FAQ: Social Prescribing and Qi Gong with Bright Beings Academy

November 24, 2025•10 min read

This FAQ is here to make your life easier if you’re a GP, social prescribing link worker, PCN lead, commissioner or community organiser looking at Qi Gong and wondering:

“Who is this really for? Is it safe? Which class do I choose? How do I talk about it – and how do I show it works?”

Below you’ll find clear, practical answers and quick links so you can add Qi Gong to your personalised care offer with confidence.

For the full story behind our approach, you can also read:

Quick links to key Qi Gong pathways

UK-wide & local options

Social prescribing cluster

Local evidence (impact report)

1. What is Qi Gong in simple terms?

Qi Gong is a gentle, low-impact movement and breathing practice from East Asian tradition.

In Bright Beings Academy classes it looks like:

Slow, repetitive movements you can do standing or seated
Natural, deeper breathing
Gentle focus on body sensations and relaxation

You can frame it as:

“A calm exercise-and-breathing class designed for people who feel stiff, tired, stressed or low – not a performance or fitness test.”

For a full overview, you can share:

2. Who is Qi Gong suitable for in social prescribing?

Qi Gong is often a good fit for people who:

Live with long-term pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia or stiffness
Have breathlessness, COPD, cardiovascular risk or deconditioning
Feel anxious, burnt out, low or “stuck in their head”
Are lonely, isolated or recently bereaved
Are wary of gyms, noisy classes or high-intensity exercise

It works particularly well when someone wants to move but needs:

A gentle starting point
Clear guidance and repetition
A calm, friendly environment where they won’t feel judged

For specific condition evidence, you can use:

3. Who should not be referred to Qi Gong?

Qi Gong is not appropriate for:

People with acute medical emergencies
Unstable cardiovascular conditions (e.g. recent MI, uncontrolled arrhythmias) without specialist clearance
Unstable blood pressure not yet managed
People in mental health crisis (active suicidal ideation, psychosis) who need urgent or specialist support first

For complex trauma or severe mental illness that is stable, Qi Gong can be offered as a gentle, optional addition, not a replacement for therapy or clinical care.

If you need a quick safety and triage guide, see:

How to Refer Patients to Qi Gong: A Practical Guide for GPs and Social Prescribing Link Workers

4. How safe is Qi Gong?

Qi Gong at Bright Beings Academy is designed to be:

Low impact – no jumping or jolting
Adaptable – many moves can be done in a chair
Paced – people are reminded to rest and work within their limits

Risk is low when:

People with long-term conditions are medically stable
They listen to their body and do not push into pain
Instructors are aware of mobility aids, dizziness, breathlessness, etc.

You can reassure people:

“We’ll adjust movements for your body. You can sit down at any time, and you never have to push through pain or breathlessness.”

For cardiovascular and blood pressure questions, you can refer to:

Qi Gong and Cardiovascular Health: Blood Pressure, HRV and Heart Health

5. Is Qi Gong spiritual or religious? Will it clash with someone’s beliefs?

Qi Gong can be practised in a completely secular way.

At Bright Beings Academy, classes are framed as:

Practical, body-based tools for movement, breath and calm
Open to people of all faiths and none
Focused on everyday benefits: easier movement, better sleep, more confidence and connection

If someone is worried, you can say:

“You don’t have to believe anything or follow a new belief system. Just treat it as gentle exercise and breathing, and see how your body responds.”

6. What’s the difference between online and in-person classes?

Online – UK-wide (Zoom)

Best for housebound, shielding, rurally based or very anxious clients
People join from home, with standing and seated options
Gentle check-in and out, no pressure to talk

Use:

In-person – New Malden (KT3)

Daytime, often chair-friendly class
Ideal for over-50s, gentle movers, people worried about falling

Use:

In-person – Chessington / Hook (KT9)

Early-evening class for healthy ageing and stress relief
Good for midlife adults and older adults who want a bit more standing practice

Use:

7. How many sessions should we recommend?

Evidence and practice both suggest that benefits build with regular attendance over weeks, not just one taster.

