Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC)

12/14/2025

Time and Focus: The Foundations of Qigong

Qigong is often admired for its graceful movements and philosophical depth, but its true transformative effect only happens with dedicated practice.

In this video, Dr. Jahnke emphasizes two key foundations of Qigong: time and focus. Setting aside time for practice is essential, but even more important is the commitment to continue when practicing alone.

When both time and focus are present, Qigong's deeper principles, such as aligning body, breath, and mind with the natural forces of heaven and earth, can take effect.

Discover how to awaken your inner healing energy to support your health, peace of mind, and overall well-being with the Healer Within Medical Qigong Video Program. Click here to learn more: http://iiqtc.org/mqlibrary

12/13/2025

Qigong Practice: Gathering Qi from Earth and Boundless Heaven

Unlock the power of grounding and expansion through this mindful Qigong moment. This guided sequence invites you to gather energy from the earth and the sky, blending yin and yang to nourish your body, mind, and spirit. As you draw these "precious resources" into your torso, you enhance your vitality at every level of the three treasures.

Follow along with Dr. Roger Jahnke and feel the grounding, balancing, and softening effects of this simple yet powerful Qigong sequence.

Get amazing results with gentle fitness, Qigong, breath practices and healing self-massage. Click here to access your free membership: http://iiqtc.org/free

12/12/2025

Qigong for Grief, Stress Relief & Emotional Healing

What happens when we finally give our grief space—through breath, movement, and awareness?

🎥 In this episode of How Qigong and Tai Chi Changed My Life, Susan Axelrod sits down with healer and senior Integral Qigong & Tai Chi trainer Linda Anne Goulet, whose path weaves ancient practices with modern emotional wellness: https://youtu.be/Zd0Sc4u-5jA

Together, they explore:

• Why Qigong became her "game changer"
• Breath medicine + the lung–grief connection
• How organ massage and Qigong baskets support emotional release
• The role of Qigong in grief processing
• How Linda Anne supports people as an end-of-life doula
• and more...

Linda also shares how she guides others through emotional transitions, including her powerful Meeting Grief workshops that blend movement, breath, ritual, and compassionate witnessing.

Click here to watch: https://youtu.be/Zd0Sc4u-5jA

In this episode of How Qigong and Tai Chi Changed My Life, Susan Axelrod sits down with healer and senior Integral Qigong & Tai Chi trainer Linda Anne Goulet...

12/11/2025

How Tai Chi & Qigong Could Boost Brain Power

This one might surprise you — because it turns out moving slowly might be one of the smartest things you can do for your brain.

A new meta-analysis just found that traditional Chinese exercises like Tai Chi and Qigong significantly increase BDNF — a key protein often described as "Miracle-Gro for your brain." BDNF helps grow new neurons, repair old ones, and supports sharper memory, learning, and long-term cognitive health.

And the best part?

These benefits were seen in healthy adults over 45 — meaning it's not just about recovery… it's about prevention and brain optimization.

💡 According to the research, traditional Chinese exercises can help:

• Improve working memory & executive function
• Reduce inflammation linked to cognitive decline
• Boost mood and sleep (both essential for memory and BDNF)
• Support neuroplasticity — your brain's ability to adapt and stay sharp

Read more: https://superage.com/this-slow-movement-grows-new-neurons-and-repairs-old-ones/

Ready to support your brain the gentle way?

Explore guided videos, wellness resources, and teachings from Dr. Roger Jahnke—all designed to help you start or deepen your Qigong and Tai Chi practice: http://iiqtc.org/mqlibrary

12/10/2025

Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Certification (In-Person Training on April 5–10, 2026)

What if there was a simple, proven way to bring more calm, balance, and vitality into your life — and share it with others?

Join IIQTC senior trainers Brian Trzaskos and Audra Mace for the in-person Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Certification in Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts on April 5–10, 2026. Learn more: https://kripalu.org/experiences/tai-chi-easy-practice-leader-certification-0?sku=18438953

Tai Chi Easy™ was developed by Dr. Roger Jahnke, the author of The Healer Within and disseminated widely by the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC). In this Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Certification, you'll master the gentle yet powerful Tai Chi Easy™ method designed for all ages and fitness levels.

