balance, coordination and postural awareness. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each exercise is also associated with particular meridians, organs and patterns of Qi circulation.
Muscle and Tendon Changing Classic
Yi Jin Jing consists of twelve movements characterised by stretching, flexing, twisting and extending the body, particularly the spine.
The form combines softness with controlled strength and works deeply with the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Regular practice develops flexibility, mobility, posture, coordination and whole-body strength while encouraging smoother breathing and focused concentration.
Five Animal Frolics
Wu Qin Xi is inspired by the movements and spirit of five animals: the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird.
Each animal develops different physical and mental qualities, including strength, stability, flexibility, agility, balance and grace. The form combines movement with imagination and expression, making it an engaging practice for coordination, body awareness and mental concentration.
Liu Zi Jue combines six specific sounds with controlled exhalation, gentle movement and focused attention.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each sound is associated with a particular internal organ or system: the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys and Sanjiao. The form places particular emphasis on breathing control, relaxation and the coordination of breath and movement.
Twelve Health-Preserving Exercises
This form brings together twelve exercises selected from the Daoyin Yangsheng Gong system. It combines stretching, opening and closing, twisting, balance, breathing and mental focus.
The complete form can be practised either standing or seated on a chair. The seated version adapts the same twelve exercises for people who cannot remain standing for long or who need to reduce the demands placed on the legs and lower back.
Both versions work throughout the body, with particular attention to the spine, joints, coordinated movement, breathing and body awareness.
Mawangdui Daoyin Exercises
This form is inspired by the ancient Daoyin Tu, a silk chart discovered in the Mawangdui tombs in China and depicting early health-preservation exercises.
Its twelve movements combine stretching, twisting, opening and closing with breathing and focused intention. Each exercise is traditionally connected with a particular meridian, creating a practice centred on mobility, coordination and the circulation of Qi throughout the body.
The Great Dance
Da Wu draws inspiration from ancient Chinese therapeutic dances. Its expressive movements include opening, closing, bending, extending, rotating and gently shaking the body.
The form mobilises many joints and encourages fluidity throughout the whole body. It is particularly interesting for developing coordination, flexibility, balance, body awareness and a freer, more expressive quality of movement.
Exercises for Improving the Eyes
Ming Mu Gong combines body movements, breathing, focused attention and techniques traditionally associated with supporting eye health.
The exercises also work with the neck, shoulders, posture and general circulation around the head and eyes. They can help relax visual tension and encourage better awareness of habits affecting the eyes, but they do not replace professional eye examinations or medical treatment.
Seated Twelve Pieces of Brocade
Shi Er Duan Jin is a seated Health Qigong form traditionally practised on a mat, using a combination of cross-legged and legs-extended positions.
It combines gentle movement, breathing, self-massage and focused attention while mobilising the head, neck, shoulders, spine, arms and legs.
The traditional floor-based form can also be adapted to a chair or bed for people with reduced mobility or those who find sitting on the floor difficult.
Taiji Health-Preservation Stick
This form uses a specially designed stick to guide stretching, spiralling, opening and closing movements.
The stick is not treated as a weapon. It helps guide the body, extend movement and develop coordination between the hands, eyes, breathing and whole-body movement. The form particularly works the wrists, shoulders, spine, balance and spatial awareness.