Qi Gong for Parkinson’s and Neurological Conditions: Balance, Rhythm and Hope

When your body no longer moves the way you expect, everyday life can feel like walking on uncertain ground.

With Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, you might find yourself shuffling when you want to stride, freezing when you want to move, or feeling drained by the effort of simply staying upright. There can be tremors, stiffness, brain fog and anxiety all tangled together.

If that is you or someone you care about, please know this: you are not “failing” at movement. Your nervous system is working very hard.

Qi Gong offers a way to meet your body where it is, with slow, rhythmic movements that support balance, posture and breath. You are not asked to “fight” your symptoms. You are invited to explore safe, repeatable patterns that help your system find more steadiness over time. This guide will stay very practical, so you can try simple movements and ideas that fit around your medical care and physiotherapy.

For an overview of how traditional practice meets modern research, you can explore Qi Gong Evidence 2025 and evidence hubs such as Qi Gong & Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview alongside this condition-specific guide.

Gentle Support with Bright Beings Academy

Inside Bright Beings Academy you can follow soft, neurologist-friendly Qi Gong from home. You can stand or sit. You can keep your camera off. You can rest when your medication cycle or energy dips.

For live, guided practice you can join Online Qi Gong Live Classes and move at a calm pace with clear options for tremor, freezing and fatigue.

Understanding Parkinson’s and Neurological Conditions

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance and many “behind the scenes” systems like sleep, mood and digestion. Common symptoms include:

• Slowness and stiffness (bradykinesia and rigidity)

• Tremor, often in the hands

• Freezing of gait, especially in doorways or crowded spaces

• Postural changes and increased falls risk

• Fatigue, low mood, anxiety and sleep disturbance

Other neurological conditions – such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy or functional neurological disorders – can create similar challenges with balance, coordination and confidence.

Medication and specialist physiotherapy remain central to managing these conditions. Qi Gong is not a cure, and it does not replace your neurologist, Parkinson’s nurse or rehab team.

But there is growing evidence that traditional Chinese exercises like Tai Chi and related mind-body practices can help improve balance, mobility and quality of life for people with Parkinson’s, as a complementary therapy alongside medical care. (PLOS)

These practices share key features with the Korean-style Qi Gong we teach at Bright Beings Academy – slow, upright movements, weight shifting, coordinated breath and focused attention. You can read more about how our style compares with Tai Chi in Korean Qi Gong vs Tai Chi.

Why Qi Gong Helps with Balance, Rhythm and Hope

Qi Gong will affect each person differently, but there are several reasons it can be a powerful ally when you are living with Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions:

• Balance and postural control
  Many Qi Gong patterns involve gentle weight shifts, semi-squat positions and slow changes in direction. Research on Tai Chi for Parkinson’s shows meaningful improvements in balance scores and functional mobility compared with usual care or other exercises. (BioMed Central)

• Gait and “freezing” support
  Coordinated arm swings, trunk rotation and large-amplitude stepping can help your nervous system practise more confident movement patterns. External cues such as breath counts, gentle music or a teacher’s voice can also support people who experience freezing of gait.

• Rhythm and coordination
  Linking movement to breath and simple counting helps your brain and body re-learn timing. This can be especially helpful when you feel “jerky” or disorganised in your movements.

• Stress, mood and sleep
  Mind-body exercises like Tai Chi and Qi Gong have been shown to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve sleep in many long-term conditions. (prd-journal.com) You can explore this broader picture in Qi Gong & Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview.

• Autonomic and heart health
  Soft, continuous practice supports circulation, breathing patterns and heart rate variability – all important for blood pressure and dizziness. For more on this, you can read Qi Gong & Cardiovascular Health: Blood Pressure, HRV & Heart Health.

• Hope and connection
  Perhaps most importantly, Qi Gong gives you something you can do – a way to participate in your own care, instead of feeling passive. Practising in a supportive group can lift isolation for both people with neurological conditions and their carers.

Think of Qi Gong as a low-impact, rhythm-based training ground for your nervous system. You practise small, safe challenges again and again, so your body has more options than just freezing or falling back into old patterns.

Safety First: Moving with Parkinson’s and Neurological Conditions

When balance and coordination are already challenged, how you move is crucial. A few gentle guidelines:

• Check with your medical team
  Talk to your neurologist, Parkinson’s nurse or physiotherapist before starting any new exercise. Ask specifically about falls risk, blood pressure issues and any movements you should avoid.

