Restorative Qigong with Dr Steve

18/09/2025

So what do I mean by “Restorative Qigong”?

My previous posts emphasize that Qigong is a complementary therapy for various health conditions. Whilst this is true, and indeed one of my focusses is management of chronic health conditions and illness/injury rehab, Qigong is also an excellent preventative health practice with many general health and wellbeing benefits.
It's a way to replenish and revitalize the body's energy, often used for overall health optimization.

Restorative Qigong is ideal for those feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or stressed by life, battling chronic disease and for those wishing to develop a deeper calmness amid life's busyness.

Key aspects of Restorative Qigong:
🌿 Gentle and slow movements:
Restorative Qigong focuses on deliberate, slow movements that allow for deep relaxation and release of tension in the body.
🌿 Abdominal breathing:
Deep, conscious breathing, particularly abdominal breathing, is a core component, helping to calm the nervous system and promote relaxation.
🌿 Mindful awareness:
Practitioners cultivate a state of mindful awareness, paying attention to the body, breath, and sensations, which helps to reduce mental chatter and promote a sense of presence.
🌿 Releasing tension:
The practice aims to release physical, mental, and emotional tension, allowing the body's natural energy (Qi) to flow freely.
🌿 Restorative benefits:
It is often used to support recovery from illness or injury, manage stress, and improve overall well-being.
🌿 Accessibility (who can practice):
Restorative Qigong is generally considered accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities. It can be adapted to suit individual needs and limitations, making it a versatile practice for anyone seeking to improve their health and wellbeing.

15/09/2025

👂🧠I have a special interest in helping people, like myself, with vestibular system dysfunction and now offer qigong-based integrative health services directly targeted towards people with chronic dizziness and vestibular disorders.

👨‍💼This includes education on the vestibular system and how it interacts with the brain and body, under normal conditions and under states of stress, fear and poor function.
🧘Various mind/body practices are incorporated and taught to help with daily coping, improvement of symptoms and to create an environment that supports healing.

🤔Why is this important?

There is growing evidence that chronic stress and inflammation have a major negative effect on function of the vestibular system and the ability for the brain to cope, and I have come to learn and appreciate, both through my own journey and that of others, that efforts at vestibular rehabilitation are severely compromised if stress, fear, emotional state, etc.. is not addressed simultaneously.
Interventions to reduce stress, inflammation, a hyper-aroused nervous system need to go hand in hand with psychological and physiotherapeutic strategies to effectively treat/manage these disorders. Tai chi/qigong is a very effective practice to address this.
(see flyer in comments for related benefits).

📞Get in touch if you would like more information.

Steve 👋

19/08/2025

I've mentioned previously that this integrative mind-body health service can be effective for health promotion/longevity as well as management and rehabilitation of a range of health conditions.

🧐But what is unique about my approach??

It stems from a combination of experience in western science/medicine (particularly immunology and neurobiology), Eastern philosophy/healing arts (Daoism, Qigong, martial arts) and personal lived experience of chronic illness.

My specialty is using psychoneuroimmunology principles (cutting edge science of mind-body medicine) together with Qigong practice (a comprehensive mind-body practice), with a particular focus on managing chronic stress and inflammation to restore balance and harmony in our mind and body systems.

🧠So what is psychoneuroimmunology???

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) examines the intricate connections between the mind (psycho), the nervous system (neuro), and the immune system (immunology). It explores how psychological processes, such as stress, emotions, and social factors, influence the nervous and immune systems, and how these systems, in turn, affect behaviour and health.

Put simply, our modern, fast-paced lifestyle, thoughts/beliefs and behaviours leads to a chronic stress state and nervous system dysfunction, creating an imbalance in immune system function and susceptibility to infection and chronic inflammatory diseases. Unresolved chronic inflammation in the body can also then directly affect our brain and mental health, leading to mood disorders, etc..

🧘I will explain more about Restorative Qigong in a future post, but here is a diagram of the core components of this practice, which makes it ideal as a comprehensive mind-body practice to address chronic stress/inflammation (key point here is that it is much, much more than just gentle movement!) 😊

13/08/2025

🌿Here is a brief summary of some of the proven health benefits of Qigong and conditions where there is evidence for its effectiveness🌿
(A more detailed table is available for those interested)
________________________________________
1️⃣ Balance Disorders & Fall Prevention
🌀 Examples: Age-related decline, vestibular disorders, Parkinson’s
💚 Benefits: Better balance & stability, fewer falls
🔍 How: Improves proprioception & leg strength, vestibular challenge