In this program, you will learn:

• Gentle movements: Learn simplified forms that promote healing, balance, flexibility, and relaxation.
• Breathing techniques: Discover how to synchronize your breath with movement to enhance energy flow and calm the mind.
• Mindfulness and meditation: Experience the meditative aspect of tai chi, helping you cultivate inner peace and presence.
• Self-applied massage: Enhance circulation and promote overall well-being by soothing muscles and relieving tension.

Secure your place today and start your journey as a Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader: https://kripalu.org/experiences/tai-chi-easy-practice-leader-certification-0?sku=18438953

12/09/2025

Evidence that Qigong can help with stress relief

There is a lot of emerging evidence from scientific studies about the role Qigong can play in alleviating stress. The review paper "Managing stress and anxiety through qigong exercise in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials" reinforces this characteristic of Qigong in our bodies.

The study says: "Researchers have speculated that breath regulation and structured body movements during qigong exercise result in long and deep diaphragmatic and rhythmic breathing that could affect the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, stabilize mood, and restore the homeostatic state by enhancing cardiac output, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide exhalation, and plasticity of the ANS (autonomic nervous system).

Researchers have also proposed three psychobiological pathways (monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and brain-derived neurotropic factors) to explain qigong exercise's effects on stress and depression."

While scientists dive deeper into research on this ancient healing modality, we all can enjoy the benefits of Qigong, now, through practice.

You can take advantage of the benefits of Qigong with guidance from expert teachers like Dr. Roger Jahnke — one of the most respected luminaries in the fields of mind-body practice, wellness, integrative medicine, and energy medicine. Dr Jahnke has dedicated himself for decades to passing on his knowledge of Qigong.

You are invited to study the art and science of Breathwork with him, in the program "Breath Medicine: Activate the Most Profound Medicine."

Click here to learn more: https://9mm4bsz2.pages.infusionsoft.net/

Source: https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-14-8

12/08/2025

Tai Chi for Better Sleep? Research Says Yes!

Research suggests a gentle, accessible form of exercise may help improve sleep long-term—especially for adults dealing with chronic insomnia.

As we age, getting a full night's rest becomes harder. Chronic insomnia, the most common sleep disorder among middle-aged and older adults, can last for years and deeply affect quality of life.

A new study from Hong Kong University compared the leading insomnia treatment—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)—with regular tai chi practice. Tai chi, often called "meditation in motion," is a slow, low-impact practice enjoyed worldwide.

📌 What the study found:

• 200 adults (50+) with chronic insomnia were assigned to either CBT-I or tai chi for 24 sessions over 3 months.
• Right after treatment, CBT-I showed a bigger improvement.
• But 15 months later, the tai chi group caught up—showing similar improvements in sleep quality, duration, mental health, and daily functioning.
• More tai chi participants continued the practice on their own, suggesting it's easier to maintain long-term.

💡 Why this matters:

CBT-I is effective but can be costly and difficult to access. Tai chi, on the other hand, is gentle, affordable, and easy to integrate into daily life—making it a promising complementary approach for long-term insomnia management.

🔑 Key takeaway:

While professional help is still essential for chronic insomnia, tai chi may be a powerful long-term support strategy, with added benefits for the mind and body.

Click here to read more: https://www.sciencealert.com/one-form-of-exercise-can-improve-sleep-long-term-study-finds

Want to experience the calming, sleep-supporting benefits of tai chi for yourself? Click here to join the Tai Chi & Qigong Way Free Library and gain free access to practice resources you can use anytime: http://iiqtc.org/free

12/07/2025

Mindful Breathing to Unlock Personal Power, Focus, and Awareness

Unlock the smallest step that can completely shift your life—your breath.

