Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC)

05/01/2026

How Tai Chi for Kids Improves Focus, Reduces Anxiety, and Supports Healthy Development

Did you know that just 5–10 minutes of "recentering" can help children feel calmer, sleep better, and focus more in school—without screens, pressure, or medication?

In a world dominated by digital distractions and academic pressure, educator Cari Shurman is proving that the secret to focus isn't a new app—it's the ancient art of Tai Chi. After training over 1,500 teachers in the NYC public school system, the results are in: when kids learn to "Embrace the Tree" and root themselves, their "monkey minds" quiet down and their grades go up.

From overcoming test anxiety to building core self-confidence, this moving meditation is giving students the tools to navigate a high-stress world.

The takeaway: A few mindful minutes each day can unlock focus, resilience, and confidence for life.

Click here to read the full article: https://violetlitaichi.com/from-playful-elephants-to-focused-minds-how-tai-chi-for-kids-is-transforming-the-classroom/

04/30/2026

Breath Alchemy (In Person Weekend Training on June 19–21, 2026)

In times of stress, uncertainty, and constant noise, the most powerful healing tool is already with you—your breath.

Join Dr. Roger Jahnke for Breath Alchemy, an immersive retreat at Kripalu Center in Massachusetts on June 19–21, 2026: https://kripalu.org/experiences/breath-medicine-discover-profound-balance-and-inner-peace?sku=18440273

The Breath Medicine System is a treasure that you can keep, use, and share for the rest of your life. In this program, you will:

• Learn, practice, and expand embody the Four Core Breath Medicine Methods.
• Orchestrate extended breath practice combinations called Breath Symphonies.
• Relieve stress and clear the heart and mind.
• Deepen your meditation for clarity and inner peace.
• Activate the medicine within—your body's inherent self-healing capacities—for all chronic health challenges.
• Cultivate transcendental states.
• Create an approach that is accessible and can continue for a lifetime.

Best of all, these methods are simple, repeatable, and available anytime, anywhere—no special tools required.

🎁 Included Free: The Breath Medicine Video Library (valued at $225)

Learn more and join the in-person weekend retreat at Kripalu Center on June 19-21, 2026 and experience these ancient practices firsthand: https://kripalu.org/experiences/breath-medicine-discover-profound-balance-and-inner-peace?sku=18440273

04/29/2026

Chinese herbs that help with seasonal allergies

Spring season has begun and with it comes the allergies so common in this season. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers several approaches — such as herbs and teas — to help us deal with seasonal allergies.

The article "Chinese Herbs and Spring Allergies" introduces some herbs that can help you harness the benefits of this wonderful and beautiful season without suffering with constant sneezes, runny nose, and watery eyes.

Read below and follow the tips:

"Traditional Chinese Medicine often views springtime allergies as related to the element of wind. As in all TCM, allergies are looked on as being caused by an imbalance in the flow of Qi. In this case, it is considered a blockage of Qi to the nose and sinuses. TCM calls allergies "bi yuan," which literally translates to "nose-pool."

Bi Yuan comes from a deficiency in Wei Qi – the internal force that protects us from wind. TCM practitioners will usually want to treat allergies by using all the disciplines that strengthen Qi, herbs, and acupuncture, Qigong etc. However, Chinese herbs alone have been used for centuries for the treatment of springtime allergies. There are many herbs to be used. There are specific herbs that are known to dry phlegm, others to relieve coughs, and still others that can alleviate red and itchy eyes. Therefore, TCM practitioners will often create their own combination of herbal medications, some held in strict confidence, depending on the symptoms of the patient.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR SPRING ALLERGIES IN TCM

The most common Chinese herbs used for treatment of allergies include combinations of:

• Japanese catnip, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, and fang feng, Siler divaricata – believed to dispel wind.
• Angelica dahurica, xin yi hua (magnolia flower buds) and Xanthium sibiricum – to dry phlegm and mucus.

In addition to the herbs above, Chinese herbal formulations to control springtime allergies sometimes contain cnidium, trichosanthes, bupleurum, platycodon, and mentha.

