In June 2025 teacher Ning introduced the why and how of the program and exercises he will share during the September 2025 workshop/retreat in the Netherlands. This is not only of interest for those who consider joining the workshop. Teacher Ning already teaches a lot on what we should or could address in order to become happier and healthier. The transcript below is adapted in such a way that it is better readable.
Enjoy!

Basic Qigong techniques to improve your energy levels

For the basic Qigong techniques there are three methods.

Technique #1: Massage Navel

Massage Navel is a very basic Qigong technique that a lot of people ignore because it’s so simple. In my experience it is a very effective one. When you practice Zhineng Qigong, you practice external Qi. External Qi from nature for example, is what we use when we are creating a Qi field. We think of the blue sky / the universe and bring that energy into our Qi field. Once we know how to apply external Qi, we should bring it in navel inside. Between navel and the mingmen area (between the kidneys) is the centre for the physical body Qi. We call it the lower dantien. Navel inside is also connected to the small intestine and large intestine Qi as well as to the stomach and pancreas/spleen Qi. The Chinese characters for ‘disease’ actually is more related to the small intestines. This shows that a lot of disease is caused by the small intestine Qi that cannot flow upward well. This is one meaning of Massage Navel.

Improve your energy levels

Another meaning is that in traditional Qigong training in the beginning they don’t teach about body movements with arms and legs moving. They require you to just lay down and do navel massage. From there, only gradually you move the massage to other areas until the membranes of your whole body become one. Then you get very strong. Only then you proceed to do Qi or Body movement. That’s a very traditional way. It’s different from the new Qigong forms that developed in the 80s and 90s of the last century. The new Qigong is more focused on external Qi. Or, to start with body movement without first building a very good inner foundation. This is the difference.

Improve your immune system

Massage navel can improve your energy and also can help with many physical conditions. For instance, when you get a cold, just do massage
navel to help you to release out the cold. With any condition in the body you can do this simple technique. About 10 years after I left the Huaxia Center, I met one friend from the Centre who I hadn’t seen in 10 years. I could see he was very strong. He was a funny guy. He had given up his job when he got very ill and then went to the Huaxia Center. He joined a two-year program and practiced a lot, but didn’t get much improvement. He was a bit disappointed and after two years he went home. He then reflected on it and started to only do Massage navel. He gave up all the other methods and only did navel massage for about another two years. Then he healed himself from almost
10 chronic conditions. This is why when I met him again, I saw he had a healthy weight again, he looked very strong and was very joyful. So I
invited him to give a lecture during a conference to share his story and he inspired a lot of people. That’s why a lot of Qigong practitioners turn to work on Massage navel for 30 minutes or 1 hour. Some of them even do for two hours a day.

For many Qigong masters this would be the one method to choose for daily practice. It is a simple one and improves your inner Qi very well.

2: Standing Meditation – learn to focus & release pressure from the sacral joints

The second basic method is standing meditation. When I came to this island (Hainan) I stopped doing standing meditation because it is quite hot here. Last winter I picked it up again and I experienced the benefits from standing meditation. One is that you release pressure or tension from the sacral joints. When the sacral joints get a little bit more open and your tailbone can go downward, this is very good. Another benefit is when you are doing standing meditation, the Qi goes to your bones. When you don’t do this, the Qi stays in the muscles.

Strengthening the bones

Standing meditation is nourishing the bones. When I picked up this practice of standing meditation, I could feel my bones energy getting stronger. I will teach standing meditation a bit different from the way it is presented in Zhineng Qigong. In the traditional way your feet are parallel. When you turn your feet inward (as in Zhineng Qigong), the three meridians on the inner legs do not stretch, while it actually is good to give them a little bit of a stretch.

