Stress Reduction;
Qigong helps reduce stress by combining rhythmic breathing with meditative movement to lower cortisol levels and activate the parasympathetic nervous system's "rest and digest" response.
Increased Energy;
Qigong revitalizes your energy by integrating deep, rhythmic breathing with fluid movement to clear energetic blockages and optimize the body’s natural flow of life force.
Enhanced Balance
Qigong improves balance by strengthening core muscles and enhancing proprioception through slow, deliberate weight shifts and mindful postural alignment.
Immune Support
By integrating gentle movements that promote lymphatic circulation with meditative breathing to reduce cortisol, Qigong helps the body maintain a robust immune response and increases the activity of protective white blood cells.
Chronic Pain Relief
Qigong alleviates chronic pain by utilizing gentle, low-impact movements to improve joint mobility and specialized breathwork to calm the nervous system, effectively reducing the physical and emotional tension that often accompanies long-term discomfort.
Digestive Support
Qigong aids digestive health by utilizing gentle, fluid movements to physically massage the internal organs while deep abdominal breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body transition into a "rest and digest" state for optimal nutrient processing.
Poor Circulation
Draws fresh, oxygenated blood into stagnant areas, effectively revitalizing the circulatory system and supporting the body's natural recovery process.
Neck and Shoulder Tension
Relieve shoulder and neck tension by applying suction to lift and decompress tight muscle fibers, which improves blood circulation and physically breaks up the adhesions that cause stiffness.
1. Initial Assessment
The session begins with a focused initial assessment where your practitioner takes time to understand your health concerns, mobility level, and overall goals for the practice. You’ll discuss any physical limitations such as pain, stiffness, or balance issues, as well as emotional or stress‑related factors that may influence your energy. Dr. Erdmann may observe your posture and breathing patterns to identify areas of tension or imbalance, and will gently evaluate how comfortably you can move through basic motions. This assessment ensures that the session is tailored to your needs, allowing the movements, breathwork, and pacing to be both safe and effective for your body.
2. Breathwork Instruction
Breathwork is the foundation of Qigong, helping calm the nervous system and guide the flow of Qi through the body. During your session, you’ll learn slow abdominal breathing that gently expands the belly on the inhale and softens on the exhale, allowing the diaphragm to relax and the mind to settle. Dr. Erdmann will guide you through smooth, even breaths that coordinate with movement, helping release tension, improve circulation, and create a steady rhythm in the body. This mindful breathing helps you feel grounded, centered, and more connected to your natural energy.
3. Gentle Movement Practice
During the gentle movement portion of your Qigong session, Dr. Erdmann guides you through slow, flowing exercises that coordinate breath, posture, and intention. These movements are intentionally soft and unforced, helping the body release tension while improving circulation and joint mobility. You’ll practice smooth weight shifting to strengthen balance, circular arm and hand motions to open the chest and shoulders, and gentle spinal waves to loosen the back and calm the nervous system. Each movement is performed at your own pace, allowing you to feel grounded, centered, and more connected to your body’s natural rhythm.
4. Standing or Seated Postures
During this part of the session, Dr. Erdmann guides you into stable, relaxed postures that help align the spine, open the chest, and create a grounded foundation for movement and breath. Whether standing or seated, the focus is on upright alignment—allowing the head, shoulders, and hips to stack naturally so Qi can flow smoothly through the body. You’ll learn how to soften the knees and hips in standing practice to release tension, or how to root through the sit bones when seated to create stability without strain. These postures encourage calm awareness, improve balance, and support gentle, continuous breathing, making the practice accessible for all mobility levels.
5. Closing Relaxation
The session ends with a period of gentle closing relaxation designed to help your body absorb the benefits of the practice. Dr. Erdmann guides you to settle into slow, effortless breathing while releasing any remaining tension in the shoulders, chest, and abdomen. You may rest in a standing or seated posture as you practice quiet awareness—allowing the mind to soften and the nervous system to shift into a calm, restorative state. This final phase helps integrate the movements, deepen relaxation, and leave you feeling grounded, centered, and internally balanced.
6. Integration
At the Natural Family Health Center, the integration phase is where your immediate relief transforms into a long-term strategy for sustained wellness. After your hands-on treatment, such as cupping or a guided Qigong flow, Dr. Erdmann works with you to bridge the gap between the clinic and your daily life.