Herbs that have been used on their own to treat springtime allergies by both TCM doctors and Western herbalists include:

• Butterbur – Which has been shown in some studies to be as effective as prescription antihistamines without the side effect of drowsiness. However caution is advised if you have a known ragweed allergy, as butterbur is of the same family, and if taken it will worsen, not alleviate your symptoms.
• Quercetin – another herbal extract shown to be a natural antihistamine
• Euphrasia officinalis (eyebright) and Scutellaria (Chinese skullcap) – have been used to effectively treat the symptoms of hay fever – especially the congestion and watery eyes.

Interestingly enough, the catechins found in green tea have also been shown to have an antihistamine effect, and drinking green tea along with all of its other wonderful medicinal properties may alleviate the symptoms of springtime allergies."

If you liked this resource, sign up for a free Tai Chi & Qigong Way membership to get access to similar articles and resources on natural healthcare, including those authored by Dr. Roger Jahnke. Click here: http://iiqtc.org/free

Source: https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/09/01/chinese-herbs-and-spring-allergies

04/28/2026

Tai Chi Easy: A Real Transformation Story

Looking for a simple, effective way to improve your well-being, boost your energy, and handle stress with ease?

IIQTC Senior Trainer Vince Sauter shares how Tai Chi Easy helped him completely shift his health and mindset:

"I achieved my health goals… my wife was the first to notice the big change in me. She saw my personality change, she saw me cope with stress so much easier—and now, I know how to breathe."

This isn't just exercise—it's a life-changing practice that reconnects your body, mind, and breath.

🌿 Ready to experience it for yourself?
Join the Tai Chi Easy™ Practice Leader Certification Training
📅 August 23–28, 2026
🔗 https://www.eomega.org/workshops/tai-chi-easy-certification?utm_source=sauter-franks&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sauter-franks_OC_2026

Learn simple, flowing Tai Chi and Qigong sequences designed to:
✔️ Increase energy and vitality
✔️ Improve balance, sleep, and mood
✔️ Support heart and brain health
✔️ Build a sustainable self-care routine
✔️ Empower you to share this healing practice with others

Whether you're a beginner or experienced practitioner, this training offers a gentle yet powerful path to personal transformation—and a way to bring wellness into your community.

👉 Transform your life—and learn how to share it with others.

Join the Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Certification Training with IIQTC senior trainers Vince Sauter and Annette Franks and become part of a growing community bringing wellness to the world: https://www.eomega.org/workshops/tai-chi-easy-certification?utm_source=sauter-franks&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sauter-franks_OC_2026

04/27/2026

Breath Practice for Better Sleep

Struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep? This powerful breathing technique helps calm your mind and reset your body for deep, natural sleep.

Follow along as Dr. Roger Jahnke introduces "breath medicine," a method designed to recharge your internal systems, support nervous system balance, and promote deep relaxation. By engaging the parasympathetic response and increasing oxygen flow, this technique helps your body produce calming neurotransmitters that naturally guide you back to sleep.

Perfect for anyone dealing with insomnia, nighttime waking, or an overactive mind, this practice is simple, effective, and can be done anytime you need rest.

If you are interested in learning more about breath practice, you can access our program called "Breath Medicine: Activate the Most Profound Medicine."

In this program, you'll learn amazingly simple – yet immensely powerful – breath practices that you will find easy to remember and practice. Click here to learn more: https://9mm4bsz2.pages.infusionsoft.net/

04/26/2026

One Simple Shift That Transforms Your Emotional & Physical Health

What if one simple practice could instantly calm your mind and support your body at the same time? Discover how shifting into the present moment can activate your body's natural healing response—no complicated techniques required.

Dr. Roger Jahnke, interviewed on the B.E.S.T. Living Show with Dr. Rachelle, explains why you don't need separate practices for emotional and physical well-being. Click here to watch the full interview: https://www.facebook.com/TaiChiAndQiGongWay/videos/1427121371396488

The key lies in stopping everything else—stepping away from the noise of past and future—and intentionally bringing yourself into the present moment.

When you pause and focus your awareness, your body begins to produce its own internal resources for balance and restoration—what Dr. Jahnke calls the "healer within" or "medicine within." This simple yet profound shift can transform how you respond to stress, emotions, and even physical discomfort.

Watch now and learn how to reconnect with your natural state of calm and clarity: https://www.facebook.com/TaiChiAndQiGongWay/videos/1427121371396488

04/25/2026

☯️ Happy World Tai Chi & Qigong Day! Join Dr. Roger Jahnke for a Daily Qigong Practice to Build Your Health Resiliency 🌀

Celebrate movement, mindfulness, and healing today by reconnecting with your body and breath.

