Why Practice Zhong Yuan Qigong
In today’s world, energy exercises and various spiritual schools attract many followers. For centuries, the art of Eastern cultures has fascinated people, and even now—amid the age of computers, the internet, smartphones, and rapid digital progress—it continues to appeal to all generations. Ancient martial arts such as kung fu, aikido, yoga, and qigong are once again experiencing a renaissance, especially among young people.
But why? What can this ancient Eastern art—often misunderstood as merely a mystical practice of meditating monks or miraculous feats of yogis—offer to a person living in the 21st century?
What could an art, developed long ago in the remote monasteries of Tibet and ancient China, possibly give to modern humanity, living under constant stress, pressure, fatigue, and illness?
The answer lies in the most precious thing a person possesses — life itself.​
Life, which is gradually shortened by disease, fear, worry, lack of love, and the endless pursuit of money in the hope of maintaining a so-called “standard of living.” In doing so, we lose sight of what we truly seek—the essence hidden behind the abstract concept of happiness.
And so, we arrive at fundamental questions:
What is happiness? How can we attain it? What is life? Why are some people happy while others suffer? Why do some glide easily through life while others live through “hell on Earth”? Can we truly influence our fate?
The search for the meaning of life is as old as humanity itself. We experience life through feelings and emotions—positive or negative. And the key factor that influences them is health. To preserve health, we must understand the essence of life more deeply, for the quality of life depends on the depth of this understanding.
Eastern cultures emphasize a holistic view of the human being, where each part affects the whole. When a tooth aches, it feels as if the entire body hurts. No organ functions in isolation; everything is interconnected—within the human body, nature, society, and the Universe.
This is the power of individual influence on the whole. Our thoughts, actions, and intentions are all forms of energy. The kind of energy we send out determines what we attract. As the proverb says: “Birds of a feather flock together.”
The Wisdom of Ancient Chinese Philosophy
The ancient Chinese discovered the laws governing the functioning of the human body through the Five Elements (Wu Xing)—water, wood, fire, earth, and metal (air). This seemingly simple model of life’s primary forces has survived millennia, admired for its elegance and universality. Each element corresponds to specific organ systems—kidneys, liver, heart (and the nervous system), spleen, lungs—and to emotions and sensory organs.
These relationships explain not only how the body works but also how emotions and relationships interact. Negative emotions arise when we fail to fulfill our desires. Yet, as the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
This is precisely where Qigong comes in. It teaches how to calm the mind, balance emotions, and restore harmony—essential for both physical and mental health. When we learn to accept and process challenges, we begin to live more consciously and healthily.
As Saint Augustine said, “Do not seek happiness outside yourself; it is within you.” How do we find it?
According to Eastern philosophy, when our mind resonates positively, we connect to the “cosmic internet”—the universal field of knowledge. Access to this vast information depends on our inner frequency. And yes—it can be learned through practice. That practice is Qigong.
Why Zhong Yuan Qigong specifically?
There are many systems of health and spiritual development. However, most focus only on partial aspects—physical health, energy acquisition, communication, or emotional balance.
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Zhong Yuan Qigong (ZYQ) is unique because it offers a complete, integrated system of human development within its structured five-level training path.
Key Advantages of Zhong Yuan Qigong:
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A living tradition with roots in the Shaolin Monastery, led by the living Grandmaster Xu Mingtang.
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A simple yet profound science of life.
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Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, including its understanding of energy centers, meridians, and bioactive points (the same principles used in acupuncture).
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Combines mental and physical training into a unified, universal, and holistic system.
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Extends beyond health—to education, self-development, healing, and philosophical understanding of humanity and the universe.
Benefits in Everyday (Western) Life
Most importantly, ZYQ helps restore and maintain health. It works with Qi (Chi)—the vital life energy that flows through us and all of nature. By practicing qigong correctly and regularly, we remove energy blockages caused by stress and poor habits. As the energy flows freely again, health naturally improves.
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Regular practice helps to:
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release accumulated negative emotions
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manage stress and tension
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harmonize body and mind
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enhance creativity and mental clarity
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strengthen intellect and intuition
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Through ZYQ, we learn to perceive challenges from a higher perspective—like climbing a mountain to see beyond obstacles. What once seemed unsolvable suddenly reveals clear solutions.
Qigong and Longevity
From ancient alchemists to philosophers, humans have sought the elixir of life—a way to preserve youth and delay aging. ZYQ approaches this goal through inner transformation. Consistent, disciplined practice opens energy channels and builds the central energy pathway, which governs hormonal and nervous system balance. This directly influences both physical vitality and mental well-being.
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ZYQ is therefore a path of safe spiritual growth, leading to wisdom, compassion, and the fulfillment of one’s life purpose. As the Aboriginal saying goes: “Wisdom is how you use your knowledge.” Without wisdom, even love and compassion remain incomplete.
From Knowledge to Self-Discovery
Specific Zhong Yuan Qigong exercises stimulate both the physical and energetic levels and develop the visualization abilities of the mind—activating the rear brain, which governs intuition and creativity. Modern life engages mostly the frontal brain, which supports logic and analysis. Qigong helps balance both—uniting logic with inspiration, science with art.
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Just as a radio can only receive frequencies it’s tuned to, through Qigong practice we learn to “tune in” to higher states of consciousness. This opens the door not only to health but to a profound journey of self-discovery.
As Saint Augustine said: “If you wish to understand the world, know yourself.”
Just as the cell is the basic unit of life, so is a human being a “cell” of the Universe. The principles governing the microcosm (human) and macrocosm (Universe) are one and the same. This Universe exists within each of us—we simply need to discover it. And that is precisely what Zhong Yuan Qigong helps you do.
How To Begin
How to Start Practicing Zhong Yuan Qigong
In the Level 1 Courses section, choose a location and date that best suits you. Participation in the course requires no prior theoretical knowledge or physical preparation. It is a basic introductory course, suitable even for complete beginners with no previous experience in Qigong or similar disciplines.
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If you have any serious health concerns or other conditions and are unsure whether the practice is suitable for you, please contact one of our certified instructors to discuss your situation.
How the Training Works
The teaching of Zhong Yuan Qigong includes both theoretical and practical parts. We recommend wearing comfortable, loose clothing. We do not teach from books—each course level is led by certified instructors who are personally authorized to teach by Grandmaster Xu Mingtang, the head of the Zhong Yuan Qigong school.
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The goal of the course is to ensure that participants learn to perform the exercises correctly, because only proper practice brings the intended effects. The instructor monitors the correct performance of each movement and helps participants to feel and perceive energy. Through this direct experience, students gain confidence, overcome initial doubts, and become motivated to continue their personal development.
Independent and Group Practice
A great advantage of Zhong Yuan Qigong is that graduates of the course can continue practicing independently, in the comfort of their own homes. However, the effect of the exercises is multiplied when practiced in a group. For this reason, regular group practices are organized—usually two-hour sessions held at fixed times and locations, or online via Zoom. These sessions are led by instructors and provide an opportunity to build regular habits, better master the techniques, and deepen understanding of the material. They are very inspiring and support further progress on the path of self-development.
Important to Understand
Instructors of Zhong Yuan Qigong are not masters, but advanced practitioners. Each instructor is unique—differing in life stage, personality, experience, and teaching style. Because of this, we recommend that serious students repeat the same level with different instructors to gain new insights and a broader perspective. To encourage this, participants who repeat a course with any instructor within 18 months receive a 50% discount on the course fee.
Learning Materials
Books, video recordings, and other materials are available as supporting resources to help you practice more effectively and to gain a broader understanding of the topics covered in each level.