My Story

I moved to Florida in 2016 and for years watched a small group practicing slow, intentional movements on the beach at sunrise. I finally worked up the courage to approach the instructor in 2020 and discovered the class was a form of qigong — a mindful movement practice rooted in breath, balance, and presence. I signed up for the year, not knowing what to expect, and quickly found that qigong grounded my mornings. During a stressful season of architecture work and the uncertainty of the early pandemic, getting up before dawn to walk to the beach and move with intention became a ritual which calmed my nervous system and set a mindful tone for the day.

The classes blended gentle movement from tai chi and qigong, focused breathing, and light strength work with small handheld weights. Part of the class focused on light rhythmic tapping exercises, gently tapping points on the arms, legs, head, chest, and abdomen in sequence. I found this rhythmic tapping to be incredibly calming for the nervous system. Walking an hour each way to practice, watching the sunrise, and breathing with others made each morning feel like a reset, a pause before the world’s demands took hold. I continued practicing until I left for grad school, finding in qigong not only physical calm but also a mental steadiness that carried into my work and daily life.

Today, if I notice myself feeling particularly out of sorts, I will do a full-body tapping sequence at home for 15 minutes, and from time to time I look up tai chi and qigong videos on YouTube.

Where to Begin

1. Search online for classes at local museums, parks, and community centers.

2. Ask around at local yoga studios and tai chi classes.

3. Watch YouTube videos.

Equipment

Your teacher may provide a list of recommended or required items. These are the items I bought to my beach class.

1. Weighted balls for resistance training

2. Water Bottle

3. Apple Watch for tracking calories and exercise

4. Sunglasses