How do you know if a Qigong form truly fits you?

[Kati]

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been practicing Spring Forest Qigong for over two years now, and overall it has helped me a lot., I feel calmer, more regulated, and in many ways it has really supported my healing process. So I’m genuinely grateful for that.

 

At the same time, there’s this question that keeps coming up for me:

Is this really the Qigong form that fits me best?

 

What has been bothering me is that in the courses I attended, certain topics were never really addressed — especially things like Qi deviation or how to deal with intense or unusual experiences (including what some people might call “paranormal” phenomena). I’ve had some experiences during practice — seeing or feeling things that were quite strong — and I honestly felt a bit scared at times because I didn’t have any framework for understanding them.

 

I had to research everything on my own. There was nothing in the books or teachings I received that openly talked about potential side effects, energetic imbalances, or how to handle them. That felt too superficial for me. Almost like only the positive, healing aspects were emphasized, but not the possible challenges.

 

I also want to say that I find Chunyi Lin, the founder of Spring Forest Qigong, very inspiring. His story, his presence, and what he has built are impressive to me. I genuinely respect him and what he represents. So this is not about criticizing him as a person or teacher.

 

But even with that respect and inspiration, I still notice that the form itself — the way Spring Forest Qigong is structured and taught — doesn’t fully give me the feeling that this is 100% what I need. Something in me still feels uncertain or not completely aligned.

 

Recently, I’ve looked into other forms like Zhineng Qigong, and there it seems that these kinds of intense or unusual experiences are at least acknowledged and sometimes even described as part of the path that can be integrated consciously. That made me reflect even more on what I’m actually looking for in a practice.

 

So now I’m really asking myself:

 

What are the markers that tell you a Qigong form truly fits you?

 

Is it about physical results?

Emotional stability?

Feeling grounded and safe? ( maybe the most important?)

How transparent the teachers are about risks and intense experiences?

An inner sense of alignment?

And in what way could my own viewpoint be the problem?

What can i expect from a good qigong form?

 

I’m considering committing to one form for 100 days straight to really test it — and then honestly evaluate how my nervous system feels, whether I feel more stable and clear, or whether something feels off.

 

I’d really appreciate hearing from long-term practitioners:

How did you know your form was right for you?

What are healthy signs — and what are red flags?

 

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

[Gerard]

4 hours ago, Kati said:

A. How did you know your form was right for you?

B. What are healthy signs — and what are red flags?

 

A. Wisdom, intuition.

 

B. Internal changes from basically after 6 months of practice. Opening of the mind, loosening of the entire energetic and body, connecting with Taoist principles and also the entire body of TCM medical knowledge. 
 

About paranormal? Please define it as from my experience most of it is a direct result of being ungrounded. 

Edited February 16 by Gerard

[Kati]

16 hours ago, Gerard said:

. Wisdom, intuition.

give me some of that  please
here the snake bits its own tail. i get better at intuition/wisdom because of qigong


 

 

16 hours ago, Gerard said:

Internal changes from basically after 6 months of practice. Opening of the mind, loosening of the entire energetic and body, connecting with Taoist principles and also the entire body of TCM medical knowledge. 

I find this really interesting. So, can you really say that after six months of practice, these effects apply to everyone? I find that hard to imagine, because everyone probably starts at a different point. And honestly, I don’t fully understand everything you’re saying. So what do you mean by “opening the mind” and “relaxing the whole energetic body and the physical body”? I have to admit, I think I was too blocked for that—like, I haven’t really managed to do all of that even once in six months of practice, doing half an hour a day.

I also have to admit that routine is really my enemy. But it does actually feel a little better. So maybe you mean that it doesn’t happen automatically after six months, but that over time, through consistent practice, these things develop.

Also, where do you get this information from? Is it your own experience, or something you’ve heard from other Qigong practitioners? I’ve also told myself, because I’ve read it several times, that a good Qigong form helps you become calmer internally, improves sleep, and generally makes you feel more resilient and grounded—which seems to be one of the most important things.

 

Thank you Gerard!

[Gerard]

The practice I do did it to me and my two teachers can verify that because they experienced the same. 
 

Some methods are a lot better than others. I hope you are aware of this principle.

 

You need to find the ONE that works for YOU the BEST. 

