Qi Gong for Lung Health: Gentle Support for COPD and Asthma

Breath is life. When you live with COPD, asthma or other lung issues, every breath can feel like hard work. Simple things – walking to the kitchen, climbing a few stairs, chatting with a friend – may leave you puffed out or worried about the next flare.

Qi Gong offers a softer way to support your lungs. Slow, kind movement with relaxed breath can help your chest loosen, your nervous system settle and your confidence grow – always alongside your inhalers and medical care.

If you enjoy seeing how tradition and science meet, you can explore Qi Gong Evidence 2025 and Qi Gong and Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview. This page will stay practical and gentle, so you can start where you are.

Gentle Support for Your Lungs

When breathing feels difficult, it is easy to tense up, hold your shoulders high and worry about the next breath. That tension can make everything harder.

Inside Bright Beings Academy, you are guided through soft, lung-friendly Qi Gong that respects your limits. You can stay seated. You can keep your camera off. You can rest whenever you need.

You are not asked to push. You are invited to explore “how can I breathe with a little more ease today?”

Lungs, Stress and the Nervous System

With COPD and asthma, there is often more going on than just the lungs themselves. Stress, anxiety and fear of breathlessness can tighten your chest and speed up your breathing.

You may notice:

• Shoulders creeping up towards your ears

• Shallow breathing high in the chest

• Feeling panicky when you cannot get a full breath

• Avoiding activities in case you get breathless

• Sleep that feels light, broken or not refreshing

Your lungs do not work alone. They are part of a whole system that includes your heart, muscles and nervous system. When you are constantly on edge, that system can get stuck in a loop of tension and shallow breathing.

Body-based practices that are slow, predictable and kind can help break that loop. That is where Qi Gong can fit beside your pulmonary rehab, walking and medication. For the heart and nervous system side of this, you can also read Qi Gong & Cardiovascular Health: Blood Pressure, HRV & Heart Health.

Why Qi Gong Helps with COPD and Asthma

Qi Gong is not a cure for COPD or asthma. Your inhalers, rehab and medical team stay central. But Qi Gong can help your lungs and breathing in several ways:

• Loosens chest and shoulder tension.
  Many of the movements gently open the ribcage, back and shoulders, making it a little easier for the lungs to expand.

• Encourages softer, slower breath.
  You are never asked to hold your breath. Instead, you are guided towards smooth, easy breathing that your lungs can manage.

• Supports your nervous system.
  When you feel calmer, your breathing often becomes calmer too. This connection is explored more in Qi Gong and Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview.

• Is highly adaptable.
  You can practise standing, seated or holding on to a chair. Movements can be tiny. Some days you may only do the breathing parts – that is still real practice.

• Builds confidence gently.
  Regular, successful small sessions remind your body, “I can move and breathe without panic.” Over time, this can reduce fear around breathlessness.

For people whose lung issues sit inside a bigger health picture (autoimmunity, long-term inflammation or fatigue), the summary Qi Gong & Autoimmune Conditions: Inflammation Evidence 2020–2025 may also be helpful.

Safety First: Lung-Friendly Guidelines

Lung health is serious. A few simple rules help you use Qi Gong safely:

1. Talk to your GP, nurse or respiratory team.
   Explain that you want to try gentle Qi Gong. Ask about any movement or posture limits, and whether there is anything you should avoid.

2. Keep your inhalers and aids nearby.
   Always have your reliever inhaler (and spacer if you use one) within reach when you practise. Use them exactly as your team has advised.

3. No breath-holding. Ever.
   Qi Gong for lung health should never include breath-holding or long forced pauses. If a teacher suggests this, adapt it to a soft, flowing breath or skip that part.

4. Stay in the “easy breathing” zone.
   You might feel a little more breathless while moving. But you should still be able to speak a short sentence. If breathing feels tight, wheezy or worrying, stop, use your inhaler if prescribed and rest.

5. Use a chair or wall for support.
   If balance or fatigue is an issue, practise seated or stand holding on. You can find more ideas in Chair Qi Gong for the Office, which is also great for home use.

6. Avoid strong scents and cold air while practising.
   Practise in a warm, well-ventilated, but not drafty room. Keep away from strong perfumes, aerosols and smoke.

Remember: Qi Gong is there to support your lungs, not stress them. Kindness first, always.

Membership Support for Sensitive Lungs and Tired Bodies

When your breathing is fragile, it is hard to motivate yourself alone. Knowing there is a live class at a set time – with a teacher who understands pacing and safety – can take a weight off your shoulders.

Inside Bright Beings Academy, you will find:

• Live online classes with clear options for standing and seated practice

• Replay libraries so you can pause and rest whenever you need

• A calm pace that respects COPD, asthma, anxiety and fatigue

• A trauma-aware, nervous-system friendly approach to all movement

If a full membership feels like too much right now, you can dip your toes in first. The 21-Day Qi Gong for Beginners mini course lets you explore the basics at your own pace, without committing to ongoing membership. It is an easy way to see how your lungs and energy respond.

A 5–10 Minute Lung-Friendly Qi Gong Routine (Chair-Friendly)

You can do this seated or standing behind a chair. Keep everything slow, smooth and comfortable.