This gentle guided routine helps you release stress, calm your nervous system, and activate your body's natural healing energy.

Practice here: https://youtu.be/UDHoXXRMINI

In just minutes, Dr. Roger Jahnke shows you exactly how to reset using breath, movement, and focused intention—especially helpful when your mind feels overwhelmed or your body is tense.

You'll learn how to align posture, breathing, and intention (the "three treasures"), practice flowing movements, gather healing energy from nature, and explore medical Qigong techniques like channel tracing, organ activation, and targeted self-massage.

Whether you're new to Qigong or looking for a grounding daily practice, this is a beautiful way to slow down, restore balance, and move with intention.

Happy World Tai Chi & Qigong Day — may this global celebration bring you calm, vitality, and deep resiliency, one mindful breath at a time. 🌏 ✨

575 likes, 18 comments. "Daily Qigong Practice With Dr. Jahnke – for Health Resiliency and Healing"

04/23/2026

Qigong Empowerment - The 10 Phases of Cultivating and Mastering Qi | Live Training in Kripalu

Ever wondered how ancient cultures unlocked such deep wisdom around healing and human potential?

Qigong rises from the same ancient roots as acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, guided by the Three Treasures—body, mind, and spirit—offering a timeless pathway to restore balance, awaken inner power, and cultivate lasting vitality.

Join Dr. Roger Jahnke on June 21 – 26, 2026 in Kripalu Center in Massachusetts for a transformative retreat in which you will learn about, practice, and experience Qi: https://kripalu.org/experiences/qigong-empowerment-10-phases-cultivating-and-mastering-qi?sku=18440274

Based on Dr. Jahnke's widely revered book The Healing Promise of Qi, this program will help you discover how the 10 Phases of Qigong can:

• Support your physiological, conscious, and spiritual integration and coherence.
• Activate the functions in mind and emotion that lead to peace, compassion, and creativity.
• Initiate profound healing and even transform your life's trajectory with The Golden Elixir of Inner Alchemy.

Practicing Qigong with a group in a retreat environment can be life transforming. You will be inspired by how accessible Qigong can be and return home with easy to use tools that you can keep, use, and share for the rest of your life.

Click here to learn more: https://kripalu.org/experiences/qigong-empowerment-10-phases-cultivating-and-mastering-qi?sku=18440274

04/23/2026

Spring into Empowered Living

Spring is here and there are many opportunities to learn and evolve.

Somehow, many in the human family have allowed for personal autonomy in health and personal evolution to be depreciated by conventional commercial medicine and the lure of convenient living. It may be a good time to rethink our priorities and raise our readiness for functional capacity, resiliency and endurance – to make a new Holistic Life Plan.

We each control and can enhance our own capacity for healing, vitality, stress mastery, longevity, creativity and inner peace.

Access the Healer Within Medical Qigong Video program which includes information that you and your family will use for a lifetime! This is the video companion to Dr. Jahnke's best selling book "The Healer Within."

The Healer Within Qigong Video Library is not just a series of videos; it is a thorough instructional and training library that includes:

• The Four Baskets of Qigong Practice - Gentle Movement, Breath Practices, Self-Applied Massage, and Meditations
• Beautiful, soothing music and inspiring energy of nature scenes and fantastic energy animations
• An amazing 12 minute video on The Physiology of Qigong
• Practice along with Dr. Jahnke
• Silent practice sessions — practice with soothing music and ambient nature sounds
• Access the videos — streaming -- on your computers, your personal mobile devices
• Over 3 hours of material that you can use at any pace
• Resource library with several ebooks, printable guides

You will be amazed at how little is required and how much can be gained. Many have used these powerful, yet simple tools and have felt this energy of healing and transformation! You will use these practices for the rest of your life.

Click here to learn more: http://iiqtc.org/mqlibrary

04/22/2026

Maintaining Balance in the Spring Season

In Traditional Chinese medicine, each season is associated with a specific element, which has it's own healthcare guidelines.

Spring is linked with the Wood element, which is connected to the Liver and Gallbladder channels, as well as the energy of growth and renewal.