2️⃣ Pain & Joint Health (Musculoskeletal)
🌀 Examples: Osteoarthritis, back & neck pain
💚 Benefits: Less pain, more mobility, better posture
🔍 How: Gentle movement lubricates joints, eases stiffness

3️⃣ Heart & Circulation (Cardiovascular)
🌀 Examples: High BP, heart disease, stroke recovery
💚 Benefits: Lower BP and HR, improved endurance
🔍 How: Calms nervous system & boosts circulation

4️⃣ Lungs & Breathing (Respiratory)
🌀 Examples: Asthma, COPD
💚 Benefits: Stronger lung capacity, easier breathing
🔍 How: Deep breathing strengthens respiratory muscles & gas exchange

5️⃣ Gut & Digestion (Gastrointestinal)
🌀 Examples: IBS, IBD
💚 Benefits: Less discomfort, better digestion
🔍 How: Stimulates vagus nerve, reduces stress

6️⃣ Blood Sugar & Weight (Metabolic)
🌀 Examples: Type 2 diabetes, obesity
💚 Benefits: Better glucose control, healthy metabolism, weight control
🔍 How: Improves insulin sensitivity, lowers stress hormones

7️⃣ Mind & Mood (Mental Health)
🌀 Examples: Anxiety, depression, PTSD
💚 Benefits: Calmer mind, better mood, builds emotional resilience,
🔍 How: Boosts “feel-good” chemicals, reduces stress, emotional regulation

8️⃣ Cancer Support
🌀 Examples: Fatigue, recovery, pain
💚 Benefits: More energy, better quality of life, reduced pain/symptoms
🔍 How: Gentle exercise + mindfulness to reduce pain/boost vitality. Increased immune function, maintain muscle mass

9️⃣ Brain & Nerves (Neurological)
🌀 Examples: Stroke recovery, cognitive decline, Parkinson’s
💚 Benefits: Sharper mind, better coordination & movement
🔍 How: Encourages neuroplasticity & balance/brain training

🔟 Immune & Autoimmune
🌀 Examples: Lupus, MS, arthritis, IBD
💚 Benefits: Less inflammation/pain, more mobility
🔍 How: Lowers stress & supports immune balance

1️⃣1️⃣ Sleep Support
🌀 Examples: Insomnia, sleep apnea
💚 Benefits: Deeper, more restful sleep
🔍 How: Breath work + relaxation improve sleep onset & duration

1️⃣2️⃣Other Chronic Conditions
🌀 Examples: Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS), Fibromyalgia
💚 Benefits: More energy, less pain
🔍 How: Calms overactive stress response, gentle exercise.

Send a message to learn more

13/08/2025

Hi all! 👋
As my practice has evolved I’ve felt the need to correspondingly update the scope and direction of my services going forward. So, I’ve been doing some ‘rebranding’ to reflect these changes!

My renewed purpose going forward is to provide integrative health and lifestyle education/coaching with guided mind/body practices for promoting health and for management/healing/rehabilitation or chronic physical and mental health conditions.

My core practice is still very much centered around Qigong, as I am a firm believer (based on evidence and personal experience) that this ancient healing art offers a comprehensive and holistic mind/body practice. The nature-inspired influence also remains in collaborative nature-based therapy work with Peta Jay at Nature ZEN. 🌿

My integrative health approach largely revolves around applying the concepts/principles of the cutting-edge, evidence-based science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) (see related posts on this) as a framework to guide Qigong-based mind/body practices together with lifestyle/wellness orientated support.

This unique integration of PNI principles (the mind/body science and education) with Qigong practice (the holistic therapy model) very closely aligns with my western-based science/medicine expertise and Eastern holistic healing training, and provides an evidence-based and directed strategy for providing unique integrated health interventions to support disease management and healing.

The goal is to provide a person-centered holistic approach that creates an internal healing environment to reduce the impact of chronic stress and inflammation on disease development and progression. These integrative methods will often be offered in cooperation with clinical and allied health support.

🙋‍♂️Services will be provided as both individualized programs, as well as group sessions - both in person (Brisbane Southside) and online.

📞Feel free to contact me via messaging this page, email or phone to discuss how I might be able to support you and provide more details.

(💥I will provide related posts on 1. Conditions where these practices have shown to be effective; 2. How Qigong provides the related benefits; 3. The mind/body components of a comprehensive Qigong practice💥)

06/07/2025

🌿 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT-
NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAM LAUNCH — We are thrilled to officially launch Trail Talk & Walk - our brand new nature-based wellbeing experience for our local community!

🍃 Trail Talk & Walk is a community wellbeing program that brings people together for gentle, guided walks in nature — creating space to slow down, reconnect, and explore mental health topics in a relaxed, supportive environment.