• Practise near support
  Stand close to a sturdy chair, worktop or wall. Have someone nearby if you are prone to sudden freezing or falls. Using support is smart, not a sign of weakness.

• Work with your medication cycle
  Many people find practice easier during their “on” times when medication is working well. On “off” times, you might switch to seated practice or very small movements.

• Keep movements slow and clear
  Avoid fast turns, sudden changes of direction or multi-tasking (like turning while talking). Instead, separate movements into simple, deliberate steps.

• Listen for fatigue and dizziness
  Because autonomic symptoms are common, pay attention to light-headedness, nausea or sudden sweats. Sit down, rest and let someone know if this happens.

• Adapt for other conditions
  If you also live with heart issues, autoimmune disorders or chronic fatigue, you may find Qi Gong & Autoimmune Conditions: Inflammation Evidence 2020–2025 and Qi Gong & Cancer-Related Fatigue: What the Studies Say helpful alongside this guide.

If standing feels too risky, you can work from a sturdy chair. Chair Qi Gong for the Office has many seated patterns that adapt beautifully for neurological conditions.

Membership Support: Gentle Qi Gong for Shaky Bodies and Busy Brains

Trying to figure all this out on your own – which videos to trust, how to modify movements, when to rest – can be exhausting, especially when your brain already feels overloaded.

In Bright Beings Academy you are guided step by step. Classes are designed with real bodies, real fatigue and real life in mind:

• Live online sessions where you can follow clear, slow demonstrations

• Options to stand, sit or even lie down for parts of the class

• A calm, encouraging teaching style that never shames you for needing to rest

• Replays you can pause, rewind or revisit on better days

• A trauma- and nervous-system aware approach that understands fear, frustration and grief around changing bodies

You can explore different ways of joining through Online Qi Gong Live Classes, depending on whether you want mostly live support, access to a practice library, or more one-to-one guidance.

If a full membership feels like too big a step right now, you can begin with the 21-Day Qi Gong for Beginners mini course. It lets you gently test how Qi Gong feels in your body over three weeks, without the ongoing commitment of membership, and gives you simple patterns you can then adapt for balance and neurological health.

A 5–10 Minute Balance and Rhythm Qi Gong Routine

This short routine is designed as a starting point. Please adapt it with your physio or medical team, and always choose the version (standing or seated) that feels safest.

You can practise next to a sturdy chair or worktop.

1. Arrive and align (1–2 minutes)

• Stand with feet hip-width apart, one hand resting lightly on a chair.

• Soften your knees so they are not locked.

• Imagine your head gently floating up, lengthening your spine.

• Take three easy breaths. On each out-breath, let your shoulders drop a little.

If standing feels too much, sit towards the front of a firm chair, feet flat and knees hip-width apart.

2. Rocking weight shifts (2 minutes)

• If standing, slowly shift your weight forwards towards the balls of your feet as you breathe in.

• As you breathe out, gently shift weight back towards your heels – without lifting toes or heels.

• Count “one-two” forwards, “one-two” back in your mind.

If seated, you can lean a little forwards and back over your hips instead, keeping your feet grounded.

3. Side-to-side steps with arm sweep (2–3 minutes)

• Stand with one hand on the chair.

• Step your left foot a small distance to the side as you gently sweep your right arm outwards to shoulder height.

• Step back in as the arm returns.

• Repeat 4–8 times, then turn to face the other way and repeat stepping to the right.

If seated, keep your feet planted and simply sweep one arm out to the side as if you are opening a curtain, then the other.

4. Marching on the spot, soft and slow (2 minutes)

• Holding the chair, slowly lift one heel and then the other, as if you are marching in slow motion.

• If it feels safe, you can lift the whole foot an inch from the floor.

• Count a steady rhythm: “step-two-three-four” and then repeat.

Stop immediately if you feel unsteady or your feet begin to “freeze”. You can then switch back to small heel lifts without moving the whole foot.

5. Seated “open and close” (optional, 1–2 minutes)

• Sit comfortably, hands resting on your thighs.

• As you breathe in, open your arms wide, palms facing up, as if you are welcoming in light.