I visited the Taiji/Kungfu brother of the founder of Zhineng Qigong in 2008. I went to his home twice to discuss about this. When this Qigong brother teaches Zhineng Qigong around China, he repairs this requirement to the students. When he’s giving a lecture he tells them to keep the feet parallel and not turn inwardly. He really knows about Zhineng Qigong since he has been a bodyguard for dr Pang Ming for many years. He’s the number two person in the circle. So these are some secret stories. So we make use of the traditional way so you will get more benefit. When I see people doing standing meditation with the feet turned inward, I feel a little bit sad about that. I’m not saying it is wrong, it is just a little not so perfect part of Zhineng Qigong.

3: Tiger Steps to improve Liver Qi and Kidney Qi & strengthen the legs

The third method originally is from Emei Qigong. It is another branch of traditional Qigong. It emphasize to improve your Liver Qi and the Kidney Qi and the legs. When we get a little bit older, the Qi flows upward more and does not stay in the legs enough. This is why you see older people walking with less balance, or when you look at their physical body you see their upper body become more fat than the legs, the ankles getting thinner. When you check the young people like teenagers, their Qi stays in their body and in their legs and feet. Tiger Foot Walk helps to rebalance your energy and bring your energy to the legs. This way you improve your legs.

How to avoid breaking your bones when getting older

This is very important for older people, also when they are afraid to fall. When they fall they easily break their bones and that’s a very big trouble. So we have to improve ourself to escape or to avoid that. It is best when you prepare in the early age and understand this, so that when you get older you are okay. Even when you go for a hospital check and your body is in a good condition, there’s a potential risk. If your legs are not strong enough there’s a potential risk for the future life.

So these three basic Qigong techniques are the most fundamental. If you don’t want to go deeper and search no more, this is probably enough for everybody. For example, when you only do Massage Navel for 30 minutes every day, standing meditation 30 minutes and Tiger Steps for another 15 minutes a day, that is a very good combination. I don’t know how many of you practice Qigong every day for one hour or two hours. so if you don’t have too much time, these three are probably enough for you.

Practice to restore the root Qi in the body

On Friday, I will be teaching methods to support the spleen and stomach, they are key organs in Chinese medicine. It’s important to understand that in this tradition, the “spleen” actually refers to the pancreas, and the spleen is associated with the left liver. So, what we’ll be focusing on is how to improve the Qi of your pancreas and stomach. These are known as “root Qi” or “postnatal Qi,” which is the foundation for the Qi of the other internal organs. These two Qi flows dominate and regulate the energy of all other organs.

The central role of stomach and pancreas in the body’s energy system according to TCM

In Chinese medicine, every organ’s Qi needs to flow in a specific direction. For example, the lungs’ Qi should descend, and if it ascends, that creates an imbalance. The stomach and pancreas Qi serve as gatekeepers for these ascending and descending flows in the body. This is why we will be practicing techniques like chanting and body movements to help these Qi flows. However, sometimes when someone has stomach or pancreas issues, these typical methods might not seem effective. If you don’t feel much improvement, it’s likely because the issue is deeper. For instance, if the liver Qi is weak, it can affect the pancreas and stomach Qi. In that case, we need to address the liver Qi first to help the pancreas and stomach work properly. This process involves two steps:

1. Step One: Start with methods aimed directly at the stomach and pancreas.
2. Step Two: If the methods don’t provide relief, we work on improving liver Qi to help restore balance.

This layered approach is crucial for tackling issues at their root. We’ll explore this more during the workshop.

The Role of Emotions and Energy in Healing

A key concept we’ll discuss is how emotional patterns, such as blame and resentment, affect our physical health. Many people, especially in family dynamics, hold on to negative emotions like blaming others—whether it’s a partner or child. This emotional buildup can lead to a stagnation of Qi, particularly in the stomach and pancreas, which are linked to the Earth element in Chinese medicine. When we carry resentment or blame, it creates toxic energy that harms our bodies, even if we don’t express it outwardly. This internalized negativity poisons the system. The process of transformation involves shifting this energy, which we call “transforming the Yin Earth nature into Yang Earth nature.” This transformation helps you break free from negative emotional cycles and restores balance in your body. Mastering this process is challenging, but it is essential for healing. A powerful example comes from a Buddhist practitioner who once shared how, when he was arrested and beaten, he didn’t feel any anger or resentment, because he had already come to terms with past actions. He realized that his own past behaviour had created the conditions for his present experience—what we call karma. When we accept and understand this, we stop the cycle of resentment and begin to heal.