🍃 It is a fresh evidence-informed initiative that is more than just a walk. Each 90 minute event includes:

✅ Walk - A slow-paced nature trail guided by Peta Jay, a certified nature-based therapist & mindfulness educator.

✅ Talk - A talk (20-30 minutes) delivered by a Guest speaker sharing their expert practical insights on a relevant topic such as mental health, resilience, mindfulness and other holistic & complementary wellbeing tools.

☕ Connect - Community conversation and connection over a cup of tea and treat with other participants & facilitators.

Whether you’re feeling burnt out, isolated, or simply need a nervous system reset, this program offers a different path to wellbeing, rooted in nature and community.

It’s inclusive, accessible and open to everyone including those referred through social prescribing.

Come as you are. Leave lighter, calmer and more connected.

💬 What People Say:
🍂 “It felt so good to unplug & recharge naturally and breathe in the fresh air. Loved the mindfulness”
🍂 “I haven’t had a sleep like that in years, my mind feels so clear and I have more energy”
🍂 “I learnt some actual techniques that I can now use to reduce stress in my daily life - thank you”

We welcome you all to be part of something refreshing. Events will be posted on our socials, and tickets can be purchased for an introductory offer $25 through Humanitix. Small group/limited tickets so best secure these quickly.

We’d love to walk alongside you
Nature Zen 🍃

30/05/2025

The secret of happiness is not to be found in seeking more but in developing the capacity to enjoy less - Socrates

27/04/2025

🍃Happy World Tai Chi and Qigong Day (yesterday!)🍃

🍁A message today to take time for ourselves🍁
"Create the space for stillness and allow yourself to feel and heal."

🍂As we progress through Autumn and watch as nature quietens and slows down around us, let us be reminded of the importance of regularly taking time to slow down ourselves; to recharge, regroup, reflect and just 'be'.
🍂How many of us think our worth is measured by the 'doing'…all the accolades, accomplishments, achievements, completed tasks? 🍂How our default answer to “How are you?”… is “Busy!”, as if any other possibility won’t cut it. We feel good about ourselves, at least for a while. But then we grow tired and lonely. We feel the strain on our health, relationships, our spiritual lives. And we become miserable to be around.
🍂It is difficult to hear these words. I get it! We live in an increasingly fast-paced, non-stop world with never ending demands on us. But how much of this is actually self-inflicted?
🍂We forget, or don’t realize, how much we are conditioned by society to live and act this way. We forget we have choices!
🍂To deal with the symptoms of my chronic condition, I need to be (should be) taking a lot of moments to rest – mentally and physically. And yet after all these years, I still feel the pressure to be constantly doing stuff, making a contribution, being useful, even maximizing my potential. And you know what… this is all self-talk! 🍂Again, a consequence of our conditioning and beliefs.
🍂We are also fearful of slowing down, as this would mean acknowledging the past, facing our pain and feeling everything fully.

🍁So, with the presence of Autumn being felt, I invite you to slow down (NOT stop…don’t ever stop!), rediscover the joy, peace and contentment in rest and renewal. Give yourself that moment to let go. And remember that the world will keep spinning without you. 💚

04/04/2025

Please come along to this FREE event if you would like a 'taster' of what's to come with my Qigong class offerings.
If you cannot get there or not in the local area, contact me if you are interested in classes (in person or online; individual or group) and I will update you when sessions become available. Thanks 😊

Send a message to learn more

30/09/2024

A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age - Australian newspapers, that captures a critical transition point in my life story...

What happens when science can’t offer a solution or a cure? The story of how one researcher took things into his own hands.

27/09/2024

Is life a struggle?
Are you stuck in a cycle of resistance?
I use the analogy of struggling upstream against a flowing river...

🐟We resist the natural flow of life to try and stay the same, to avoid change.
🐟It is exhausting work to resist the flow, as life is in constant flux (the river keeps flowing!).
🐟It might be ok when the 'river' is flowing gently (i.e. like is going smoothly), but is hard going when the current increases (life gets more difficult).

So what can we do??...

🐬Let go and release the resistance/struggle/fight against life and go WITH the flow.
🐬Have the courage to head towards the unknown, and the faith that it will lead to good things.
🐬There you will find peace.

Mantra -> Accept... Let go... Let be 🍃

"True strength lies not in holding on, but in knowing when to let go. Life's beauty is found in accepting change, embracing growth, and trusting that what's meant for you will find it's way." Mariam Meriam

25/09/2024

A lovely bee-inspired mindfulness gift, from the one and only Queen B 🐝🙏