Medical qigong is among the four main branches of Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, medical massage, and herbal medicine. Qigong works to balance qi (electromagnetic energy), which surrounds and exists in all creatures. Injuries, diets, sedentary lifestyles, suppression of emotions, and aging all interfere with qi, and that’s where medical qigong comes in to restore balance.
Medical qigong corrects bio-energetic imbalances and blockages. Creating these balances will enable your body to strengthen and regulate internal organs and the immune system, regulate hormones, and relieve pain, among other functions. As a medical qigong practitioner, you’ll help regulate your client’s qi. While there are a lot of programs, there are 5 medical qigong certifications we love the most.
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1. Qigong Awareness: Medical Qigong Practitioner Training Program
Conducted entirely online, the Medical Qigong Practitioner Training Program by Qigong Awareness provides a unique opportunity for self-healing while acquiring skills to heal others. It is a dual certification as a Qigong instructor and a Medical Qigong Practitioner. The program has five levels, with the initial four levels leading to the Certified Qigong Instructor (QI 200) certification and the final fifth level culminating in the Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP 300).
Participants will develop the expertise to:
- Teach one-hour qigong classes
- Host two-hour and three-hour qigong workshops
- Provide one-hour medical qigong treatments
With a curriculum that builds on previous levels, participants learn eight distinct flows for one-hour qigong classes and over 30 medical qigong treatment techniques. With David J. Coon, a Medical Qigong Master with over 30 years of experience at the helm, and the program’s hands-on, an experiential approach ensures a deep understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects.
Course Structure and Payment Options:
- Participants can choose from various payment options, including regular monthly payments, prepayment for each level, or a full $5495 prepayment. Discounts are available for those who have completed prior-level programs or courses.
- While the program is entirely conducted online, students also have the opportunity to participate in live workshops. The credits earned from these workshops can be applied toward the certification program, and participants receive a $199 discount for each live workshop completed.
Designed for acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, yoga instructors, reiki practitioners, and other health professionals, Qigong Awareness offers a full breadth of content to hone your skills. Join Qigong Awareness to become a Medical Qigong Practitioner, unlocking a path to greater wellness, vitality, and extraordinary awareness.
2. White Tiger Qigong: Medical Qigong Master Course
White Tiger Qigong presents an exceptional 15-week, 5-level Medical Qigong Master Course. In this medical qigong training online, you’ll explore the intricacies of each qigong exercise, understanding the mechanics, alignment, and the fundamental theory underpinning each movement. Level 4, Prescription Qigong, is where this course shines. You will learn to craft personalized remedies for conditions such as physical discomfort, emotional stability, fascia-specific treatments, Chinese Medicine-inspired qigong, qigong for persistent health issues, and more!
There’s no prescribed sequence to follow, allowing you the flexibility to select the modules that resonate most with your interests.
A closer look at the course content:
- Level 1: Body. Immerse yourself in each exercise’s mechanics, alignment, and historical context, including its intriguing and sometimes controversial history. You’ll gain mastery over the qigong forms and explore the profound wisdom of qigong Theory, Taoist philosophy, the concept of the 3 Treasures, 3 Harmonies, and the fascinating connection with the myofascial system.
- Level 2: Breath. Gain insights into the workings of qi, the vital life force, and learn precise techniques for channeling it through your body.
- Level 3: Spirit. Unlock the state of flow. By merging time-honored Taoist practices with scientifically grounded techniques, you’ll graduate from this level with a deepened connection to the art of qigong. This newfound awareness opens up fresh possibilities in your pursuit of well-being and inner equilibrium.
- Level 4: Prescription Qigong (Medical Qigong). Gain insights into the robust frameworks of Chinese Medicine, Fascia, and Sports Medicine, and learn to tailor qigong practices to suit individual needs. Bid farewell to generic solutions and embrace a world of personalized healing and rejuvenation.
- Level 5: Teacher Training. Offers one of the most comprehensive teaching courses available. To attain your official medical qigong practitioner certification, you will undergo evaluation through both a video test and a theoretical examination.
With your deepened practice, whether in qigong, yoga, meditation, or other holistic disciplines, you’ll have the opportunity to teach and cultivate a thriving business through holistic wellness with White Tiger Qigong.
3. International Medical Qigong College (IMQC): Medical Qigong Practitioner Program
International Medical Qigong College teaches both the theoretical and practical aspects of qigong. The experiential aspects of this course are well-balanced, with a solid theoretical foundation. In this Medical Qigong Practitioner Program, learning to become a medical qigong practitioner is a step-by-step process. Every class, internship, and practical builds on each other to give more knowledge and advancement.
IMQC offers three types of medical qigong programs, which include:
- Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP): This is a 200-hour certification program where students learn specific medical Qigong exercises to calm the mind, heal the body, and connect with the spirit. You will also learn the foundational qigong Qi emission protocols to restore balance.
- Medical Qigong Therapist (MQT): MQT is a 555-hour certification program that progresses from where MQP left off. Students learn advanced assessment skills, remote work, and Qi deviations here. MQT teaches specialty programs like Gynecology, Neurology, Psychology, and others.
- Medical Qigong Master (MQM): This program builds upon the knowledge learned from the other two programs. This program delves deeper into medical qigong , arousing a deeper understanding of the practice.
- DMQ Program: This 200-hour program certificate implies that you’ve understood the highest standard of medical qigong knowledge.
4. Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley: Medical Qigong Certificate
This medical qigong certificate program by Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, has a 6-module series that will provide students and practitioners with a deep self-inquiry and Qi cultivation opportunity. You will learn medical qigong therapeutic and diagnostic treatment methods. The three main goals of the program include:
- Self-cultivation: Students will learn and practice how to sense qi, set boundaries, and practice various qigong forms. You will also learn to cultivate your qi for mind, body, and spirit health.
