What Is Qi Gong (and Why Dao Yin Is My Go-To Practice for Midlife Wellbeing)

If you’ve ever seen a group of people moving slowly and gracefully in the park, you’ve probably witnessed Qi Gong. To the outside eye, it can look like a cross between tai chi and gentle yoga, but it is in fact one of the oldest practices of Chinese medicine. And—here’s the good news—you don’t need a mat, lycra leggings, or fancy equipment to join in. Just your body, your breath, and a willingness to explore.

I practice and teach a specific form of Qi Gong called Dao Yin, and I’d love to share with you why it’s such a powerful, simple, and life-enhancing practice—especially in midlife. Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been exploring for years, Dao Yin meets you where you are and works on multiple levels, from physical health to emotional balance and spiritual connection.

What is Qi Gong?

Qi Gong literally means “energy cultivation” or “working with Qi”. Qi is your life force—the vital energy that animates you—and Gong means skill or practice. So Qi Gong is the art of harnessing, balancing, and strengthening that energy through movement, breath, and intention.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi Gong sits alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage (Tuina), and dietary therapy as one of the five healing branches. Where acupuncture uses needles, Qi Gong uses your own body as the needle—opening up pathways, called meridians, and helping energy to flow freely.

Why Dao Yin?

Dao Yin is a style of Qi Gong that combines gentle stretching, flowing movements, mindful breathing, and self-massage. It’s less about choreography and more about releasing tension, mobilising the body, and regulating the mind.

Think of it as a reset button for your whole system. You don’t need to memorise a long sequence or “get it right.” You simply meet yourself where you are, with movements designed to:

• Stretch and unblock stagnant energy in the channels.

• Strengthen and nourish your organs.

• Calm and steady your mind through breath.

• Soften and release the body’s habitual tension.

Its beauty lies in its simplicity. In Dao Yin, small things make a big difference. A twist of the waist, a gentle pat along the meridians, a conscious sigh—all of these guide Qi to circulate more smoothly. It works whether you’ve been practising for a week or a decade, because the deeper you go into the awareness of your body and breath, the more profound the benefits.

The Health Benefits of Dao Yin (Especially in Midlife)

Midlife is a time of enormous transition. Hormones shift, energy changes, and the body’s needs evolve. In Chinese medicine, this is often when imbalances surface—hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, brain fog, fatigue, joint stiffness, and disrupted sleep, to name just a few.

Dao Yin offers a practical, preventative, and deeply nurturing way to support yourself through these changes:

• Balances hormones and temperature regulation – The breath work and gentle stretches help regulate the Heart and Kidney systems, easing hot flushes and improving sleep.

• Supports digestion and metabolism – Twisting, bending, and massaging the abdomen strengthens Spleen and Stomach Qi, reducing bloating, cravings, and sluggish digestion.

• Calms the mind and emotions – Movements to open the chest and regulate the breath soothe the Heart and Lung Qi, easing anxiety, irritability, and overwhelm.

• Strengthens bones, muscles, and joints – Unlike high-impact exercise, Dao Yin builds strength and flexibility in a sustainable way, perfect for protecting joints and preventing injuries.

• Boosts energy and vitality – By circulating Qi and Blood, Dao Yin lifts fatigue and helps you feel more alive.

Perhaps most importantly, Dao Yin reconnects you with your own body wisdom. It gives you back a sense of agency when midlife sometimes feels like your body has a mind of its own.

Practising in Nature vs Practising Together Indoors

One of my favourite things about Qi Gong is its adaptability. You can practise anywhere.

• In nature – Practising outdoors, surrounded by trees, mountains, or even just a patch of sky, magnifies the effects. The Chinese call this absorbing the Qi of Heaven and Earth. When you breathe deeply with the trees, or move in rhythm with the waves, you’re not just exercising—you’re harmonising with nature.

• In a group – There is also something extraordinary about practising together in a dedicated space. The collective energy amplifies your own, creating a kind of shared rhythm and resonance. Many people describe it as feeling “carried” by the group. It’s both grounding and uplifting at the same time.

The beauty is, you don’t have to choose. You can practise a little at home, find your favourite spot in the park, or come together in a class or retreat setting. Each has its own unique benefits.

What Do You Need to Practise Qi Gong?

The simplicity of Dao Yin is one of its greatest gifts:

• No mat required.

• No special clothing needed (just something comfortable to move in).

• No equipment.

• No “ideal” age, body type, or fitness level.

You can practise in your living room, in the garden, in a yoga studio, or on retreat in the Andalusian mountains (my personal favourite). All you need is your body, your breath, and a willingness to begin.

The Seasonal Connection: Why Autumn is a Perfect Time to Start

In Chinese medicine, each season is linked to an element and organ system. Autumn corresponds to the Metal element, the Lungs, and the theme of letting go.

This makes autumn an especially powerful time to begin Qi Gong. The breath is the bridge between body and mind, and in autumn, the Lung Qi is at its peak. Movements that expand the chest, stretch the arms, and encourage full, conscious breathing help:

• Strengthen immunity as the weather turns colder.

• Clear grief, heaviness, or stagnation (emotional or physical).

• Build resilience for the winter months ahead.

That said, the truth is anytime is a good time to start. Qi Gong doesn’t follow the calendar in a rigid way—it meets you in your current season of life.

Why Midlife Women in Particular Benefit

So many of us in midlife are juggling careers, caring responsibilities, ageing parents, and our own shifting health needs. Qi Gong offers something rare in that mix: a practice that’s deeply restorative yet also energising, that doesn’t deplete you but builds you up.

Unlike punishing fitness regimes, Dao Yin Qi Gong doesn’t demand more from you—it gives back. It’s a practice of nourishment, not exhaustion.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re curious about starting, remember this: you don’t need to “get it right.” The most important thing is simply to begin. A few minutes of Dao Yin Qi Gong each day can transform how you feel in your body, your mind, and your energy.

You’re welcome to join me in Brighton for my upcoming classes, or perhaps a day retreat in Sussex, maybe even in Spain or Morocco for a retreat where we practise surrounded by mountains, sky, and birdsong. Wherever you are, Qi Gong can become your anchor.

Final Thoughts

Qi Gong is simple, profound, and endlessly adaptable. Dao Yin in particular is like a gentle hand guiding you back into harmony—whether that’s harmony with your body, with your breath, or with the world around you.

As the Daoist saying goes:

“When Qi flows, there is health.
When Qi is blocked, there is illness.”

So why not start today? Your body, your breath, and the season itself are waiting to support you.