🌿 MOVEMENT · MINDFULNESS · WHOLE-PERSON CARE
Breathe. Move. Flourish.
A gentler doorway into movement. Explore Qigong with the Kitchen Monk™ community—at home, with a friend, or alongside your wider journey toward flourishing.
🌿 Our preferred approach: Qigong Nursing for mindful stress reduction
Qigong Nursing is our preferred mindful movement approach to stress reduction at Kitchen Monk™ and Flourishing Nursing™. We welcome it as a practical way to explore attention, comfortable breathing, and gentle movement—with choice, accessibility, and compassionate nursing presence.
Beginner companion: We recommend Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). His work offers a companion path into everyday mindfulness. Explore the book on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s official website.
How this relates to MBSR: Our preference for Qigong is an editorial and practice philosophy. Formal MBSR is the structured eight-week program developed by Kabat-Zinn; our Qigong resources do not constitute that course or establish equivalent outcomes. You can explore either or both according to your goals. Learn about the original MBSR program at UMass Memorial.
🌿 Open our Qigong Nursing learning hub · Preference updated November 9, 2026. Resource links do not imply author or institutional endorsement.
🩺 November 9, 2026 · A milestone for nurse coaching
We celebrate the AHNA/AHNCC announcement of recognition for AHNCC nurse coach credentials in the 2027 Medicare coaching payment policy. CMS confirms a national payment pathway for health and well-being coaching under general supervision, effective January 1, 2027.
The joint announcement identifies CPT codes 0591T, 0592T, and 0593T and the NC-BC and HWNC-BC credentials. It explains that RNs do not gain independent Medicare billing authority: an eligible Medicare-enrolled practitioner, such as a physician or nurse practitioner, submits the claim, subject to applicable requirements.
Connecting coaching and Qigong: A person may choose mindful movement as a goal within coaching. Offering a Qigong session, reading this hub, or holding a nursing license alone does not establish eligibility to bill these coaching codes. Credentials, the actual service, supervision, documentation, medical necessity, and applicable Medicare rules must all be considered.
Read the AHNA/AHNCC announcement · Read the CMS announcement. This is a dated educational update; confirm current operational requirements and local payment amounts before billing.
Explore this hub: Gentle beginning · Video resources · Seven-day plan · Accessibility · Nursing practice · Questions
What is Qigong?
Qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is a Chinese mind–body practice combining attention, breathing, and posture or gentle movement. Its roots belong to Chinese traditions; our Flourishing Nursing framework offers a way to explore it respectfully in everyday care.
Here, “Qigong nursing” means thoughtfully connecting Qigong education with whole-person nursing. This page is an educational introduction, not a nursing credential, certification course, or announcement of an established clinical service.
A bridge between our gardens
Within the Nine Gardens of Flourishing™, Qigong connects Movement and Mindfulness. Practicing together can also create a moment for Relationships and Community. These are connections within our framework, rather than proof that Qigong improves every garden.
Your gentle beginning: a five-minute invitation
This is a general mindful movement introduction inspired by Qigong principles, not a named traditional form or a tested treatment protocol. Choose a stable seated position or a comfortable supported stance. You can keep your eyes open and your hands resting throughout.
Minute 1 · Arrive. Notice the support beneath you. Let your shoulders rest without forcing them down. Choose stillness if movement does not feel comfortable.
Minute 2 · Breathe comfortably. Notice your ordinary breathing. Avoid breath holding or trying to take unusually deep breaths.
Minutes 3–4 · Move within ease. If comfortable, slowly open and close your hands or float your hands a small distance forward and return them to rest. Keep the range small; skip any movement that conflicts with your care plan.
Minute 5 · Pause and notice. Rest again. Ask: How did this feel? Would I choose to try it again? Feeling no change is also a valid response.
Make it yours
A chair, a quiet corner, and a few available minutes can be a starting point. No special clothes, equipment, spiritual belief, or purchase is required for this introductory pause. Participation is always optional. A trained instructor can help you learn a traditional sequence and adapt it to your abilities.
Start with comfort and choice
Stop for pain, dizziness, unusual breathlessness, or feeling unwell. People with recent surgery, joint instability, significant balance difficulties, pregnancy, or other health concerns should discuss suitable adaptations with their clinician. Do not use Qigong to delay assessment or replace prescribed care.
Try linking your pause to an everyday cue, such as before preparing a meal or after a short walk. Begin with a duration you can comfortably manage. Invite a friend without making participation a test of commitment or health.
What does the evidence say?
NCCIH describes promising findings for some symptoms and physical outcomes, but studies vary in quality and size. Pain findings are mixed, and evidence for blood-pressure benefits is not firm. Benefits are not guaranteed; research on one population or Qigong form does not establish the same result for everyone.
Choose an instructor thoughtfully
Ask about training, experience with people who have your needs, and options for seated or limited movement. Look for clear explanations, respect for consent, and willingness to work with your healthcare team. Avoid promises of cures or instructions to abandon medical care.
🎥 Learn with VA Whole Health
Explore these public educational videos on their original VA pages. Preview a session before participating and choose movements that fit your abilities and care plan. You may watch, pause, or stop at any time.
Start here · 20-minute introduction
Mary Ann Douglas of the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System guides this introductory session. Allow yourself to observe first; completing the entire video is optional.
Take a break · 12-minute practice
John Kavanaugh, recreation assistant with the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System, leads Qigong movements and breathing practices in this VA session.
