Yoga or Qi Gong? Which to choose?

 Dear Seekers of Wellness and Wisdom,

If you've been exploring movement-based wellness practices, you've likely encountered both yoga and Qi Gong and wondered: "What's the difference? Which one is right for me?" As someone who deeply respects both traditions—I'd love to share some insights about these two paths to health and spiritual connection.

Ancient Wisdom, Different Origins

Both practices are gifts from ancient civilizations that understood the profound connection between body, mind, and spirit. Yoga, emerging from India over 5,000 years ago, literally means "union" and encompasses not just physical postures (asanas) but breathing techniques, meditation, and philosophical teachings aimed at connecting individual consciousness with universal consciousness. Qi Gong, developed in China over 4,000 years ago, translates to "energy cultivation" and focuses specifically on working with life force energy (Qi) through gentle movements, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote health, longevity, and spiritual development.

The Movement Experience

Yoga tends to emphasize:

Static poses held for varying lengths of time

Building strength, flexibility, and balance through challenging positions

Flowing sequences (like Sun Salutations) that move through poses with breath coordination

Often more physically demanding, with options to modify for different levels

Focus on alignment, form, and progressive deepening of poses

Qi Gong emphasizes:

Continuous, flowing movements that are never forced or strained

Gentle, repetitive motions that can be adapted for any physical ability

Working with energy flow rather than muscular strength or extreme flexibility

Movements often inspired by nature (animals, elements, natural phenomena)

Less about "perfecting" poses and more about cultivating awareness and energy flow

Breathing and Energy Work

Yoga incorporates:

Pranayama (breath control) as a separate but integrated practice

Various breathing techniques for different purposes (energizing, calming, balancing)

Breath coordinated with movement, especially in vinyasa-style practices

Some styles emphasize breath retention and more complex breathing patterns

Qi Gong features:

Breathing as an integral, seamless part of every movement

Generally simpler, more natural breathing patterns that anyone can learn

Emphasis on breathing into the lower belly (dan tian) for grounding and energy cultivation Breath work that's always gentle and accessible, never forced or straining

Physical Accessibility and Adaptation

Yoga can be:

Challenging for those with limited mobility, though many adaptations exist

Sometimes intimidating for beginners who see advanced practitioners in pretzel-like poses Excellent for building strength and flexibility over time

Requires more equipment (mats, blocks, straps) for optimal practice

Qi Gong offers:

Complete accessibility—can be practiced sitting, standing, or even lying down

No equipment needed, can be done anywhere in any clothing

Perfect for people with injuries, chronic conditions, or mobility limitations

Equally beneficial whether you're 8 or 80, completely sedentary or athletically trained

Spiritual and Philosophical Approaches

Yoga encompasses:

Rich philosophical traditions including the eight-limbed path of Patanjali

Various schools with different emphases (devotional, knowledge-based, action-oriented) Often includes chanting, mantras, and study of ancient texts

Can range from purely physical practice to deeply spiritual exploration

Qi Gong involves:

Taoist and Traditional Chinese Medicine principles about harmony and balance

Focus on connecting with natural rhythms and universal energy

Less emphasis on philosophy and more on direct experience of energy cultivation

Spiritual development through embodied practice rather than intellectual study

Health and Wellness Benefits

Both practices offer remarkable health benefits, supported by extensive research:

Shared Benefits: Stress reduction and improved mental health

Better balance, flexibility, and coordination

Enhanced immune function and cardiovascular health

Improved sleep quality and energy levels

Greater mind-body awareness and emotional regulation

Yoga's Particular Strengths:

Excellent for building physical strength and flexibility

Powerful for those who enjoy challenging themselves physically

Rich tradition of meditation and philosophical study

Great for people who like variety and dynamic sequences

Qi Gong's Unique Gifts:

Gentle yet profoundly effective

Specifically designed to work with energy meridians and organ systems

Particularly beneficial for chronic health conditions and pain management

Accessible to absolutely everyone regardless of physical limitations

Focuses on regenerative rather than depleting energy

Which Practice Calls to You?

There's no wrong choice. Some people thrive with yoga's combination of strength-building and spiritual philosophy. Others find their home in Qi Gong's gentle, flowing approach to energy cultivation. You might love yoga if you enjoy physical challenges and building strength and like variety in your practice with different poses and sequences. You might love Qi Gong if you prefer gentle, flowing movements over static poses, are dealing with injuries, chronic conditions, or mobility limitations and want a practice focused specifically on energy cultivation and healing.

Why I Choose Qi Gong

As both a healthcare practitioner and someone who's explored many movement modalities, I'm drawn to Qi Gong's unique combination of gentleness and power. The 14 Brocades of the Jinjing Gong tradition that I teach offer a complete system for health and spiritual development that meets people exactly where they are while providing profound benefits for body, mind, and spirit. I love that my 90-year-old patients can practice the same forms as my 30-year-old patients, each receiving exactly what they need. I appreciate how the movements work directly with the energy meridians and organ systems I work with in my Chinese medicine practice. And I'm constantly amazed by how this 4,000-year-old technology remains perfectly relevant for modern stress, health challenges, and our deep need for connection.

An Invitation to Explore

If Qi Gong sounds like it might be calling to you, I'd love to welcome you into our Autumn Flow Qi Gong series featuring the 14 Brocades. We meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 AM EST for a gentle, accessible introduction to this beautiful practice. Whether you're a devoted yogi looking to explore something complementary, someone who's felt intimidated by more physical practices, or simply curious about ancient wisdom traditions, there's a place for you in our circle. Both yoga and Qi Gong are gifts that can transform your life. The question isn't which one is better—it's which one your body, mind, and spirit are calling you toward right now.

With respect for all paths to wellness,

Dr Kelly Jennings 

Naturopathic Physician, Chinese Medicine Practitioner Jinjing Gong (Nourishing Life) Teacher

Experience Qi Gong:

• Current Series: Autumn Flow - The 14 Brocades

• Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 8 AM EST

• Approach: Gentle, accessible, profoundly healing

• Perfect for: All bodies, all levels, all ages

Questions? Feel free to write to me directly at

drjennings@thesourceforhealing.com