Heart and Kidney Connection

On Saturday, we’ll focus on the connection between the heart and kidneys. In Chinese medicine, the heart and kidneys are supposed to work in harmony. If they are disconnected, the energy flow between them becomes imbalanced. This imbalance can lead to various issues, especially as people age, like during menopause or andropause when hormonal energy starts to decline. We will practice methods to reconnect the heart and kidneys and harmonize their Qi. By doing so, we can prevent heart issues and support kidney health. This is particularly important for anyone experiencing these issues, whether physical or emotional.

Lungs and Liver Method

On Sunday, we’ll address the relationship between the lungs and liver. These organs have a unique dynamic because the lung Qi and liver Qi
actually control each other—meaning they regulate and restrict one another. If one becomes too strong or too weak, it can lead to disease. For
example, if liver Qi stagnates, the lungs might struggle, and if lung Qi becomes excessive, the liver may be overwhelmed. We’ll explore methods to harmonize the lung and liver Qi and release these restrictions. This is essential for addressing conditions like skin problems, respiratory issues, and hormonal imbalances. For women, liver imbalances are often linked to reproductive issues like menstrual problems, breast health, and ovarian health. For men, prostate health can be impacted by liver Qi stagnation.

Workshop Schedule and Benefits

The workshop is a four-day journey into understanding and harmonizing your Qi. It’s designed for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Whether you’re dealing with physical conditions or emotional blockages, this workshop will help you understand the root causes and offer practical techniques for healing. If you’re interested, you can join just one day, or sign up for the full four-day retreat. Each day focuses on different aspects of healing, from the stomach and pancreas, to the heart and kidneys, to the lungs and liver. Whether you’re looking to improve your own health or help others, this retreat will provide valuable tools and insights.

Closing Thoughts

This retreat is about transforming your energy and understanding the deeper connections between body, mind, and spirit. Through this process, you can resolve imbalances and move toward greater health and harmony. I hope to see you in September, and I look forward to sharing this journey

 

When you practise Qigong and delve into the background, you discover that it is closely linked to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Perhaps you’ve visited an acupuncturist, or a herbalist. Qigong is based on the same principles and is a method you can do yourself. Hence, Qigong is also called a ‘self-healthcare’ method, giving you more control over your own well-being. But how do the two actually relate to each other?

What is TCM?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches us that health comes from a free flow of energy in the body. Disease, on the other hand, arises from imbalances, blockages or leaks in that energy flow. TCM takes a holistic view in which everything is interconnected. Energy is an expression of who you are as a person, including your physical, mental and emotional states. From the insights of TCM, various treatment methods have been developed, including acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbal therapy, but also Qigong.

Teacher Ning: a bridge between TCM and Qigong

There are hundreds of different forms of Qigong, several dozen of which are known in the West. The extent to which they express the principles of TCM varies. Someone who really bridged the gap between TCM and Qigong is teacher Ning. In his development as a Qigong healer, he has increasingly focused on translating the principles of TCM into practical Qigong exercises for a variety of ailments and diseases in the body. He makes the ancient wisdom of TCM accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Besides the healing effects of the exercises, they also aim to maintain and promote well-being.

>> TCM Qigong weekend webinars teacher Ning

In Qigong, we make use of the Qi field. It is a technique developed by Dr Pang Ming and works very effectively. It is basically about preparing the energy for a good result. You can use it in everyday situations, for projects, interactions with family and friends, your home and for healing.

