By Si Liew, RN, BScN, OHNC, MBA, Qigong practitioner
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Life didn’t slow down just because I was hurting.
As a nurse, a mother, a daughter, a caregiver, and the only breadwinner in my household, I’ve spent years putting others before myself. I come from a Chinese cultural background where self- sacrifice is not just expected—it’s often equated with love and duty. And while I was educated and trained in the Western world, I never stopped carrying the expectations, values, and ancestral beliefs I grew up with.
This created a quiet inner battle that ran beneath the surface of my life. How do I raise my children—Eastern discipline or Western freedom?
How do I speak up at work without being “too much”, “not enough”, or feel “not safe”?
How do I manage money, set boundaries, or rest, without guilt and shame?
For years, I didn’t have answers. Disappointment, resentment, and burnout became my norm. Like many nurses and caregivers, I just kept pushing forward—until I couldn’t anymore.
Breaking Point
Leaving an abusive marriage was the hardest and bravest thing I’ve ever done. But I didn’t walk away unscathed. I was emotionally raw, physically depleted, and spiritually disconnected.
Like many of us, I turned to therapy, counselling, doctors. I followed every wellness tip I could find. Some of it helped—but I still felt disconnected inside me. I need something that would help me reconnect with myself, rebuild my inner foundation, and reclaim my wholeness.
A deeper part of me knew: I wasn’t just exhausted.
I was energetically out of alignment. I needed to come back home—to myself.
That’s when I discovered Qigong.
What Is Qigong?
Qigong (气功) is an ancient Chinese healing art combining slow, mindful movement, breathing techniques, and meditative focus. The word itself means “cultivating energy through perseverance and effort.” It’s a powerful form of moving meditation that harmonizes the mind, body, and spirit. For centuries, Qigong has been used to awaken inner vitality, calm the mind, and restore balance.
In modern language, Qigong is where ancient wisdom meets quantum physics. It’s not just about relaxation—it’s a profound system for self-regulation, healing, and transformation.
It may look simple on the outside—but the internal transformation it brings is profound. Qigong helped me feel safe in my body again.
It taught me how to regulate my nervous system, release suppressed emotions, and reconnect with the wisdom within.
And, perhaps most importantly, it helped me stop pushing and start feeling.
Why Qigong ? Why Now?
Many of us—especially nurses, women, caregivers, —live in a chronic state of overdrive. We pour into others while neglecting ourselves. We suppress our emotions to be strong. We override our intuition to be practical. And in doing so, we disconnect from the very essence of who we are.
Qigong helped me come home to myself.
Through mindful movement and breath, I began to feel again—feel my body, my emotions, my intuition. I could slow down, tune in, and listen. And in that quiet space, healing began.
What Science Says: Why Qigong Works
Qigong isn’t just ancient—it’s also scientifically validated. Here’s what research says:
Neuroscience: Healing the Nervous System
- Qigong practice has been shown to reduce sympathetic nervous system dominance (fight-or-flight) and activate the parasympathetic system (rest-and-digest) (Harvard Medical School, 2015).
- EEG studies show that during Qigong meditation, alpha and theta brain waves increase, promoting deep relaxation and inner awareness (Journal of Neurophysiology, 2014).
- It also enhances vagal tone, which improves emotional regulation, heart rate variability, digestion, and immunity.
Epigenetics: Changing How Genes Express
Dr. Bruce Lipton, a pioneer in epigenetics, explains that our thoughts, emotions, and environment directly influence gene expression. In other words, we’re not stuck with the genes we inherited—we can turn them on or off through lifestyle, belief, and energy.
- Mind-body practices like Qigong have been shown to reduce expression of inflammatory genes and enhance expression of genes related to immunity and cellular repairs (Frontiers in Immunology, 2020).
- Chronic stress “tags” genes for disease; Qigong helps “un-tag” those harmful expressions by reducing stress hormones like cortisol and regulating the HPA axis.
Quantum Physics: We Are Energy
Qigong is a practice of energy alignment, and science now supports this.
- Quantum physics tells us that atoms—what we’re made of—are 9999% energy and space, not solid matter. What appears “physical” is really vibrating fields of energy and information.
- Our thoughts and emotions produce measurable electromagnetic fields (confirmed by the HeartMath Institute). These fields affect not only our health but also what we attract or repel in life.
