Category: Qigong

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Hold On Tight: The Fire Horse is Here

Hold On Tight: The Fire Horse is Here

Tomorrow, February 17, 2026, we welcome Chinese New Year—and not just any year. The Fire Horse is arriving, a rare visitor that only gallops in once every 60 years. That makes this moment extra special, and it’s worth pausing to feel the energy it brings.

What’s the Fire Horse All About?

Picture a horse: strong, powerful, and charging forward with unstoppable determination. Now add fire—bright, creative, passionate, sometimes a little unpredictable. Together, they create a year that’s full of drive and possibility.

This means we may find ourselves swept up in projects, goals, and dreams with more energy than usual. Inspiration could come easily, and momentum might carry us further than we expect. But here’s the catch: fire can warm and illuminate, but it can also burn too hot. If we’re not careful, we risk rushing headlong, becoming impatient, or letting emotions run away with us.

Balance Is the Key

Within the heart of Qigong and yoga lies in balance—balancing body, mind, and emotions. That balance will be our anchor this year. The Fire Horse wants us to leap, but Qigong, yoga, and grounding practices remind us to land softly.

In an earlier blog, I suggested winter was a time to hibernate and hold off on big goal‑setting. But now, with the Fire Horse urging us forward, you may feel naturally drawn to setting intentions and that’s perfectly aligned, as the energy of this year can help us achieve, as long as we stay steady.

Gentle Reminders for the Year Ahead

  • Plan before you gallop. Write things down, sketch out your ideas, and give yourself a roadmap. A thoughtful canter beats a reckless sprint.
  • Stay grounded. Cooling practices—like Fountain, Cloud Hands, Zhan Zhuang (Standing Meditation) or grounding yoga like Cat Stretch and Downward Facing Dog will help balance fiery energy.
  • Practice humility. If passion tips into hotheadedness, pause, breathe, and if needed, offer a heartfelt apology.
  • Let creativity flow. Fire brings sparks of inspiration—use them, but channel them with care.

This year is about embracing the rare, powerful energy of the Fire Horse while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Move forward with intention, balance, and a touch of humility, and the ride will be exhilarating without being overwhelming.

The next in~person Yoga and Qigong Class at Norman Park:

Friday 27th February
11:00am – 12:30pm we will embrace the Fire Horse.
£18:00

Wednesday online yoga and Qigong classes resume again on Wednesday 4th March 2026.

£35:00 for the SET of 5 classes or £9:00 per drop-in class.

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New Year, No Rush: Resolutions Can Wait – Here’s Why

Winter, Yin, and the Wisdom of Slowing Down

Winter marks the deepest expression of Yin energy. It’s the coldest, darkest, and most inward‑turning time of the year—a season when nature naturally contracts, rests, and conserves its strength. Spiritually, this is the time to follow nature’s lead: to slow down, soften your pace, and allow stillness to become part of your daily rhythm. It is not the time for exertion or for pushing ourselves headlong into new goals.

YIN ENERGY

The Water Element: Spiritual Meaning and Emotional Flow

In Qigong and traditional Chinese philosophy, winter corresponds to the water element, which governs the kidneys and bladder. Water represents wisdom, adaptability, and the ability to flow with life. When our energy is balanced, Water moves freely—calm, deep, and steady.

But when we push ourselves too hard during winter—overworking, under‑resting, or ignoring the body’s need for quiet—the Water element is said to “freeze.” Spiritually, this shows up as:

*a sense of fragility or overwhelm
* increased worry and  heightened fear
* difficulty trusting the flow of life

These emotional shifts are indicators that our inner reserves are being depleted.

The Science Behind Winter Fatigue and Kidney Energy

Modern physiology  supports many of these ancient observations:

• The kidneys regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, and stress hormones. When we’re overtired or chronically stressed, the kidneys and adrenal glands work harder, which can leave us feeling drained or anxious.
• Cold weather increases metabolic demand. The body uses more energy to stay warm, so rest becomes even more essential.
• Reduced daylight affects the brain. Lower sunlight reduces serotonin and increases melatonin, making us naturally more tired and more reflective.
• The nervous system shifts toward conservation. Winter encourages a parasympathetic (rest‑and‑digest) state—if we allow it.

The ancient idea of “protecting kidney energy” aligns beautifully with what science tells us about managing stress, sleep, and hormonal balance during the colder months.

Live in Harmony With Winter and take her invitation to :

• rest more deeply. Relaxation and Yoga Nidra
• sleep longer
• take naps without guilt
• keep warm and protect the lower back/kidney area
• choose reflective activities like meditation, journaling, reading, or gentle Qigong
• move slowly and intentionally
• conserve energy rather than scatter it

Winter is a season for replenishment, not overexertion. The above practices support both the spiritual flow of water and the scientific need for restoration.

