How Qigong Helped Me

Shelley Osborne-shaw • January 10, 2022

Qigong

I started my clinical qigong training back in the summer of 2020 during lockdown With Sifu Anita Mason, at the UK College of Qigong. As an acupuncturist I was familiar with qigong and tai chi but had never had any specific training. I was drawn to this practice because clinical qigong is used to support those with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, Multiple sclerosis, Stress, Infertility and Chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as general health and wellbeing. The beauty of this technique is that once you have grasped the movements, breath and visualisation it is something you can do everyday, at home or outside in nature. It has certainly enhanced my life in many ways and I hope it will do the same for others.

When I first started practicing Qigong I mainly focused on the footwork, breath and rhythm. I had 80 hours to complete before gaining my certificate so I gradually built up from 10 minutes every morning to 20 minutes a day and it very quickly became second nature. I can't make any claims about this practice but I have certainly experienced many benefits and below I discuss my personal experience and what I feel I have gained from practicing Qigong on a regular basis.

Lung Capacity: As a natural healthcare practitioner I have done a lot of breath work over the years, not only for my practice but also for myself. I have always sporadically suffered with shortness of breath as far back as childhood. I am a strong swimmer but my breath has always let me down, I am also one of those people you are best to avoid at a kids party if you need help blowing up balloons as I won't be much help! My breathing has improved dramatically with qigong. I have been able to expand my chest and breathe much deeper on inhalation and swimming has felt much easier. I have also noticed a difference with exercise, as my stamina and strength have increased, this means I can exercise more efficiently. It is wonderful to know that such a simple practice is supporting my lung health.

Circulation: I know I am not alone when I say I suffer with cold hands and feet. Every year when autumn turns to winter my hands turn to blocks of ice. Since practising Qigong I have not had this problem. I started practice during the summer of 2020 and the last 2 winters I have not suffered with cold hands. I may wake up in the mornings and feel a little sluggish but after qigong it feels like the blood is circulating nicely around my entire body. During practice I start to feel a nice warmth and it remains throughout the day. This may be because it helps release tension from the neck and shoulders, or because of the gentle stretches into the arms and rib cage that increase blood flow to the extremities, for what ever reason I am happy with the results. It is nice to start the day with a warm glow.

Focus: Being a busy mum of 2 my mornings involve me organising two vibrant children for school, this can often be chaotic, noisy and sometimes manic! I have always found it important to prepare for clinic because moving from a loud busy environment to a focused calm state can be challenging when you need to do it quickly! I have many tools I use to help set me up for the day and Qigong is now one of them. I feel it helps reset my mind and body, it takes a couple of minutes but literally seems to gather my thoughts, and set my focus for the day. Because of this the whole day seems to flow better, and I start with a focused mind, calm heart and settled breath.

Anxiety: Its normal to feel worry or anxiety from time to time. Although over the last few years many of my friends and family have experienced heightened anxiety, and myself included. This may be due to Covid and all the loss, stress, and change that has come with it. I have observed that the two times of day where anxiety can be at its worse are first thing in the morning and last thing at night. This is usually because we are without distraction and consequently have more time to think and ponder. I have always found acupuncture and meditation wonderful for managing anxiety and now I can offer patients the chance to learn a home practice that they can do everyday alongside their treatments. For me it has helped to settle feelings of agitation, worry and my over active mind.

More Energy: My energy levels became more stable and consistent with regular Qigong practice. Though I would like to point out this took more than one morning session to achieve, I noticed it after regular practice. For me this is so important because the more energy I have the more productive I am. If you have ever suffered with fatigue you will know it makes everyday feel hard, and I know this feeling well as I have struggled from time to time with anaemia. Although my energy has been in a good place for some time now qigong has added another layer to it, like giving me an extra battery for the day. I notice I can do more, and it just feels easier.

There are many aspects that can impact energy levels such as health conditions, poor diet, disrupted sleep, shift work and high stress levels, therefore an integrated approach is best when addressing this type of problem. In my opinion Qigong has a lot to offer when working to improve energy and vitality and it is something that I highly recommend.

Where To Go From Here

If you are looking for ways to manage stress, support a chronic condition or your general wellbeing then please check out the information on my site regarding clinical Qigong. It requires 4 sessions that cover the physical, breath and visualisation as well as feedback and practice. This is something that can be used as an adjunct to your acupuncture sessions or separately. This course is not advised whilst pregnant or if suffering some types of mental health conditions. For more information don't hesitate to contact me.

End Note: This post is purely based on my personal experience with Qigong, no health claims are being made. Qigong is simply a natural way to support health and wellbeing.

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Vitman D & Your Health

By Shelley Osborne-Shaw • September 1, 2025

Vitamin D Nine years ago, I discovered just how important vitamin D is when I learned that I was clinically deficient. At the time, I was struggling with joint pain, extreme fatigue, low mood and bowel inflammation. As a natural healthcare practitioner, I had always supported my body through diet, herbs, and therapies, but following the birth of my second child, my recovery wasn’t as strong as I expected. Wanting to understand what was happening, I gave myself a full health MOT with the support of both my naturopath and my GP. One of the key findings was my low vitamin D status. My results came back at around 20 ng/ml , which is considered clinically deficient. There’s some debate between functional and conventional medicine about what counts as ‘optimal’ vitamin D levels. Most agree that anything between 30–100 ng/ml is considered adequate, but being just inside the normal range doesn’t always mean your body has enough to function at its best. What I learned from my own experience is that testing your levels is so important and can guide your supplement dose. If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms seek appropriate medical care but also consider checking your vitamin D levels. Fatigue Muscle aches and pains Bone pain Low mood Inflammation Gut issues Slow wound healing Vitamin D & your health Vitamin D is a fat‑soluble vitamin that supports many vital functions in the body. Ideally, we obtain most of our vitamin D from the sun and small amounts from food. When UV rays reach the skin, they react with a type of cholesterol to create cholecalciferol, the precursor to the active form of vitamin D known as calcitriol. The problem is when you live in the northern hemisphere it can be challenging to get the amount of sun exposure we need especially with the long dark winters and use of sunscreens in the summer. How much sunlight do we need? Anywhere between 10–30 minutes of direct sunlight exposure without sunscreen is generally enough to meet daily vitamin D needs, depending on your skin type: Fairer skin types: shorter exposure is sufficient. Darker skin types: l onger exposure may be needed, as higher levels of melanin reduce UV absorption and vitamin D synthesis. Why is Vitamin D important? Vitamin D works in many parts of the body. Its receptors are found in a wide range of cells and help control the activity of hundreds of genes, influencing everything from bone strength to immune function.” Vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium in the intestines important for bone health, mineralization and growth. It supports our immune system by modulating T-helper cells and cytokines as well as stimulating antimicrobial peptides. Research also supports that it can decrease the number of T-cells in autoimmune disease. It is important for gut health as it has a regulatory effect on intestinal bacteria. It has been linked with cancer prevention due to its modulating effect on genes responsible for cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis. Research has shown that vitamin D plays an important role in brain health and emotional wellbeing. Vitamin D receptors are found in areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, and low levels have been linked to symptoms such as sadness, fatigue, and even clinical depression. While the relationship is complex and not fully understood, studies suggest that deficiency may contribute to low mood, and restoring healthy levels can support overall mental health.