There are a lot of 'best Qigong teacher' lists online, and most of them are written by people who have never trained with anyone on the list. This one is different. Some of these teachers taught me directly. Others I met and respect, or learned from through their books and videos. I have marked which is which, because honesty matters more than a longer list. If you want to know why the practice is worth your time in the first place, you can also see the evidence on Qigong.
If you are new, do not overthink the choice of teacher. Pick someone whose voice you can relax to, whose pace feels gentle enough to follow, and whose free videos or beginner course you actually keep coming back to. Consistency beats prestige. A teacher who gets you to practice ten minutes a day is worth more than a famous one you watch once and never return to. Start simple, stay a while, and let your own body tell you what is working.
1. Master Yuanming Zhang
Root Qigong lineage, 16-generation Chinese family lineage
Master Yuanming Zhang is a Chinese grandmaster and a 16th-generation holder of his family's Qigong lineage. My original formal teaching certificate came through his line, so this is the root of my Qigong training.
Who it suits: More context than a beginner needs at first, and important background for anyone who wants to understand where a traditional lineage comes from.
Christopher's note: When people ask where my Qigong comes from, this is the honest answer. My first teaching certificate was from this grandmaster's lineage, and I still feel that grounding in the way I teach today.
2. Daisy Lee
Radiant Lotus Qigong, a women-centered system
Daisy Lee teaches Radiant Lotus Qigong, a system with a strong focus on women's health and vitality. She is one of my first-hand teachers and the one I cite most often by name.
Who it suits: Beginner-friendly, and especially good for women looking for a practice built around their own physiology.
Christopher's note: I learned specific movements from Daisy Lee that I still teach, and the way she frames the body as a set of ongoing projects to care for has stayed with me for years.
3. Lee Holden
Holden Qigong, author of 'Ready, Set, Slow' and creator of '7 Minutes of Magic'
Lee Holden is one of the most well-known Western Qigong teachers, with a warm, accessible style and a large library of follow-along routines. I studied with him in person across several week-long workshops.
Who it suits: Beginners. His short daily routines are some of the easiest on-ramps into Qigong you will find.
Christopher's note: Lee Holden is an incredible teacher I have studied with directly, and I still recommend his book 'Ready, Set, Slow' to people who want to understand the pace of this practice.
4. Tevia Feng
White Tiger Qigong, a martial and animal-form system
Tevia Feng founded White Tiger Qigong, which draws on martial forms and animal movements. He is one of my four named Qigong teachers, and I learned the 8 Trigram set and several animal forms through his work.
Who it suits: More active and physically engaged practitioners, and beginners who want a stronger, more dynamic entry into Qigong.
Christopher's note: I have studied with White Tiger Qigong directly. The animal forms and the 8 Trigram set gave me a more physical, expressive side of the practice.
5. Roger Jahnke, OMD
Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, author of 'The Healer Within' and 'The Healing Promise of Qi'
Roger Jahnke is a longtime author and teacher and a cofounder of the National Qigong Association. His books are among the most respected introductions to the field.
Who it suits: Beginners who like to read and understand the ideas behind a practice, and anyone wanting a grounded, well-researched overview.
Christopher's note: I met Roger Jahnke at Kripalu. He is someone I respect rather than a formal teacher of mine, and his writing helped shape how I think about Qigong as an integral practice.
6. Marisa Cranfill
YOQI, a blend of yoga and qigong
Marisa Cranfill created YOQI, which weaves yoga and Qigong together into flowing sequences. She trained in the Taoist tradition and with a Taiji master, and teaches widely online.
Who it suits: Beginners who already enjoy yoga and want a gentle bridge into Qigong.
Christopher's note: Marisa Cranfill is a teacher I recommend rather than one I trained with personally. Her yoga and Qigong blend is a comfortable doorway for anyone coming from a yoga background.
7. Nick Loffree
Integrative Qigong
Nick Loffree teaches Integrative Qigong to a large online and YouTube audience. He has trained with a range of well-known teachers and offers a lot of accessible free material.
Who it suits: Beginners who learn well from free online videos and want plenty of variety to explore.
Christopher's note: Nick Loffree is a respected teacher I recommend, not a personal teacher of mine. His free videos are a solid place to sample different styles.
8. Kenneth Cohen
Author of 'The Way of Qigong'
Kenneth Cohen wrote 'The Way of Qigong', one of the most complete reference books in English on the history, theory, and practice of Qigong.
Who it suits: Readers and more studious practitioners who want depth and background, rather than a quick follow-along.
I include his book as a resource I respect. If you want one thorough reference on the shelf, this is a common recommendation.
9. Mimi Kuo-Deemer
Teacher and author of qigong and meditation
Mimi Kuo-Deemer teaches Qigong and meditation and has written books that connect movement, breath, and contemplative practice.
Who it suits: Beginners drawn to a calm, reflective approach that pairs Qigong with meditation.
10. Spring Forest Qigong
Founded by Master Chunyi Lin
Spring Forest Qigong, founded by Master Chunyi Lin, is a widely taught system known for simple, accessible routines and a large online community.
Who it suits: Beginners who want a clear, structured program with gentle movements they can follow from home.
11. Mantak Chia
Universal Healing Tao
Mantak Chia founded the Universal Healing Tao and is an influential teacher of Taoist energy practices. His work has shaped many teachers now active in the field.
Who it suits: More advanced students curious about the deeper Taoist side of the tradition, rather than someone taking a first gentle step.
12. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
YMAA, author and teacher
Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is a respected author and teacher whose books and videos through YMAA cover Qigong and the traditional Chinese martial arts in careful detail.
Who it suits: Readers and more traditional students who want precise, well-documented material.
13. Qigong with Kseny
Kseny Gray, free follow-along Qigong on YouTube
Kseny Gray publishes gentle, easy-to-follow Qigong routines on her YouTube channel, Qigong with Kseny. The sessions are short and calm.
Who it suits: Complete beginners who want to try a free follow-along session today with no cost and no commitment.
Great Energy Qigong
The school I teach today
Great Energy Qigong is the school I teach now, and I want to be straightforward that it is my own. It grew out of everything above: my root lineage, my first-hand teachers, and thirty years of daily practice, shaped into something a complete beginner can follow. I built it for the person who has never done any of this and wants a calm, clear place to start.
Who it suits: Beginners who want a gentle, guided starting point. The Jump Start Your Energy course is the simplest first step, and the free beginner guide is a no-cost way to see how the practice feels before you commit to anything.
New to Qigong? Start here
The simplest first step is a gentle guided course you can follow from home, at your own pace, with nothing to figure out on your own.
These are teachers and schools I have learned from, met, or recommend. Listing them here is not an endorsement by them of Great Energy, and it is not a claim that any practice treats or cures a health condition. This is educational content. If you have a health condition, check with your own practitioner before beginning a new practice.