- In Qigong, through intention, breath, and movement, we align with the quantum field—a field of infinite possibility. This creates what neuroscientist Dr. Joe Dispenza calls a “coherent state”—when the brain and heart are in synchrony, and the body becomes a magnet for healing and new outcomes.
How It Changed My Life
Practicing Qigong daily began to shift things I never thought could change.
- My sleep improved
- My digestion and hormone cycles
- My anxiety
- I felt lighter, emotionally and
- I could breathe more
- I began to trust myself again
More than anything, I stopped seeing myself as broken. I began to see myself as a vessel of energy that simply needed recalibration. Qigong helped me enter a meditative state where my brainwaves slowed, my heart and brain rhythms synced, and my nervous system recalibrated. This coherence—between breath, mind, and body—became the foundation of my healing.
The Role of Pineal Gland
Qigong is more than exercise—it’s a spiritual technology. It activates the pineal gland, enhancing inner vision and connection to higher states of consciousness. It stimulates melatonin, which regulates sleep, supports immune function, and facilitates deep healing.
Through intentional breathwork and gentle movement, I released years of stuck energy—grief, fear, shame, anger. And as I cleared space within, I began receiving intuitive insights, clarity, and vision for my life.
From Burnout to Empowerment
What began as a survival tool has now become my life practice. Qigong is not just how I heal— it’s how I live. It’s how I lead. It’s how I mother, nurse, and show up in the world.
This journey isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. Nurses. Caregivers. Women. Leaders. We are not just matter—we are energy. When we shift our energy, we shift our lives. In the Qigong session where we’ll explore simple, accessible practices to:
- Regulate your nervous system and support your health holistically
- Reconnect with your breath and body
- Release physical and emotion tension
- Cultivate inner peace and mental clarity
This is your invitation to pause. To exhale. To return home to yourself.
What Others Say After A Session
“I feel like I came home to myself.”
“I didn’t realize how much I was holding.” “I feel grounded, calm, and clear.”
“Thank you for creating a space where I could just be.” “I feel lighter—emotionally and physically.”
“I believe healing is possible again.”
This is your moment to reboot—not just your body, but your soul. Come. Breathe. Move. Heal. Let’s meet at the intersection of science and spirit, energy and intention, healing and homecoming.
References
- Black, D. S., & Slavich, G. M. (2016). Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1373(1), 13–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12998
- Buric, I., Farias, M., Jong, J., Mee, C., & Brazil, I. A. (2020). What is the molecular signature of mind–body interventions? A systematic review of gene expression changes induced by meditation and related practices. Frontiers in Immunology, 11, 554255. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.554255
- Dispenza, J. (2017). Becoming supernatural: How common people are doing the uncommon. Hay House.
- Harvard Medical School. (2015). Qigong and the mind-body connection. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu
- Harvard Medical School. (2015, July). Relaxation response helps fight stress. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/relaxation-techniques-breath- control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response
- HeartMath Institute. (2013). Science of the heart: Exploring the role of the heart in human performance (Vol. 2). HeartMath Research Center. https://www.heartmath.org/research/science- of-the-heart/
- Journal of Neurophysiology. (2014). Changes in alpha and theta activity during Qigong meditation: An EEG study. Journal of Neurophysiology, 112(4), 889–896. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00345.2014
- Li, M., Fang, Q., Li, J., Zheng, X., Tao, J., Yan, X., & Baduanjin Qigong Study Group. (2014). The effect of Baduanjin exercise on fatigue and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18(5), 509–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2014.05.001
- Lipton, B. H. (2005). The biology of belief: Unleashing the power of consciousness, matter & miracles. Hay House.
- Sancier, K. M. (1996). Medical applications of Qigong. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2(1), 40–46.
- Tang, Y.-Y., Ma, Y., Fan, Y., Feng, H., Wang, J., Feng, S., Lu, Q., Hu, B., Lin, Y., & Posner, M (2009). Central and autonomic nervous system interaction is altered by short-term meditation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(22), 8865–8870. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0904031106
- van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
- Zhou, K., Li, X., Li, J., Liu, M., Dang, S., & Wang, D. (2019). Effects of Qigong on depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 884–893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.091