To maintain balance during spring, here are three key health guidelines:

✨ Support Liver Qi

The Liver channel is most active in Spring, so it's important to help the Liver function well. This can be achieved by avoiding excessive stress and cultivating emotional balance. In Chinese medicine, the Liver is believed to be responsible for the smooth flow of Qi (energy) and emotions. Practices like gentle movement (Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, deep breathing, and consuming foods like green leafy vegetables, sprouts, and sour foods (which are thought to promote Liver health) can help.

✨ Eat Light, Fresh, and Detoxifying Foods

Spring is a time of renewal, so cleansing your body is important. Incorporating fresh, seasonal foods like young greens, sprouts, and herbs help to detoxify and invigorate the body. Avoid heavy, greasy foods that can lead to stagnation of Qi. Traditional Chinese herbs, like chrysanthemum and dandelion, are often used in Spring to help cleanse the Liver and promote circulation.

✨ Stay Active But Avoid Overexertion

Spring is a time of growth and energy, so it's essential to move your body to support circulation and prevent stagnation. Gentle, regular exercise like walking, swimming, or light cycling is ideal. Overexertion can damage the Liver and cause imbalances in the body. Be mindful to balance activity with rest to keep your energy aligned with the natural rhythms of the season.

These practices help harmonize your body's energy with the Spring season and its associated elements in Chinese Medicine!

If you are ready to take simple, natural steps toward better health this Spring, start with mindful movement and breath. Join the Tai Chi & Qigong Way Free Library and discover free videos, audio practices, and wellness resources you can use every day.

👉 Learn more: http://iiqtc.org/free

04/21/2026

Breath, Intention, and Healing: A Conversation with Dr. Gayl Hubatch

In this episode of "How Qigong and Tai Chi Saved My Life," host Susan Axelrod sits down with Dr. Gayl Hubatch, OMD, LAc, LMT—a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, acupuncturist, herbalist, and certified teacher of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga.

Dr. Hubatch shares her 40-year journey of integrating Chinese medicine and mindfulness into her life and practice. She describes how Qigong and Tai Chi shifted her worldview from a focus on effort and achievement to one rooted in intention, awareness, and inner balance.

Together, Susan and Dr. Hubatch explore the importance of interoception (listening to the body from within), reducing resistance, and cultivating holistic wellness.

Dr. Hubatch also leads a simple breathing exercise, showing how quickly Qigong principles can calm the mind and align body and spirit.

Click here to watch the full video and discover more insights:

4 likes, 1 comment. "Reduce Stress & Restore Balance with Qigong | Dr. Gayl Hubatch Interview"

04/20/2026

Ancient Secrets of Qi Cultivation Accessible to All

Over thousands of years, the ancient Qi (Chi) masters discovered many treasures that we in the West are only now beginning to appreciate. They knew that the most profound medicine costs nothing; it is created naturally within the human body. Unfortunately, we in Western cultures have been slow to understand and use this extraordinary medicine.

You can begin to awaken your inner energy, restore harmony, and unlock a deeper connection to life itself. You're invited to go beyond theory and experience it firsthand. Join Dr. Roger Jahnke for Golden Elixir Cultivation (10 Phases of Immortal Energy Mastery) in Bahamas, on June 13–17, 2026: https://sivanandabahamas.org/course/golden-elixir-cultivation-june-2026

Whether your focus is to heal yourself, help others, connect with nature, accelerate performance, maximize intuition and creativity, attain inner peace, or intimately touch the mysterious fabric of the cosmos, these ten phases, with their roots in ancient tradition of Qi cultivation, are tools with extraordinary power to release your inner potential.

Drawing from the sacred traditions of China and India, Dr. Roger Jahnke has distilled these teachings into 10 accessible, life-changing practices you can learn, embody, and share:

1. Discover Qi
2. Gather Qi
3. Circulate Qi
4. Purify Qi
5. Direct Qi
6. Conserve Qi
7. Store Qi
8. Transform Qi
9. Dissolve in Qi
10. Transmit Qi

Step into this transformative journey and learn directly through guided practice.

Golden Elixir Cultivation LIVE in the Bahamas
📍Bahamas
📅 June 13–17, 2026
🔗 Reserve your spot: https://sivanandabahamas.org/course/golden-elixir-cultivation-june-2026

✨ Step into the practice. Awaken your inner medicine.