Water freezes to ice

When Water Freezes Within Us

If we ignore winter’s call to slow down, we risk draining our reserves. In traditional language, the water element becomes icy—rigid instead of being fluid and flowing. In modern terms, this looks like:

• adrenal fatigue
• heightened stress response
• increased anxiety or fearfulness
• difficulty concentrating
• emotional sensitivity

Finally, we can benefit from reflection, consider what you want to leave behind and what has a place in the new year.  It’s a great time of year to consider rebuilding your self-esteem and boosting your confidence with hypnotherapy. Reading,  journaling, drawing and mind mapping are great creative pursuits at this time of year.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine) the ears are linked to the kidneys so this is a good time to listen in, change channels and hear your own inner wisdom from within.

Think of the moon bringing light into the darkness, you’ll benefit from longer deeper meditations that will likely bring enlightenment and “ah ha” moments of clarity. This is a great time for creative thinking (not doing) that will help shape the year ahead.

Keep an eye out for my Spring is the Perfect Season to Start Anew blog at the end of winter.

 

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A Final Farewell To Summer

Monday 22nd September saw the Autumn Equinox arrive and bid a final farewell to summer. Some of you might be feeling a little sad at this prospect and with good reason but more of that later.

I might be stating the obvious when I say that now is a good time to wear warmer clothes, layers, scarves and hats but many years ago I couldn’t stand the autumn or winter and I  found walking my lovely dog a chore.

I couldn’t quite let go of the notion that summer had gone and there I was stupidly still mincing around in summer clothes and sandals.

 

 

 

Nature is Peace


A dog is guaranteed to get you out in nature.

Once I sorted out my clothing and made a point of having a hearty breakfast before I took her out, I began to love being out in nature in all weathers and it’s where I find peace.

Finding ways to adjust and to be in sync with the changing seasons is more important for our mental health and wellbeing than we may realise.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) adapting our diet and keeping areas like the neck and kidneys warm, is essential to build a strong immune system – and to be able to head into the colder winter months feeling strong, healthy and mentally robust.

In autumn and winter many of us will find that the energy necessary to eat raw foods, salads etc outweighs the benefits. Instead a simple shift to eating  warm foods like porridge, soups, broths, stews and drinking more warm drinks  will help ward off colds and flu’s and go toward a stronger constitution.

Eating white foods in autumn such as pears, (cooked for some of us) radishes, porridge, butter beans (they’re great spiced up) onions  etc help fortify the lung and large intestine energies.

The lungs are affected by grief and sorrow and this time of year we can witness many endings, the end of summer, the end of leaves on the trees, and temporary end of growth in nature around us. In addition, the impending shorter, darker days can feel make us feel sad and gloomy, consequently  we may feel more tearful and weepy around this time. Here’s a bit of research on lungs and grief.

Given that acceptance is a big part of the healing process.

Accepting that we feel weepy and allowing ourselves quiet time to do just that and have a good cry can help purge the feeling and then we can get on with helping ourselves to feel better ,with it out of the way. Suppressing emotions, usually means they will bubble up somewhere else when we least expect it.

Autumn does have her gifts though. When we strengthen our lungs such as in a good yoga or qigong practice that involves opening and contracting the chest, we facilitate the process of ‘letting go’ which is a form of purging stagnant energy.

Repetition Builds Muscles

Much like decluttering your home, it feels good to make space in the lungs for new energy. A fresh supply of Qi can literally change your state both mentally and emotionally.

Another helpful way to declutter emotionally is to journal and write therapy letters. This time of year is brilliant to release old hurts and resentments.  Write a letter to whoever you are harbouring a resentment, or grudge toward and let rip, then see if you’ve any room for forgiveness. For more tips and a really funny skit about clutter check this out on thestresshacker.com

Remember of course that forgiveness does not condone someone’s behaviour or actions.

It takes courage to forgive people who have hurt you and taking some of the above steps to strengthen your lungs will give you courage to confront  issues and find ways to move forward.

Finally the autumn is a good time to end projects, tie up those loose ends, clear the clutter and generally begin to decelerate in life, it’s okay to take longer baths, get into bed with a good book earlier and give yourself a lot of loving and self-care.

As usual you will also find a huge supply of self-help audio programmes in the shop here and a few yoga classes here.

So wrap up, eat well, exercise, get out in nature and nurture yourself.

 

 

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MIND MANAGEMENT: MOVEMENT OR MEDITATION?

A few years ago I was teaching yoga in a local gym, when a student approached me seeking guidance on managing her anxiety. She asked which specific yoga poses could help her. Curiously, I inquired about her daily practice, only to learn that she felt too anxious to practice at all.