[Krenx]

It is heavily dependent on the teacher. A good teacher or system will understand what you are going through, will be able to give you an answer to what is happening.

 

And these answers are "consistent" among good teachers. And it also clarifies teachings you might have heard in the past, but overlooked as insignificant, but are quite important. 

 

Pursue this journey gradually, and constantly ask these questions you are asking. Manage your expectations when you commit large portions of your time. Be honest what you gained, and what you did not achieve relative to time spent. 

 

Many practitioners I have met, who has good skills, are lazy. Lazy in a sense where they only practiced things that produced results, and applied only what was instructed, did nothing more, nothing less. Extremely picky. A highly precise kind of laziness. And you will realize they all did not so different things. 

 

And the lazy me will only pick the practice that is the common denominator of all these lazy people, and only practice those few things they all practice. Not more, Not less. To be the laziest one of all.  

Edited February 16 by Krenx

[ChiDragon]

21 hours ago, Kati said:

So now I’m really asking myself:

 

What are the markers that tell you a Qigong form truly fits you?

 

Is it about physical results?

Emotional stability?

Feeling grounded and safe? ( maybe the most important?)

How transparent the teachers are about risks and intense experiences?

An inner sense of alignment?

And in what way could my own viewpoint be the problem?

What can i expect from a good qigong form?

 

I’m considering committing to one form for 100 days straight to really test it — and then honestly evaluate how my nervous system feels, whether I feel more stable and clear, or whether something feels off.

 

I’d really appreciate hearing from long-term practitioners:

How did you know your form was right for you?

What are healthy signs — and what are red flags?

Did you do any breathing exercise during your Qigong practice? If you did, you are all set and there is nothing to be worry about. Qigong is about learning to breathe better to enhance the metabolism in your body. It has a healing effect on the body. There should be no side effect if it was done properly. BTW Any qigong has the same positive effect. The name given to Qigong is immaterial. What it mounts to is mainly improving your breathing. Thus if the health of your body doesn't improve from the practice, that means you have not done the breathing exercise correctly.

Edited February 16 by ChiDragon

[Cobie]

Slow breathing seems to be good for you https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5709795/

[ChiDragon]

7 minutes ago, Cobie said:

Slow breathing seems to be good for you https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5709795/

 

Yes, many modern people do not realize that is Qigong(氣功).

Edited February 16 by ChiDragon

[Kati]

11 hours ago, Gerard said:

 

You need to find the ONE that works for YOU the BEST. 

word ! yes i will try out some methods each for 100 days and check what works best for me

 

thank you a lot

[cake1234566]

There are a lot of different goals within qigong, some focusing on healing, some on martial power, some on spiritual expansion (this is often in preparation for alchemic work)

Imo you should follow your intuition to find one that aligns best with your personal goals (remember there is not a single right choice)

Within 100 days you should be able to judge whether the form is helping you to achieve those goals
Examples, you'll often feel more youthful and have a higher baseline energy if working with a healing qigong, with martial development you'll get aches in places you didn't know existed, spiritual stuff you'll start to experience the various energetic phenomena leading to expansion of consciousness

If you find a really good system it should cause all three

Obviously real life isn't so black and white but this is a rough outline of what I've experienced with various systems

[Gerard]

On 17/2/2026 at 7:59 PM, Kati said:

word ! yes i will try out some methods each for 100 days and check what works best for me

 

thank you a lot

 

Not a problem.

 

One more thing:

You need to learn from a reputable teacher. 
 

This is going to be a tricky part because you aren't just learning by repetition but by shared knowledge and deep experience. It's like the physical process of osmosis. 
 

Books and DVDs won't pass you that kind of learning, I'm afraid.

 

Once again, good luck

 

[forestofclarity]

I think we're always looking for the next, the better, the more efficient, the best. Some techniques may seem useless or a slog for a very long time and then one day they open up. I think if you have found a qigong from a teacher you trust, then it would be better to practice that in the long run than drift from practice to practice (like many of us do/have done). 

[liminal_luke]

Take it from a drifter, if you´ve been practicing the same system for two years and feel the benefits, you´re doing pretty darn great!  

[steve]

I've practiced qigong for about 20 years.

One thing I've learned is that my expectations need to be realistic.

Certainly there are benefits from the forms I practice but qigong has not proven to be a comprehensive and complete system for me.