In this episode of the How Qigong and Tai Chi Changed My Life podcast, host Susan Axelrod and guest Josie Weaver explore how simply becoming aware of your breathing can transform your focus, your choices, and even your relationships: https://youtu.be/7Dk5UF6vDwo

Josie shares how mindful breathing trains your attention, helps you notice what truly supports your well-being, and shows you how to reconnect with your own personal power. From recognizing how food affects your body to understanding that your voice, tone, and presence truly matter—this conversation reveals how Qigong and Tai Chi help you step into a more conscious way of living.

A simple breath can reconnect you to your body.

A simple practice can reconnect you to your power.

🎧 Listen in and discover how these ancient arts help you cultivate clarity, intention, and deeper connection in your everyday life: https://youtu.be/7Dk5UF6vDwo

12/06/2025

What happens when you finally press pause on a life of constant doing?

Artist, environmentalist, and Tai Chi teacher Jill Robinson describes how discovering meditation, Taoism, and Qigong helped her "press the pause button," shifting from constant doing to simply being.

In this heartfelt episode of "How Qigong and Tai Chi Changed My Life," host Susan Axelrod talks with Jill about finding stillness and redefining what true well-being really means.

Through her journey, she discovered that well-being isn't achieved through striving, but through slowing down, breathing deeply, and reconnecting with nature and the heart.

▶️ Tune in now on the IIQTC YouTube Channel:

How can slowing down change your life?Artist and Tai Chi teacher Jill Robinson shares how her lifelong connection to nature — and her work in environmental s...

12/05/2025

Healing Starts with Your Hands: 4 Self-Massage Techniques from Qigong

Transform your personal energy for health, inner peace, and quality of life with the Healer Within Medical Qigong Video Program. Click here to learn more: http://iiqtc.org/mqlibrary

In this video, Dr. Roger Jahnke shares simple, effective self-massage techniques—like pressing, stroking, holding, and tapping—rooted in Qigong and ancient healing traditions.

Whether you are breathing, tapping, or moving through gestures, adding affirmations enhances the impact.

It's a powerful reminder: healing can begin with your own two hands.

Learn self-applied massage practices in the Healer Within Qigong Video Library. It offers essential Medical Qigong practices for daily self-care based on Dr. Jahnke's book 'The Healer Within.' Click here to learn more: http://iiqtc.org/mqlibrary

12/04/2025

Practice Golden Elixir Cultivation LIVE in the Bahamas with Dr. Roger Jahnke (June 13 — 17, 2026)

What if the secret to lifelong health and harmony was already within you, waiting to be awakened through mindful practice?

Join Dr. Roger Jahnke for Golden Elixir Cultivation (10 Phases of Immortal Energy Mastery) at the Sivananda Ashram in Nassau, Bahamas, June 13–17, 2026: https://sivanandabahamas.org/course/golden-elixir-cultivation-june-2026/

Discover the ancient art of Inner Alchemy and awaken your inner healing power through mindful practice. This transformative retreat helps you enhance vitality, reduce stress, balance emotions, and cultivate clarity, harmony, and spiritual connection.

Step into this living alchemy and awaken the medicine within.

Learn more: https://sivanandabahamas.org/course/golden-elixir-cultivation-june-2026/

12/03/2025

Cultivating Qi Practices to Boost Energy

"Every person who uses Qi cultivation methods consistently experiences some form of health improvement and personal access to greater energy and power."
— Dr. Roger Jahnke, The Healing Promise of Qi.

In the groundbreaking The Healing Promise of Qi, Dr. Roger Jahnke, internationally respected Doctor of Chinese Medicine and author of the bestselling The Healer Within, clearly and simply explains the concepts of Qigong in practical terms and the underlying principles.

Developed over millennia in China, unlock the secrets of one of the most powerful of Chinese healing arts. Increase your vitality and longevity, and achieve and maintain optimal health and inner peace. Click here and find out how to increase your power and energy: http://www.feeltheqi.com/taichi_qigong/healing_promise.htm