Credit: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Live Whole Health. The videos remain on their original source pages. Their inclusion does not imply VA affiliation or endorsement of Kitchen Monk™ or Flourishing Nursing™.
🌱 Seven days to explore—at your own pace
This optional exploration plan is our educational suggestion, not a research-tested Qigong program. Repeat a day, shorten a session, or take a rest day whenever you wish. There is no requirement to increase time or movement.
| Day | Invitation | Reflection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Get curious | Read the introduction. Decide whether you would like to explore further. | What interests me? |
| 2 · Observe | Preview part of a VA video without copying the movements. | What adaptations might I need? |
| 3 · Find support | Choose a stable chair or suitable supported position. Try the short introduction above if appropriate. | Did I feel comfortable and supported? |
| 4 · Make a choice | Repeat only a comfortable part, or simply observe your ordinary breathing. | What would I change? |
| 5 · Learn from a teacher | Write down questions about training, accessible instruction, and your needs. | Who could help me learn safely? |
| 6 · Connect | Invite someone to watch or explore with you, with no pressure to participate. | Would company make this more enjoyable? |
| 7 · Choose your next step | Continue, adapt, seek guidance, or choose another movement practice. | What fits my life? |
🪑 Accessibility begins with choice
| Your preference or need | An option to discuss or explore |
|---|---|
| Prefer sitting | Use a stable chair in a clear space; follow an instructor’s seated version when available. |
| Limited shoulder movement | Keep hands resting or use a smaller comfortable range. Follow existing restrictions. |
| Balance concerns | Avoid unsupported standing, weight shifts, or single-leg positions; seek individual guidance. |
| Fatigue or limited time | Watch a short segment, take breaks, or choose stillness. |
| Breathwork feels uncomfortable | Return to ordinary breathing. Skip forced patterns and breath holding. |
| Eyes closed feels unsettling | Keep your eyes open, orient to the room, and choose whether to continue. |
| Hearing or visual access needs | Check the source player’s caption options and ask an instructor for clear verbal or visual instruction. |
🩺 Qigong through a nursing lens
Nursing brings attention to the person, their environment, their preferences, and their response. A useful conversation starts with “What matters to you?” rather than assuming that everyone wants the same practice.
| Step | A practical nursing question |
|---|---|
| Invite | Would you like to hear about an optional gentle movement resource? |
| Understand | What are you hoping for, and what has made movement difficult? |
| Assess | Are there symptoms, mobility restrictions, fall risks, or care-plan instructions that need attention? |
| Plan together | Would observing a video, a seated introduction, or referral to an instructor fit best? |
| Stay within competence | Am I prepared and authorized to teach this, or should I help the person find a qualified teacher? |
| Evaluate | How did the person tolerate it, and do they want to continue? |
Working with your nurse or clinician: Share what you want to try and ask about adaptations. Bring the video link to an appointment if you are unsure whether its movements fit your current care plan.
💚 Care for the caregiver
An optional pause can make room to notice your own needs. Before a shift, during an available break, or after arriving home, you might ask: Do I need movement, food, water, rest, company, or help? Qigong can be one choice within a wider approach to caring for yourself.
Team leaders can make participation welcoming by offering seated and observation options, allowing people to decline, and protecting privacy. Staff wellbeing also requires practical attention to workload, breaks, equipment, and working conditions.
🤝 A small community gathering
A possible future gathering could begin with a welcome, an explanation of choice and adaptations, a session led by an appropriately trained instructor, and a short reflection. This is a planning idea; no scheduled class, enrollment, or instructor service is being announced here.
Suggested welcome: “You are welcome to move, sit, observe, or leave. Please follow your own care plan. Choose a comfortable range and stop whenever you need. There is no performance to achieve.”
❓ Questions people ask
Do I need to be flexible or athletic? You can start by watching and asking about adaptations. The right starting point depends on your abilities, comfort, and any health restrictions.
Is Qigong the same as tai chi? They are related Chinese practices, but the terms are not interchangeable. Health-focused tai chi is described by NCCIH as a form of Qigong; many other Qigong forms exist.
What does “qi” mean here? Qi is a concept within traditional Chinese understandings of life and health. We respect that cultural context without presenting traditional energy explanations as established biomedical mechanisms.
Do I have to adopt a religion or spiritual belief? No belief commitment is required to explore the introductory movement resources here. You can ask a teacher how they frame their classes and choose a setting that fits your preferences.
Does this qualify me as a Qigong nurse or instructor? No. Reading these pages or watching the videos does not award a credential or establish teaching competence.
Will a few minutes treat a medical condition? This short introduction has not been established as a treatment. Research programs often differ substantially in session length, frequency, teaching, and participants. Continue your usual care.
Can I include prayer? In your personal practice, you may choose a quiet prayer or reflection that is meaningful to you. In care or group settings, ask about preferences and keep spiritual participation voluntary. Qigong’s Chinese origins deserve clear acknowledgment.
📚 Continue learning from original sources
Resource descriptions checked November 9, 2026. These pages provide further context; a resource listing is not a guarantee that every linked exercise is suitable for every visitor.
Keep exploring together
Explore the Movement Garden · Explore the Mindfulness Garden
Educational content · Reviewed November 9, 2026. Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Qigong: What You Need To Know.” External links do not imply endorsement of this website.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 