I practice both Shiba Luohangong and Ba Duan Jin and derive valuable and different benefits from each.

I have also continued to practice internal Chinese martial arts over that period of time - taijiquan, xingyiquan, and baguazhang. 

While I no longer compete or train martially with others, these have found a valuable role in my physical, energetic, and mental health.

Finally, perhaps most important to me is my meditation practice from a Tibetan tradition.

While I do think it's important to stick with a practice for a long time to really probe its depth and potential, 

I don't know that each one of us can expect to find a single practice or system that does everything we are looking for.

Some do and that is wonderful but it hasn't been that way for me.

I also think that we need to listen to our body and mind and maintain some openness and flexibility as our needs can change over time. 

 

 

[Taomeow]

Qigong needs to "hit the spot."  

 

Real life examples from my experience.

 

Person A.  An accomplished taiji practitioner for many years.  Disciplined, dedicated, talented, competitive.  Had a falling out with the teacher.  Stopped practicing taiji altogether, which at the time struck me as cutting off her nose to spite her face.  Found a different teacher, who only teaches qigong, meditation and a bit of related subjects ("feng shui light," very light.)  A few years down the road, completely satisfied with her practice.  I don't know what she's doing with the competitive side of her personality, but the rest of it has just flown naturally into the new practice.

 

Person B.  Has never been interested in anything Asian, and physical engagement with movement has been limited to an occasional game of tennis.  An accomplished professional (medical doctor).  Started having problems with her lower back later in life, which turned severe.  Had surgery which made things worse.  Lived in nonstop pain for several years.  Was shown a few qigong exercises by a friend.  Reluctantly gave it a try, mostly to humor the friend.  Being also a naturally disciplined person, decided to give it a trial period of some length.  Until then anything and everything she tried made things only worse, but this time at first she noticed her back doesn't feel worse from qigong, then, that it feels a bit better.  Chalked it up to placebo yet kept practicing.  Three years later, still practices, her back feels 90% better, she's able to go on long hikes now and is off pain medication.  Still looking for an allopathic explanation.  

 

Person C.  An accomplished taiji practitioner, with all-around taoist interests for many years.  Has been taught many qigongs by her great teacher and at various workshops and seminars by other masters.  Taught qigong to various audiences.  Profoundly dislikes practicing it.  Why?  She has never been able to answer this question.  She absolutely loves taiji and many taoist practices, she's an experienced meditator, and there was a time she would sit in full lotus for two hours with reverse breathing going on autopilot if her practice required it.  Qigong?  Please...  no qigong.  Why?  Who knows.  Doesn't hit the spot.  

[liminal_luke]

36 minutes ago, Taomeow said:

Qigong needs to "hit the spot."  

 

Person C. 

 

There´s a lot to be said for following where the energy is, finding what "hits the spot."  My mom has done commision paintings before but always thinks the work she does for herself is better quality -- probably because she chooses the subject and it´s always something that interests her.

 

I think I might know Person C.  

 

Qigong, to me, is like a specific tool.  You´ve got your qigong hammer and your qigong wrench, qigong to tonify the liver, qigong to open the hips.  Taiji, by contrast, is more holistic -- each form is the whole shabang, the entire workshop, a mini version of the universe that mirrors the larger Universe.  Similarly, other Daoist arts are also the whole universe.  Feng Shui can be the whole universe, flower arranging ditto, tea, etc.  To a certain kind of person, qigong can be frustrating because when they´re working on tonifying their liver qi or whatever, everything else that is not that qigong, all the rest of it, tugs at their consciousness.  Some people want to work with the whole or nothing.  Anyway, this is my theory.  Not sure if it would mean anything or not to Person C.

Edited Saturday at 07:15 PM by liminal_luke

[Taomeow]

23 minutes ago, liminal_luke said:

 

There´s a lot to be said for following where the energy is, finding what "hits the spot."  My mom has done commision paintings before but always thinks the work she does for herself is better quality -- probably because she chooses the subject and it´s always something that interests her.

 

I think I might know Person C.  