• As you breathe out, bring your hands back to your lap and gently bow your head.

This supports chest opening and breath without challenging your balance.

6. Close with gratitude (1 minute)

• Place one or both hands over your heart or lower belly.

• Take three softer, slower breaths.

• Notice any sense of warmth, tingling or calm.

Even if you only managed one or two steps today, that is still practice. Your brain and body learn from every safe, intentional movement you make.

Building a Gentle Practice Rhythm

For neurological conditions, little and often is usually better than rare, intense sessions.

A few ideas:

• Aim for 5–15 minutes of Qi Gong, three to five days per week, if your team agrees.

• Practise during your “on” medication windows when possible. On “off” days, switch to shorter, seated sessions.

• Attach practice to a daily cue – after breakfast, before an afternoon rest, or as part of evening wind-down.

• Combine Qi Gong with your physiotherapy exercises and walking plan, rather than replacing them.

• Keep a simple diary so you can track what helps and where you may be overdoing it.

If you are also living with anxiety, low mood or long-term fatigue, the evidence hubs Qi Gong & Anxiety / Mood: 2020–2025 Evidence Overview and Qi Gong & Autoimmune Conditions: Inflammation Evidence 2020–2025 can help you tailor a practice rhythm that supports your whole system, not just your muscles.

Join When You’re Ready

You do not have to navigate Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions on your own.

Bright Beings Academy is here when you feel ready – whether that means dipping your toe in with 21-Day Qi Gong for Beginners, joining Online Qi Gong Live Classes, or simply reading and trying the short routine above at your own pace.

You are welcome exactly as you are, with your tremors, pauses, wobbles and all.

Qi Gong for Parkinson’s and Neurological Conditions: FAQs

Can Qi Gong cure my Parkinson’s or reverse my neurological condition?

No. Qi Gong is not a cure and cannot promise to stop or reverse disease progression.

What it can do is support key areas that affect your quality of life – balance, posture, mobility, mood, sleep and confidence. Many studies suggest that Tai Chi and related practices can be a safe, beneficial complement to standard treatment for Parkinson’s, especially for balance and motor function. (PLOS)

Is Qi Gong safe if I have severe tremor or a high risk of falls?

It can be, as long as you take precautions and work with your medical team:

• Practise near stable support (chair, wall, worktop).

• Start with seated patterns if standing feels unsafe.

• Keep movements small and clear.

• Stop if you feel dizzy, overwhelmed or in pain.

In Bright Beings Academy classes, you are always encouraged to choose the safest version for your body on that day.

Can I practise Qi Gong during my “off” periods, or only when medication is working?

Many people find it easier to practise during “on” periods when medication is supporting movement. However, very gentle seated breathing and arm work can sometimes feel soothing during “off” times as well.

Always check with your neurologist or Parkinson’s nurse, especially if your “off” periods involve significant freezing, pain or distress.

What about other conditions like stroke, MS or neuropathy?

The same principles apply: slow, clear, supported movement, matched with breath and plenty of rest.

If you’ve had a stroke or live with multiple sclerosis, neuropathy or functional symptoms, work closely with your rehab team. They can help you adapt range of movement, stance width and duration so Qi Gong becomes a safe adjunct to your existing programme.

Do I have to stand, or can I stay seated?

You can absolutely practise seated – many people do, either all the time or on tougher days.

Standing can challenge balance and posture more directly, but seated practice still supports breath, coordination, mood and nervous-system regulation. You can mix both depending on how you feel.

How often should I practise for it to make a difference?

There is no perfect dose, but a kind target might be:

• 5–15 minutes, three to five days per week.

If that feels too much, start with 3–5 minutes on most days and build slowly. Over months and years it is the regular, safe, enjoyable practice that makes the difference – not one heroic session.

Do I need any special equipment or clothing?

No. Comfortable clothes you can move in, a pair of flat shoes (or bare feet if safe), and a stable chair or worktop are enough.

If you are prone to freezing or dizziness, it can help to have a friend, family member or carer nearby when you first try new movements.

If you are reading this while feeling unsteady, shaky or frustrated with your changing body, please remember: there is still a way to move with grace, even inside the limits of your condition.

One soft breath. One tiny weight shift. One gentle routine repeated with kindness can begin to rebuild trust between you and your nervous system.

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