“In essence, I already learned to work with the Qi field from my grandmother at a very young age. My grandmother was very religious. She taught me that when I or somebody else lost something, I could ask Saint Anthony. To this day, I always do so: ‘Holy Antony, dear friend, make sure I/she/it find(s) this or that.’ This is the phrase she taught me. In Dutch there is a nice rhyme to it, but alas. I must say that in 98% of cases, this intention or invitation works! Now that I know the about the Qi field, I apply more principles to it (I’ll tell you about that below) and always smile when the lost object is found again and give thanks to the Qi field.”

The Qi Field is a very practical tool to work with. In my daily life, I often invite the Qi field to support me in my tasks, in my relationships or in my state of mind. In this way, I prepare and invite the energy to realize a beautiful result and to manifest my intention – what I like to experience in my reality.

“I relax, feel my body and the space around me and set my intention”

Last week, I used the principles for driving back home from France. Before the drive, I very consciously I sink into my being by relaxing and becoming aware of my body and the immediate space around me. I visualise the result of my journey; how it went smooth and how I arrived home safely and relaxed. I step into the result I have in mind and feel that it has already been achieved. The visualisation of the intended result, together with the feeling of being fulfilled, are the guiding factors.

“I see the intended result in my mind, along with the feeling of being fulfilled”

Throughout the day, I do this very often for myself. Also when I meet with people, in order for the contact to be harmonious, sincere and we are in alignment with ourselves. The same at this very moment: I am with Wabke right now, my Qi Friends partner, and beforehand I step into the energy of an effective meeting where we arrive at our agreements and plans in harmony and with joy.

It also comes in handy in more challenging situations with other people. Instead of going into the feeling of worrying, I use this contrast by inviting myself to be in harmony in that situation allowing for mutual acceptance and respect. Another example is that of writing this blog. I am silent beforehand and tune into inspiration, giving free and structured words to the topic I want to write about.

Sometimes I am in a situation that causes stress. Also then I invite the Qi field to dissolve the stress in me so that I can relax again, to show me possibilities in those kinds of situations how I can get on with what is stressing me. Or to leave it for a while, in case there just is no solution for that moment.

“I am expecting a positive outcome and am open to unforeseen possibilities”

In addition to the elements of relaxation, visualisation and feeling the intended result, I also feel the expectation that a positive result is coming. I really open myself for possibilities that I cannot immediately foresee. In doing so, it helps me to relax and have an open mind and already feel fulfilled. From that relaxation, I am much better able to see possibilities that are offered, in whatever way. It is, as it were, an open communication with the universe and in this I give direction to my intention.

Want to learn more on how to effectively make use of the Qi field?

You now understand why I wish everyone to become aware of this possibility to work with the Qi Field. It brings so much joy, gratitude, good results, harmony in relationships and more. With so much positive experience, I look forward to learn more about it in the weekend webinar ‘How to effectively make use of the Qi field’ with teacher Ning. It would be great to share it with you!

Summer time has started and with the weather changing in many places all over the world, we experience different temperatures. Some love it and at the same time many experience it as ‘too hot’ and suffer from it. Teacher Ning shares  how to keep an optimal energy level during summer. What should we be aware of to avoid, and what can we do to have optimal energy levels.

First teacher Ning has set up the Qi field. After that…

So now it is getting hot because it is summertime. According to traditional Chinese medicine and Medical Qigong, during the summertime, the heart reacts to the weather. It’s getting hot outside and on the inside of the body the heart reacts to the heat. They have this connection. So during the summer the heart works more than during other seasons.

What happens outside, reflects in the inner organs

What happens outside, the inner organ will react. So, in the winter, the kidneys react more. In the spring season the liver reacts more. In the autumn, the lungs react more. In summertime the heart works harder than other seasons. This is why for people with a heart condition, it can be more difficult to go through the summertime.