A realistic message is:

“Let’s treat this as an experiment. Try one class a week for 6–8 weeks. Then notice what has changed in your pain, sleep, mood, breath and confidence.”

Fibromyalgia and mood studies often use 6–12 week programmes, and the Brighter Living Qi Gong Impact Report reflects patterns after regular attendance over time:

8. What changes can people realistically expect?

Changes vary, but common outcomes (from research and local data) include:

Pain & stiffness – many people report less day-to-day pain and easier movement
Balance & confidence – feeling steadier on their feet, less scared of falling
Breath & energy – easier breathing, a sense of more “room” in the chest, less fatigue
Sleep & mood – better sleep quality and calmer mood
Connection – looking forward to the group, feeling less alone

You can back this up with:

9. How do we record outcomes without creating lots of extra admin?

You can keep it light and human.

Option A – Simple review questions (6–12 weeks)

Ask:

“How is your pain or stiffness compared with before?”
“Has your sleep changed at all?”
“Do you feel any more steady or confident on your feet?”
“What about your stress and mood?”
“Do you feel more or less connected to other people?”

Option B – Short questionnaires for projects/bids

For pilots and funded projects, you can mirror the Brighter Living model:

6–10 tick-box questions on pain, movement, mood, sleep and connection
2–3 open questions, e.g. “What has changed for you since starting Qi Gong?”

See examples in:

10. How do I explain Qi Gong to someone who’s sceptical or non-sporty?

You can keep it very down-to-earth:

“This isn’t a gym class and it isn’t about being flexible. It’s a slow, gentle movement and breathing class. Most people start stiff, tired or anxious – that’s exactly who it’s for.
You can sit down at any time. There’s no competition, no shouting, and no need to get it perfect. Just come along, move a bit, breathe a bit and see how you feel afterwards.”

If they’d like more information, you can share:

Qi Gong and Social Prescribing in the UK: A Complete Guide for Link Workers

11. Can carers or family members attend too?

Yes, carers are welcome in both in-person and online settings. Attending together can:

Increase the person’s confidence to try the class
Give carers a shared positive activity with the person they support
Offer carers their own hour of movement and calm

For loneliness and carers, you can also explore:

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

12. Is Qi Gong accessible for people who use sticks, frames or chairs?

Yes – within limits. Qi Gong at Bright Beings Academy is designed to be:

Chair-friendly, especially in New Malden
Supportive of people who use sticks or frames for confidence
Flexible, so people can move between standing and sitting

In New Malden, many participants practise partly or fully in a chair. In Chessington, there is more standing, but chairs are still available for rest and adaptation.

For local detail, see:

13. How do we get started as a PCN, Trust or council?

If you’re thinking beyond individual signposting and towards commissioned provision, you can:

Use the Brighter Living report and evidence articles as your core evidence pack.
Map local priorities (falls risk, COPD, pain, loneliness, mental health) to specific Qi Gong offers (online vs local).
Start with a pilot (e.g. 12–24 weeks) with baked-in light evaluation.

For partnership options, delivery formats and next steps, you can explore:

Partner with Bright Beings Academy: Qi Gong Provision for PCNs, Trusts and Local Councils

And keep this FAQ plus the main overview page handy as your “control panel”:

Next steps

If you’d like to start using Qi Gong in your social prescribing offer from today, you can:

Refer UK-wide clients to
Live Online Qi Gong Classes
Guide KT3 residents towards
New Malden Qi Gong Mondays
and
Social Prescribing in New Malden: Qi Gong for Over-50s and Gentle Chair-Based Exercise
Support KT9 residents with
Qi Gong Live Classes at the Hook Centre, Chessington
and
Social Prescribing in Chessington and Hook: Community Qi Gong for Healthy Ageing

And whenever you need local, story-rich evidence to back up your decision, keep the
Brighter Living Qi Gong Impact Report 2019–2020 (PDF)
close. It’s a simple, powerful picture of how gentle community movement can transform daily life for older adults in Surrey.

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

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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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