 

Qigong, to me, is like a specific tool.  You´ve got your qigong hammer and your qigong wrench, qigong to tonify the liver, qigong to open the hips.  Taiji, by contrast, is more holistic -- each form is the whole shabang, the entire workshop, a mini version of the universe that mirrors the larger Universe.  Similarly, other Daoist arts are also the whole universe.  Feng Shui can be the whole universe, flower arranging ditto, tea, etc.  To a certain kind of person, qigong can be frustrating because when they´re working on tonifying their liver qi or whatever, everything else that is not that qigong, all the rest of it, tugs at their consciousness.  Some people want to work with the whole or nothing.  Anyway, this is my theory.  Not sure if it would mean anything or not to Person C.

 

Maybe that's what it is.  Person C has always viewed qigong as a remedy for something.  Remedies are great and necessary, but not many of them are enjoyable, at least for Person C.  Who has to debate with herself, "am I in the mood for this?  Can I maybe do it later?" even before taking a vitamin C capsule.     

[steve]

19 hours ago, Taomeow said:

Person C has always viewed qigong as a remedy for something. 

 

Person steve has a similar experience, that’s a very good way to describe how I’ve used qigong over the years. The practices are there when I need them, predictable and reliable.

Edited yesterday at 02:34 PM by steve

[kakapo]

On 2/15/2026 at 7:51 PM, Kati said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been practicing Spring Forest Qigong for over two years now, and overall it has helped me a lot., I feel calmer, more regulated, and in many ways it has really supported my healing process. So I’m genuinely grateful for that.

 

At the same time, there’s this question that keeps coming up for me:

Is this really the Qigong form that fits me best?

 

What has been bothering me is that in the courses I attended, certain topics were never really addressed — especially things like Qi deviation or how to deal with intense or unusual experiences (including what some people might call “paranormal” phenomena). I’ve had some experiences during practice — seeing or feeling things that were quite strong — and I honestly felt a bit scared at times because I didn’t have any framework for understanding them.

 

I had to research everything on my own. There was nothing in the books or teachings I received that openly talked about potential side effects, energetic imbalances, or how to handle them. That felt too superficial for me. Almost like only the positive, healing aspects were emphasized, but not the possible challenges.

 

I also want to say that I find Chunyi Lin, the founder of Spring Forest Qigong, very inspiring. His story, his presence, and what he has built are impressive to me. I genuinely respect him and what he represents. So this is not about criticizing him as a person or teacher.

 

But even with that respect and inspiration, I still notice that the form itself — the way Spring Forest Qigong is structured and taught — doesn’t fully give me the feeling that this is 100% what I need. Something in me still feels uncertain or not completely aligned.

 

Recently, I’ve looked into other forms like Zhineng Qigong, and there it seems that these kinds of intense or unusual experiences are at least acknowledged and sometimes even described as part of the path that can be integrated consciously. That made me reflect even more on what I’m actually looking for in a practice.

 

So now I’m really asking myself:

 

What are the markers that tell you a Qigong form truly fits you?

 

Is it about physical results?

Emotional stability?

Feeling grounded and safe? ( maybe the most important?)

How transparent the teachers are about risks and intense experiences?

An inner sense of alignment?

And in what way could my own viewpoint be the problem?

What can i expect from a good qigong form?

 

I’m considering committing to one form for 100 days straight to really test it — and then honestly evaluate how my nervous system feels, whether I feel more stable and clear, or whether something feels off.

 

I’d really appreciate hearing from long-term practitioners:

How did you know your form was right for you?

What are healthy signs — and what are red flags?

 

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

 

Kati,

 

Here’s my two cents.

 

Before anyone can decide if a system or lineage is right for them, they really need to figure out what they’re actually trying to achieve.

 

Most people can't clearly explain their goals simply because they haven't spent much time thinking about them.

 

So, step one is defining exactly what you want.

 

Once that's settled, step two is looking for proof.

 

You need to find a system that actually has evidence it can help you reach those specific goals.

 

A lot of lineages have tons of personal testimonials, but very few have real evidence backing up their claims.

 

It just doesn't make sense to dedicate your life to something based purely on stories without any solid proof.

 

Figure out exactly what you want to achieve, then find a system with real evidence that it works.

[Neirong]

On 16.02.2026 at 3:51 AM, Kati said:

But even with that respect and inspiration, I still notice that the form itself — the way Spring Forest Qigong is structured and taught — doesn’t fully give me the feeling that this is 100% what I need. Something in me still feels uncertain or not completely aligned.

