Social Prescribing, Qi Gong and Community Connection: From Loneliness to Belonging

Social Prescribing, Qi Gong and Community Connection: From Loneliness to Belonging

Qi Gong At The Bright Beings Academy
November 24, 2025•9 min read

When someone is referred to you for “loneliness”, the story is usually bigger than just living alone.

They may be bereaved, recently retired, caring for a partner, or managing long-term health problems that have slowly shrunk their world. Many feel invisible. Some feel ashamed that life has become so small.

Social prescribing offers these people a chance to reconnect. Qi Gong adds something powerful to that mix: a calm, non-judgemental group space where people move, breathe and gently belong again.

This article explores how Qi Gong can support loneliness and disconnection within social prescribing, and how Bright Beings Academy’s classes can become a practical tool in your pathways.

For the full cluster context, you can also explore:

What loneliness looks like in social prescribing

The people you see might describe loneliness in different ways:

  • “I don’t see anyone all week.”

  • “My friends have died or moved away.”

  • “Everyone is busy. I don’t want to be a burden.”

  • “Since my diagnosis, I feel like I live in a different world.”

Underneath, there are some common threads:

  • Loss of confidence in going out and trying new things.

  • Loss of structure – days all blending into one.

  • Loss of a sense of being part of something.

Many would like to join a group but fear:

  • Being too slow, too unfit or “too old”.

  • Being put on the spot or asked to share personal details.

  • Ending up in a noisy, rushed environment that feels unsafe.

This is where gentle, body-based, low-pressure activities can make a big difference.

Why movement groups are powerful for connection

Movement groups can help loneliness in a way that is different from coffee mornings or talking groups. In a movement class:

  • People share an experience without needing to find the “right words”.

  • They feel their body, breath and energy shift in real time.

  • They see others who are also stiff, tired or anxious… and realise they are not alone.

Qi Gong is especially helpful here because it is:

  • Slow and non-competitive.

  • Easy to adapt for different ages and abilities.

  • Focused on calm, rhythm and nervous-system regulation, not performance.

For the evidence behind its effects on pain, breath and mood, you can read:

How Qi Gong supports a journey from “on my own” to “I belong”

There are three main ways Qi Gong helps people move from loneliness to belonging.

1. Shared rhythm, without pressure to talk

In a Qi Gong class, everyone is moving together. Arms rise and fall. Feet shift. Breath slows.

People are in sync without needing to share life stories. For many who are shy, grieving or socially anxious, this feels much safer than a circle where they are expected to speak.

Over time, eye contact, smiles and short chats start to happen naturally. Connection grows from a shared activity, not from forced icebreakers.

2. Gentle challenge that builds confidence

Lonely people often feel fragile. They may think, “I can’t do anything anymore.”

Qi Gong offers small, achievable challenges:

  • “I managed to come to class.”

  • “I stood for a bit longer today.”

  • “My balance feels a tiny bit better.”

Each small win helps rebuild self-belief. As confidence in the body returns, confidence in social situations often follows.

3. A weekly anchor point

Loneliness often erodes time. Days blur. Weeks slip by.

A weekly Qi Gong class becomes a fixed point in the week. People know:

  • “On Monday at 12, I go to New Malden.”

  • “On Wednesday evening, I go to the Hook Centre.”

  • “On Thursday or Sunday, I log into the online class.”

This rhythm helps people rebuild a sense of structure and purpose.

You can see how the mental health and mood side ties in through:

What Qi Gong community looks like at Bright Beings Academy

Local in-person options: New Malden and Chessington

For people in the Kingston, New Malden and Chessington area, there are two main community classes.

New Malden – Mondays 12–1 pm (Graham Spicer Institute)

  • Gentle, often chair-friendly class.

  • Designed for over-50s and anyone needing a soft start.

  • Calm, daytime space – perfect for those rebuilding confidence.

You can use:

Chessington / Hook – Early evening at the Hook Centre

  • Community Qi Gong focused on healthy ageing and stress relief.

  • Welcomes midlife adults and older adults together.

  • Ideal for people finishing work or caring duties and needing an evening reset.

You can use:

For more about the emotional and social side, you can also explore:

UK-wide live online Qi Gong

Not everyone can get to a hall. Some are housebound. Some are shielding. Some are too anxious to join a group straight away.