Pay more attention to the heart

As Qigong practitioners, we need to pay more attention to the heart. Whatever Qigong practice you do, you can do some healing for the heart, or bring the heart energy go downward intentionally and let it better connect to the kidneys. You can also work more on the lungs and kidneys. The lungs are more contracting and can make balance with the heart. Because if the heart’s energy goes out too much and works too hard – the lungs can close it in more, contracting energy more and let the energy flow downward.

Avoid practicing the liver during summertime.  The liver is a sprouting energy. It is too hot right now for that. If you practice the liver, it will generate more heat and then you don’t feel good.

Option 1: practice the heart itself

According to medical Qigong one option is to practice the heart itself and to let the heart Qi flow downward and connect to the kidneys. That is option one.

Option 2: practice lungs and kidneys

Option two is to practice the lungs and the kidneys. To contract more energy and make balance with the situation of the heart.

Do not practice the liver

If you would practice the liver, it is like you burn an extra fire, you put in more wood to the fire. That will produce too much heat.

Practice sounds healing for the heart

In this lesson we will practice the sounds healing for the heart for a while. When the heart works more, it generates more heat. This is why so many people feel it is so hot inside. When we do a practice to the heart, we can lead the Qi of the heart to flow. Then you don’t feel that hot. When you feel very hot inside, you probably need to work to the heart more.

So now we are going to practice the sound healing for the heart.

<video at 12:56 minutes – explanation and short practice of first sound for the heart – ‘zhen’>

<video at 17:42 minutes – explanation of the mudra>

<video at 19:40 minutes – start full practice of first sound for the heart>

<video at 38:00 minutes – showing shenmen point>

Massage Shenmen point

After the sounds we are going to massage Shenmen point – along the pinky finger, on the wrist you can feel a small round bone and a bit of a hole next to it. This is shenmen point. Massaging this point is beneficial for the heart meridian.

Another point: If you feel uncomfortable on the inside of the forearm, in between the two tendons, this relates to the pericardium.

Second sound for the heart, connecting to the kidneys

Now we go to the second sound for the heart. This sound works more to let the heart’s energy flow downwards. To connect with your kidneys Qi.

<video 42:00 minutes – explanation of the second sound – ‘deng’>

<video at 45:20 minutes – start of full practice second sound for the heart>

So, during the practice, sometimes you would feel some reaction from your stomach and the pancreas. Sometimes they make some noise, as if you are hungry, as if the stomach is asking for some food. While we are doing the sounds for the heart, the heart is supporting your pancreas, so this is a natural reaction of the pancreas. This is also a way to treat diabetes. When a person has diabetes, sometimes the solution is to improve the heart and the diabetes is solved.

How often practice this?

How often practice this sound? You don’t need to practice this every day. Just when you feel very hot. For example, in the afternoon around 17.00 hours into the evening. That even when you took a shower and still feel hot. This shows your heart accumulated too much heat. Generally, two times a week is ok. But do check with yourself, when you have this hot feeling around 1700h, you need to pay attention to practice this.

<video at 1:00:18 hours – showing the connecting movement>

Usually after the sounds we make a connecting movement. You place your hands in front of your heart and then bring the energy of the heart down to in front of the kidneys and then the hands are circling in front of the kidneys. Gathering energy to the kidneys. You can close your eyes.

Finish with putting your hands on top of each other on your lower abdomen. Nourish Qi.

So, usually we just practice this option 1 and focus on the heart. This is enough for safely going through the summertime.

If you want to practice action to, lungs and kidneys, some of you have learned before. Today we will not focus on that, because the main solution is this option one of practicing the heart and ending at the kidneys.

Qigong practice is something flexible. It needs to follow the changes of what is going on outside. When I was at the Qigong center, we learned and taught students to just do the exercises. But it is something flexible. We need to follow a lot of principles. We need to know some associations, the relationships.

Enjoy your summer time and your vacation.

In case you do like to explore the second option teacher Ning has introduced:

>> teacher Ning on How to practice Lungs

>>teacher Ning on How to practice Kidneys