Qigong in South Florida: What the Research Reports and What a First Session Involves

What the practice involves, how strong the evidence is for specific conditions, and what a first session in Hallandale Beach includes

*Image: Editorial image for South Florida Qigong by Herry Lawford, licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

Qigong, pronounced "chi gong," combines slow, deep breathing with gentle movement and focused attention. It developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, publishes a consumer summary of the research on qigong, condition by condition.

A prospective client in South Florida can find the practice at South Florida Qigong, a studio in Hallandale Beach serving Broward and Miami-Dade. The decision rests on what the practice involves, what the research reports, and what a first session requires.

What qigong involves and how tai chi fits

NCCIH describes qigong as exercises intended to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being; that energy language belongs to traditional Chinese medicine. Qigong has both psychological and physical components and involves regulation of the mind, breath, and the body's movement and posture. In most forms, breath is slow, long, and deep, and patterns may switch from abdominal breathing to breathing combined with speech sounds. Movements are typically gentle and smooth and aimed at relaxation, and mind regulation covers focused attention and visualization.

The techniques fall into two broad styles. Dynamic (active) techniques center on body movement, especially movement of the whole body, arms, and legs. Meditative (passive) techniques can be practiced in any posture that can be held over time, and they use breath and mind exercises with almost no body movement.

One familiar form is tai chi. It originated as an ancient martial art and over the years became more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation, and when it is performed for health it is considered a form of qigong, involving integrated physical postures, focused attention, and controlled breathing. It is one of hundreds of qigong forms developed in China, alongside Baduanjin, Liuzijue, Hu Yue Xian, Yijin Jing, and medical qigong.

The summary's research sections report measured outcomes, such as pain ratings, walking ability, balance, and blood pressure, and they state how strong the evidence is for each.

What the pain reviews report and where they disagree

NCCIH describes the research on qigong's role in pain as conflicting. The evidence comes in the form of reviews, papers that combine results from several earlier studies. Three reviews from 2018 and 2019, each looking at only a small number of studies, suggested that qigong may help decrease pain in community-dwelling older adults (160 participants), for neck pain (525 participants), and for musculoskeletal pain in people 15 to 80 years old (1,787 participants). A 2020 review that included 5 studies (576 participants) found conflicting results for low-back pain and neck pain.

Fibromyalgia has less research behind it. NCCIH calls the evidence initial, based on only a few small studies, and reports that frequent and consistent practice may help with pain, sleep, and physical and mental function. A 2017 review of 4 studies (201 participants) found that the amount of time people practiced made a difference. People who practiced diligently, 30 to 40 minutes daily for 6 to 8 weeks, experienced consistent benefits in pain, sleep, and physical and mental function, and those benefits were still seen 4 to 6 months after the studies completed.

Knee osteoarthritis appears in the summary with a small amount of research as well. A 2020 review looked at 7 studies with 424 total participants, of which only 3 were adequately designed. The review found that qigong improved pain, stiffness, and physical function more than a waiting list control or a health education intervention, and the evidence was weak.

What the reviews report when qigong is added to standard care

Two sections of the summary look at qigong as an addition to care that was already in place.

For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a small amount of research suggests that using qigong alongside standard care may help with depression, anxiety, lung function, and physical function. A 2020 review of 31 studies (3,045 participants) examined adding qigong to a primary course of care such as medication and respiratory training, and found improvements in lung function, quality of life, and the ability to exercise. A 2019 review of 6 studies (415 participants) found reduced self-ratings of depression and anxiety when qigong was combined with standard care, in programs lasting 2 to 6 months.

For chronic heart failure, a 2020 review of 33 studies (2,465 participants) examined the rehabilitative effects of tai chi and qigong, with 17 studies covering tai chi, 14 covering qigong, and 2 covering both. In that review, adding tai chi or qigong to routine management such as medication and advice on diet and exercise led to improvements in peak oxygen consumption (a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness), 6-minute walking distance (a measure of exercise tolerance), and quality of life. Compared with other forms of exercise paired with routine management, participants who practiced tai chi or qigong showed similar peak oxygen consumption and 6-minute walking distances, with higher quality-of-life measures.

What the reviews report when qigong is compared with other exercise or no intervention

For Parkinson's disease, the amount of research is small. A 2020 review of 7 studies (325 participants) suggested that qigong-based exercise helped improve movement, walking ability, and balance. Improvement in movement and walking ability was similar to that seen with other forms of exercise such as walking and using a stationary exercise bike, while improvement in balance was greater with qigong, and gains were larger in younger adults than in older adults. The programs ran from 8 to 48 weeks, with sessions of 30 to 120 minutes two to seven times per week.

For high blood pressure, the amount of research is small as well. A 2021 review of 7 studies (370 participants) suggested that qigong may help reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but the review's authors indicated a lack of firm evidence for the benefit. In that review, five of the six studies that compared qigong with no intervention showed qigong was better, and the single study that compared it with conventional exercise showed no difference in benefit between the two. The programs ran from 8 to 24 weeks, with sessions of 30 to 60 minutes two to seven times per week.

What the summary reports about balance and older adults

NCCIH reports that a 2019 survey of reviews found sufficient evidence to support qigong for balance training and for reducing the risk of falls, with effects that were similar to and sometimes better than more traditional interventions.

Research involving older adults is limited, and NCCIH describes the positive results of two 2019 reviews as suggesting a potential benefit. The first considered 13 studies with 1,340 community-dwelling older adults with chronic disease and found a significant positive effect on quality of life but not on depressive symptoms. The second looked at 14 studies with 1,282 older adults with depressive symptoms, frailty, or chronic illness, and 7 of its studies also appeared in the first review, so the two overlap in part. It found improved physical ability and possible positive effects on depression, balance, and functioning (the ability to do normal, everyday activities). The researchers noted that more methodologically sound randomized controlled trials, studies that assign participants at random to an intervention or a control group, are needed before conclusions can be drawn about qigong's effects on physical and psychological health in older adults.

What a first session at South Florida Qigong involves

Those findings come from structured programs that ran for weeks or months, which is a longer commitment than a single visit. The studio's site lays out what it offers and how booking works.

The studio's site lists these services with its own descriptions.

Chi Gong Massage

• $100 per hour, described as deep bodywork that combines meridian therapy with breath awareness, covering the full body, including the face and specific muscle groups.

Tea ceremonies

• Traditional ceremonies offered privately or in groups, with pricing on request.

Tea blends

• Personalized blends of legal herbs and flowers, listed on the site as Healing Teas, offered by consultation.

Fire Massage

• An energetic activation technique for circulation and deep relaxation, with pricing on request.

Chi Gong classes

• Private sessions and group classes at Feeling Free Academy, in Hollywood.

Events and collaboration

• The studio is available as a tea master for wellness events, retreats, and collaborative gatherings.

In-studio sessions take place at 1117 E Hallandale Beach Blvd Suite 3, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Booking is by WhatsApp message or by phone at +1 (954) 899-9102. Sessions are available daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and the studio serves clients across Broward and Miami-Dade, including Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Service is offered in English, Russian, and Spanish. The FAQ advises comfortable clothing and arriving a few minutes early; for tea ceremonies, there is nothing to bring.

The site identifies the practitioner as Aleksandr Popov and describes him as a certified practitioner with years of dedicated practice in traditional Chinese wellness modalities; it does not name a certifying organization for the credential.

These details come from the studio's site as of September 21, 2026, and can change, so confirm them when booking. The site states that all services are wellness-focused and are not medical care, and it directs people with medical concerns to a health care provider.

Questions tied to a specific health condition, or to findings where the summary is cautious, belong with a qualified health care professional.