 

I practiced qigong when I was young and trained for several months, several hours a day. Developed fairly decent energy sensitivity and density between hands. It took those few months to realize the obvious limitations of qigong practices and that I wanted more and deeper esoteric practices. So, I have started looking around. 
 

Qigong will never make one immortal, enlightened, or provide any genuine spiritual experiences, it is just energy work.
Nobody is going to ascend by going to a gym.
Once you grow out of kindergarten, you are naturally interested in deeper teachings. 

 

18 hours ago, kakapo said:

find a system with real evidence

Have not seen any evidence from you yet. 

[kakapo]

2 hours ago, Neirong said:

Have not seen any evidence from you yet. 

 

I will be happy to help, please send me an email:

 

[email protected]

[Apech]

On 16/02/2026 at 12:51 AM, Kati said:

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve been practicing Spring Forest Qigong for over two years now, and overall it has helped me a lot., I feel calmer, more regulated, and in many ways it has really supported my healing process. So I’m genuinely grateful for that.

 

At the same time, there’s this question that keeps coming up for me:

Is this really the Qigong form that fits me best?

 

What has been bothering me is that in the courses I attended, certain topics were never really addressed — especially things like Qi deviation or how to deal with intense or unusual experiences (including what some people might call “paranormal” phenomena). I’ve had some experiences during practice — seeing or feeling things that were quite strong — and I honestly felt a bit scared at times because I didn’t have any framework for understanding them.

 

I think the general answer to this kind of thing would be 'doesn't matter, carry on'.  This is for two reasons.  One is that most of these kinds of things are just the result of qi balancing or moving in a certain way.  You are clearly quite sensitive so many people would not notice anything much but for you there are 'paranormal experiences'.  So the usual answer is - just keep on with the practice.  Qigong relies on not just the body and breathing working together but also the mind.  If the mind gets drawn into diverting experiences the qigong won't work properly.  So in 99% of strange experiences it is best to just let them be and carry on.  Now obviously there is also significant stuff which may happen and which should not be ignored.  It is best to consult your teacher on this so they can give you a detailed and specific answer - or suggest some practice etc.  If this is not available then you will have to address the issues yourself - along the lines of don't be obsessed by the experiences but just note what they are and try to interpret them.

 

On 16/02/2026 at 12:51 AM, Kati said:

I had to research everything on my own. There was nothing in the books or teachings I received that openly talked about potential side effects, energetic imbalances, or how to handle them. That felt too superficial for me. Almost like only the positive, healing aspects were emphasized, but not the possible challenges.

 

I also want to say that I find Chunyi Lin, the founder of Spring Forest Qigong, very inspiring. His story, his presence, and what he has built are impressive to me. I genuinely respect him and what he represents. So this is not about criticizing him as a person or teacher.

 

But even with that respect and inspiration, I still notice that the form itself — the way Spring Forest Qigong is structured and taught — doesn’t fully give me the feeling that this is 100% what I need. Something in me still feels uncertain or not completely aligned.

 

Recently, I’ve looked into other forms like Zhineng Qigong, and there it seems that these kinds of intense or unusual experiences are at least acknowledged and sometimes even described as part of the path that can be integrated consciously. That made me reflect even more on what I’m actually looking for in a practice.

 

So now I’m really asking myself:

 

What are the markers that tell you a Qigong form truly fits you?

 

Is it about physical results?

Emotional stability?

Feeling grounded and safe? ( maybe the most important?)

How transparent the teachers are about risks and intense experiences?

An inner sense of alignment?

And in what way could my own viewpoint be the problem?

What can i expect from a good qigong form?

 

I’m considering committing to one form for 100 days straight to really test it — and then honestly evaluate how my nervous system feels, whether I feel more stable and clear, or whether something feels off.

 

I’d really appreciate hearing from long-term practitioners:

How did you know your form was right for you?

What are healthy signs — and what are red flags?

 

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

 

 

This is exactly what you should do.  There is no rush to accept or reject a system or practice.  You need to make a full evaluation and this should be based on results.  So do it with full concentration for 100 days and then review.  Do the same for any other system you come across which interests you.  Bear in mind while doing this that it is not necessarily that which meets our immediate needs which we seek ... not a kind of window shopping ... but something deeper about what is right for us.

 

 

[Cobie]

 

8 hours ago, Apech said:

… carry on … 

 

lol