Five Elements Qigong – 2025.04.01

Five Elements Qigong

The Five Elements are involved in all 12 Meridian Qigong and in these classes we will be working with individual Qigong that work all five Elements as well as groups of Qigong where we will use the Ko (Controlling) Cycle, or the Sheng (Nurturing) Cycle. In this way you can tailor your Qigong to have the desired effect of balancing the Qi effectively and efficiently. These recordings, from the Five Elements Qigong lessons include Qigong from the Five Taoist Yin the Shibashi, etc. picking individual exercises based on their Primary Element and tailoring groups that will use all Five Elements.

In this Five Elements Qigong Lesson

• Qigong preparation exercises.

Seasonal Qigong – Spring

• The Flying Dove, from the Taiji Shibashi: Using the Liver and Gallbladder Mu points.
• The Flying Dove, from the Taiji Shibashi: Using Metal to control Wood.
• Punching with Intent, from the Ba Duan Jin. Using Metal to control Wood.
• Folding Over, from the Embroidered Brocade: Focusing on the Wood meridians.

Fire Qigong

• The Doe-eyed Cow Turns to Look at the Moon: Secondary Fire.
• The Doe-eyed Cow Turns to Look at the Moon: Secondary Fire, upper hand more substantial.
• The Doe-eyed Cow Turns to Look at the Moon: Primary Fire.
• The Doe-eyed Cow Turns to Look at the Moon: Primary Fire, upper hand more substantial.

All Five Elements Qigong works with the Qi that flows throughout the meridian system. The qualities of the Qi in each Element, or Meridian, is different and this can only be experienced through the practice. The differences in these qualities is in the density and in the perceived “flow”. With Five Elements Qigong (meridians) it is generally experienced as a linear flow but this is only the start as the Qi flows in all directions and is not constrained by linearity. These lessons are laid out in the form of a course that explores these Qigong in increasing depth. The Five Taoist Yin Qigong adhere to that underlying precepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The tuition within this course provides you with all the tools and information you require to practice Qigong in its truest form. Practicing Internally. If you are new to Qigong please do our Qigong for Beginners course before joining these classes.

How Five Elements Qigong works

The Five Element theory is a Chinese medicine theory that uses the elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood to diagnose and treat health issues. The theory is based on the idea that these elements are constantly changing and interacting with each other, and that imbalances in these elements can lead to health problems. 

• Diagnosis – TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioners use the Five Element Theory to diagnose health issues by asking about symptoms, checking the tongue and pulse, and identifying imbalances in the Five Elements. 

• Treatment – TCM practitioners use the Five Element Theory to guide treatment plans, which may include Acupuncture, Acupressure, Shiatsu, herbs, or dietary changes. 

• Nutrition – TCM practitioners may recommend eating seasonal foods that are in harmony with the Five Elements. 

Five Elements Qigong – What the elements represent 

• Organs: Each element is associated with different organs in the body, such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. However, The Fire Element also has one meridian that is associated with the pericardium (not actually an organ) and another that is associated with the Triple Warmer (Triple Heater, or San Jiao). The Triple Warmer is an Energetic state and not a physical organ.
• Seasons: Each element is associated with a different season of the year, such as spring for Wood, summer for Fire, and autumn for Metal.
• Emotions: Each element is associated with different emotions.
• Colours: Each element is associated with different colours.

Five Elements Qigong – How the elements interact

• The Five Elements interact with each other in two distinct cycles: The Nurturing Cycle and the Controlling Cycle.
• Imbalances in the Five Elements can be caused by a number of factors, including pre- or post-natal influences. “We are what we eat” goes beyond our food intake. Our environment affects us, whether that is the air that we breath, the conditions that we live in, any traumatic events that we are exposed to, etc. Each of these examples are covered by the Five Element Theory and the imbalances that the create and be dealt with through the proper use of Qigong.