What you will do
Christopher begins with a physical warm-up: shaking the shoulders, elbows and legs, big breaths in through the nose with a sigh out, turns from the waist, a side stretch and a standing cat-cow.
Then you use body movement, breath and imagination to move energy out. In the first exercise you bring your elbows in, rotate your hands, press forward and blow all the breath out, then hold the breath out as your hands come back down. As you push, you imagine pushing something heavy. In the next you push the Qi out to the side, as if your hands were on opposite walls, and imagine pushing exhaust out through your hands.
In the class you do about 10 of each exercise, one or two minutes each, so you can learn and feel it. On your own you can do them for five or 10 minutes. The class ends with a mindful check-in.
If anxiety is persistent or feels unmanageable, talk with a doctor or counselor. If you feel unsafe or think about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.
Questions people ask
Can Qigong help with anxious thoughts?
Christopher teaches this class to help release anxious thoughts, using shaking, breath and imagination. It may help some people, and it does not replace care from a doctor or counselor, so talk with one if anxiety is persistent.
How long should I practice these Qigong movements on my own?
Christopher suggests five or 10 minutes on your own. In the class, each of the four exercises runs one to two minutes so you can learn it.
Why does Qigong for anxiety use a long exhale?
Christopher has you blow all the breath out through the mouth, then hold it out as your hands come down. He uses the image of pushing stressful, excessive energy out of the body.
Keep going
To keep practicing, begin with the free class and getting-started guide.
Read more
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Learn Qigong is educational and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, check with your own practitioner before beginning a new practice.