Bright Beings Academy runs live online Qi Gong classes via Zoom that people can join from anywhere in the UK:

These sessions:

  • Are fully guided and beginner-friendly.

  • Offer standing and seated options.

  • Include a gentle chat and check-in, without pressure to share.

For social prescribing-specific framing of the online option, you can use:

And for a general overview of Qi Gong across the Academy:

Evidence snapshot: what people reported in the Brighter Living project

The Brighter Living Qi Gong Impact Report offers a real-world look at how gentle Ki Gong and armchair yoga affected older adults in New Malden, Chessington and Kingston.

Across around 100 older adults, a small evaluation found:

  • Most participants reported better overall quality of life.

  • 44% noticed improved flexibility and ease of movement.

  • Many described feeling happier, more relaxed and less alone.

You can access the full report here:

These findings line up with broader evidence on mood, stress and sleep in:

How to use Qi Gong specifically for loneliness referrals

Here is a simple pathway you can follow.

Step 1 – Name loneliness gently

Acknowledge the emotional reality without judgement:

“It sounds like life has become very quiet. That can feel heavy and lonely.”

Step 2 – Offer Qi Gong as a body-first route to connection

“There’s a gentle movement and breathing class called Qi Gong. You don’t have to talk about your life if you don’t want to. You just come, move a little, breathe and share the space with other people. Over time, many people find their mood lifts and they start to feel part of something again.”

Step 3 – Choose the right format

For referral safety and quick triage, you can also lean on:

Step 4 – Suggest a gentle experiment

“Let’s try this as an experiment. One class a week for 6–8 weeks. Notice how your body feels, how your mood is, and whether you feel any more connected to others.”

FAQs: Loneliness, connection and Qi Gong

1. Is Qi Gong enough on its own to treat loneliness?

Qi Gong is a powerful piece of the puzzle, but not the whole picture. It gives people:

  • A regular reason to leave the house or log in.

  • Gentle human contact in a calm environment.

  • A sense of progress in their body and energy.

Some people will also benefit from befriending schemes, talking therapies or practical support. Qi Gong fits alongside these, not instead of them.

2. What if someone is very shy and hates the idea of a group?

Qi Gong can be ideal for shy people because:

  • There is no pressure to speak in front of others.

  • They can join quietly, follow along and leave when they need.

  • Connection grows over time, through shared movement rather than forced sharing.

For very anxious clients, you might start with:

and later move into New Malden or Chessington when they feel ready.

3. Does Qi Gong help people who feel “numb” rather than sad?

Yes, it can. Many people who feel emotionally numb are actually in a kind of freeze or shut-down state. Qi Gong offers small, safe ways to:

  • Feel the body again.

  • Notice warmth, tingling or ease.

  • Experience tiny flashes of enjoyment or curiosity.

Over time, this can help thaw numbness and make it easier to connect with others.

4. Can carers and family members attend together?

Absolutely. Attending together can:

  • Reduce anxiety about joining a new group.

  • Give both people a shared positive experience.

  • Offer carers some movement and calm time for themselves.

This is welcomed in both New Malden and Chessington classes.

5. Where can I see all the Qi Gong social prescribing resources in one place?

You can use this pair as your “control panel”:

And for local, story-rich evidence, keep this close:

Next steps

If you’d like to weave Qi Gong into your approach to loneliness and social isolation, you can start now by:

And whenever you need a simple, powerful piece of evidence to share with colleagues or funders, return to the
Brighter Living Qi Gong Impact Report 2019–2020 (PDF).

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

social prescribing loneliness qigong, community connection group classes, gentle movement for isolation, older adults loneliness support, bright beings academy community qigong, new malden and chessington groups, online qigong for lonely people, social health and wellbeing activities, belonging through movement, resilience and confidence building
Peter Paul Parker is a Meraki Guide and Qi Gong Instructor who helps empaths, intuitives, and the spiritually aware heal emotional wounds, embrace shadow work, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through a unique blend of ancient practices, modern insights, and his signature Dream Method, he guides people towards self-love, balance, and spiritual empowerment.

Peter Paul Parker

Peter Paul Parker is a Meraki Guide and Qi Gong Instructor who helps empaths, intuitives, and the spiritually aware heal emotional wounds, embrace shadow work, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Through a unique blend of ancient practices, modern insights, and his signature Dream Method, he guides people towards self-love, balance, and spiritual empowerment.

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