- Chinese Medicine Theory and Medicinal Daoism: This includes an in-depth examination of Qi theory and practice’s main cosmological and psycho-emotional dimensions.
- Medical qigong training: Students will build qi emissions and qi sensitivity practices during this training. You can use qi movements, sounds, balls, and others.
5. Nicole Lee Qigong: Guigen Medical Qigong Training for Self-Healing
Elevate your well-being under the guidance of Nicole Lee Qigong, an internationally certified qigong teacher adept in both modern and classical qigong styles. Nicole’s expertise extends to meditation, mindfulness, energy healing, and craniosacral therapy, culminating in a holistic approach to self-care and healing.
In this course, Qigong for Self-Healing, you’ll uncover the Guigen qigong form. Comprising a sequence of six movements, this practice empowers you to cultivate a routine that nurtures vitality.
The focus is on guiding qi’s flow within the body’s main meridian network and the zang/fu organ system. Each zang organ is associated with a fu organ, creating five yin-yang organ systems. Each of these organ systems corresponds with one of the five phases of transformation.
The package includes invaluable resources
- two form tuition videos
- six detailed individual form videos
- three guided form practice videos
- comprehensive form notes
- a series of pre-recorded tuition videos
Tailor your learning experience according to your pace and preferences. Opt for a fully self-paced study or choose self-study with tuition guidance. For an enriched experience, consider upgrading during checkout to include a personal online session with Nicole Lee. She can help illuminate your journey with extensive knowledge and insights, fostering a deeper connection to the profound world of qigong.
What is medical qigong?
Qigong, which directly translates to ‘energy work,’ encompasses a well-refined system of meditations and exercises aimed at increasing our ability to obtain, reserve, circulate, and purify our qi. Through diligent practice, individuals can learn to use their minds to direct the flow of electrical signals and energetic components within the mind, body, and soul, thereby mastering their mental, physical, and emotional health and enhancing resistance to everyday diseases and stresses.
As a Medical Qigong Practitioner, you can assist patients in cleansing, redirecting, and restoring their vital energy. During a medical qigong treatment session, patients typically lie or sit on a table while the practitioner employs various hand movements and mental imagery to facilitate energetic healing. Patients often experience deep relaxation and a sense of oneness, with little to no physical touch required during the non-invasive procedure.
There are two primary types of medical qigong practice:
- Internal medical qigong: This practice involves utilizing the individual’s ability to self-heal through prescriptive exercises, meditation, breathing techniques, or a combination tailored to their diagnosis, constitution, and treatment plan.
- External medical qigong: Practitioners undergo specific training and personal cultivation to direct and transmit qi from themselves to the patient, identifying deficiencies, purging excesses, and harmonizing overall energy for holistic health and balance.
How does medical qiqong differ from regular qiqong?
There are three primary forms of qigong: martial, medical, and spiritual. Martial qigong can enhance performance in any sport, while spiritual qigong encompasses moving meditation and stillness. Medical qigong involves various practices such as breathwork and intention, aimed at promoting healing.
Medical qigong provides an effective and safe method to alleviate the effects of electromagnetic disruptions caused by factors such as chemicals, surgeries, injuries, environment, emotional changes, and aging. It is proficient in treating chronic disorders affecting the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
For instance, medical qigong is utilized in hospitals in countries like the U.S. and China to aid in the treatment of various illnesses, including managing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Unlike other forms of qigong, medical qigong is primarily taught in person due to its specialized nature, requiring extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Training in medical qigong demands thousands of hours of study and assessment of one’s health.
What can I do with a medical qigong certification?
A medical qigong certification will enable you to treat both yourself and others. With this certification, you can assist patients in addressing ailments by balancing their qi, promoting well-being, and enhancing their quality of life.
This certification benefits professionals, including:
- Acupuncturists
- Massage therapists
- Yoga instructors
- Martial arts instructors
- Certified Reiki practitioners
- Chiropractors
- Qigong instructors
- Others interested in holistic healing practices
How do I become a Qigong practitioner?
If you want to practice qigong to help others with health and healing, you will need a certification from the National Qigong Association (NQA) to show your clients you are qualified. Below, we outline the differences between clinical practitioners and integrated practitioners.
Qigong Clinical Practitioner
- At least two years of clinical experience
- At least 500 hours of documented formal qigong training, including 300 hours dedicated to didactic and 200 hours explicitly dedicated to qigong
- At least 100 hours of qigong treatment, which can be either contact or non-contact adjunct massage manipulations, Qi emission, and teaching of prescriptive exercises
- An interview with members of the Application Review Committee from the NQA.
- A current liability insurance policy.
Qigong Senior Clinical Practitioner
- At least 1,500 hours of documented formal qigong training; at least 500 of these hours should be didactic, while at least 350 hours should be devoted explicitly to qigong
- At least ten years of clinical experience
- At least 1,000 hours of treatment; either contact or non-contact teaching of prescriptive exercises or any combination thereof, adjunct massage manipulations, and Qi emission
- A current liability insurance policy
- Interview with the Application Review Committee from NQA members
Qigong Integrated Practitioner
- At least 350 hours of documented formal qigong training
- At least five years of personal qigong training
- At least two years of integrating qigong into your professional practice
Closing Thoughts on Medical Qigong Training
Balancing and detoxifying qi is crucial for maintaining optimal health and well-being. In medical qigong training, practitioners must dedicate themselves to gaining a deep understanding of theoretical principles and practical techniques for achieving this balance. In doing so, they can become adept at facilitating healing and promoting wellness in themselves and others.