1. Arrive and check in (1–2 minutes)

• Sit or stand with feet flat on the floor.

• Notice your breath as it is, without trying to change it.

• Check that your inhaler and water are nearby.

• Let your shoulders drop slightly as you exhale.

2. Belly and side-breath awareness (1–2 minutes)

• Place one hand on your lower belly and one hand on the side of your ribs.

• Inhale gently through your nose if you can, feeling a small expansion under your hands.

• Exhale softly through your nose or mouth, as if blowing on warm tea.

• Keep effort low – about 40% of what you could do. No big gasps.

3. Opening the wings (2–3 minutes)

• Let your arms hang by your sides.

• On an in-breath, slowly float your arms out to the side and a little forwards, palms facing slightly up, like opening soft wings.

• On the out-breath, let them drift back down.

• Imagine space opening around your lungs as you move.

4. Gentle upper-body twist (2–3 minutes)

• Place your hands lightly on your lower ribs or belly.

• As you breathe out, gently rotate your upper body a small amount to the left.

• As you breathe in, come back to centre.

• Then breathe out and rotate to the right, breathe in back to centre.

• Keep the movement tiny, like a soft spiral through the spine and ribs.

5. Closing and gratitude for your lungs (1–2 minutes)

• Bring both hands to your chest or to your lower belly.

• Take three slow, comfortable breaths.

• Quietly thank your lungs for all they do – even if they do not feel perfect.

• Rest for a moment and notice any shifts in warmth, ease or mood.

You can stop at any step. On very low-energy days, you might only do steps 1 and 2 – that is perfectly valid Qi Gong.

For help choosing the best time of day to practise, you might enjoy Morning vs Evening Qi Gong.

Building a Lung-Friendly Practice Rhythm

Lung health benefits from gentle, regular attention. A few simple ideas can help you build a rhythm that sticks:

• Think in short pockets.
  Aim for 5–10 minutes, most days. You can even break that into two five-minute mini-sessions.

• Attach practice to existing habits.
  For example: after using your morning inhaler, or when you sit down with an afternoon cup of tea.

• Respect flare days.
  During asthma flares or COPD exacerbations, focus on rest and medical advice. When things settle, you can reintroduce the softest parts of the routine.

• Blend with walking and rehab.
  Qi Gong works well beside pulmonary rehab and gentle walking. Use Qi Gong as a warm-up or cool-down, or as a separate, very easy session on off days.

If you are pregnant and have asthma, there are extra things to consider. You may find Qi Gong for Pregnancy & Postpartum useful for wider safety guidance, alongside your midwife’s advice.

Join When You Are Ready

When breathing is hard work, you deserve a space where no one rushes you. No one judges your pace. No one expects “perfect” breaths or big movements.

Bright Beings Academy is designed to be that kind of space. You can start tiny, explore the 21-Day Qi Gong for Beginners mini course, or step straight into live classes when it feels right. Your lungs, your rhythm, your choice.

Qi Gong for Lung Health: FAQs

Can Qi Gong replace my inhalers or pulmonary rehab?

No. Qi Gong is a complement, not a replacement.

Your inhalers, oxygen, rehab and medical reviews remain essential. Qi Gong can sit alongside them to help reduce tension, support your nervous system and build gentle confidence in movement and breath. Always follow your medical team’s advice first.

Is Qi Gong safe when I am breathless?

Mild breathlessness is normal during any movement. But if you are very breathless at rest, wheezing badly or in the middle of an asthma attack or COPD flare, you should follow your action plan and use your prescribed medication – not try to “breathe through it” with Qi Gong.

Once things are stable again, you can use the softest parts of the routine to rebuild trust and ease.

Should I breathe through my nose or mouth when practising?

If your nose is clear and your lungs cope well, breathing in through the nose and out through the nose or mouth is ideal. It helps warm, filter and moisten the air.

If your nose is blocked or nose-breathing makes you feel more breathless, it is fine to breathe gently through your mouth. The main thing is that your breathing stays smooth, not forced.

How often should I practise for lung health?

A good starting rhythm is 5–10 minutes, three to five times per week. If that feels too much, begin with 3–5 minutes most days and build slowly.

Consistency matters more than big sessions. Little and often gives your lungs and nervous system regular signals of safety and movement.

Can I do Qi Gong seated if standing is hard?

Yes. Many people with COPD or asthma prefer to practise seated, at least at first. Almost all movements in this article can be adapted to a chair.

You can explore more seated ideas in Chair Qi Gong for the Office – the routines there also work beautifully at home.

Is Qi Gong helpful if I also feel anxious about my breathing?

Very much so, as long as you go slowly and stay within your comfort zone. When breath has been scary, anxiety is natural.

Qi Gong gives you small, safe experiences of moving and breathing without panic. Over time, these experiences can soften fear. For more on mood and anxiety, you can read Qi Gong and Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview.

If you are reading this because every breath feels like effort, or because you are tired of worrying about when the next flare will come, please know this: you are not alone, and there are gentle tools that can help.

Qi Gong will not make you superhuman. But it can offer small islands of ease – a looser shoulder, a softer breath, a calmer mind – that add up over time. One simple movement. One kind exhale. One day at a time.

I look forward to connecting with you in my next post.
Until then, be well and keep shining.
Peter. :)