The purpose of any discipline, be it prayer, meditation, Yoga, or Qigong, is to connect with your inner self. This connection taps into an unwavering, peaceful presence that resides within you. By establishing a regular practice, ideally daily, it becomes easier to access this infinite source of calm.

The long-term benefits are profound. When you cultivate a sense of stillness and peace, it feels like returning home to a place you instinctively know you belong. You can carry this sense of calm with you as you navigate life’s journey.

Of course, as humans, we will still experience feelings of sadness, anger, and depression. Acknowledging these emotions is essential; they are part of the human experience. However, your practice allows you to move through these feelings more quickly. Embrace them after all, they are real and valid. With your discipline in place, you’re more likely to remain more positive as you move through the challenges of your day.

Can you take seven to ten minutes every day?

When you care enough about yourself to commit to a short time every day for your practice – whether that’s running, martial arts, or chanting – it becomes easier to remain centred, react less to external triggers, feel generally stronger and feel more in control of your life.

What you experience in your practice is eventually translated into every area of your life. For example, in the ancient art of Qigong, we learn to move slowly with relaxed breathing and in time we approach all our daily activities in the same way, thus gaining some self-mastery.

Over time we develop resilience as we realise that emotions are fluid; nothing stays the same forever, including how you feel in any given moment. Whilst we can’t escape illness, loss and life changing events we’re able to handle them in a more robust way.

Your Practice as an Anchor

Consider your practice as an anchor during life’s storms. Whilst many external circumstances are often beyond our control, building a daily routine fosters a sense of balance and inner strength that will serve you well throughout life.

Just before lockdown I started my  teacher training in Qigong which I’ve added to my regular yoga practice. I cannot sing it’s praises more highly; it is a remarkable practice and there is a huge body of scientific evidence to prove its efficacy.

It’s an easy practice to learn… you just have to keep practising.
YOGA AND QIGONG

If you would like to experience some of the wonderful benefits of Qigong. I am holding a mini-Yoga and Qigong Summer Retreat in a beautiful setting in Bromley, Kent. Contact me at sue@thestresshacker.com for more information.

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Mind Body Wellbeing Hacks

Here are 5 simple hacks for a mind body reset.

  1. Hum doesn’t matter what  tune or whether or not you’re in tune, just hum it’s an easy fix to feeling calm.
  2. Stroke your neck from your left ear to your right collar bone hand over hand, then from right ear to the left collar bone, finally stroke from your chin down to the little u bend at the base of your neck.
  3. Put an ice-pack on the nape of your neck for one-to-two minutes.
  4. Gargle ’till you gag. Use Himalyan salts if you can get them and gargle robustly for a good couple of minutes until your gag reflex is triggered.
  5. Learn  how to belly breathe it’s a life saver in stressful situations.  To be able to change your state by moving into deeper belly breathing offers us a sense of control in challenging situations.

It’s all to do with resetting your vagus nerve

This net-like nerve pretty much travels the length of your torso from your 12th cranial nerve to your gut. Apply some of the mind body wellbeing hacks above and you’ll feel in control again. It will move away from anxiety toward self-confidence.

Mind body hacks were used as far back as 12th century.  Techniques such as the Inner Smile Meditation were used to give subtle messages to the major organs in the body that all is well. Cool, simply by smiling and connecting with them we start to feel great.

Light, Heartshaped Mirror Plant, Wind Chime
Light Heart Chimes with Wellbeing and Nature

Now it might sound daft to smile and connect with  your heart, but if you want to live in harmony, know that the heart is the Emperor of the emotions. Stop and think about that for a moment and you’ll know it’s true. When you feel sad, angry, fearful, happy or loving you experience those feelings from your heart.

***FREE GIFT***

It stands to reason then that we should look after the heart. With this in mind I made a gift for you. It’s my version of The Inner Smile Meditation.  Download it free here in the shop or listen to it on my YouTube channel. Once you’re familiar with it you can do it yourself EVERY day to trigger a healthy mind body connection. Let me know what you think of it.

Sunlight shining on a woman in nature who is smiling.
Smile with your heart, smile with your eyes let the light in and spread the love.

 

Yoga and Qigong Classes

A lilac flower background with details of yoga and qigong classes.
Learn Qigong and Yoga for flexibility and longevity.

If you’d like to join me in exploring more mind body hacks, I run an in-person Yoga and Qigong class in Bromley on the last Friday of every month and online weekly.  You’ll love how you feel afterwards. Beginners are welcome you only need to bring your mind and body.

Thanks for reading.

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7 Surprising Ways to Protect Yourself

As we move into the colourful season of Autumn,  this is the right time to strengthen your defences and protect yourself by reinforcing your shield.

According to Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a protective force known as the Wei Qi (could be called the immune system too.) The yang energy flows on the outer layers of muscle and skin and controls the opening and closing of the pores that regulate temperature and sweating, this is the shield that helps you to protect yourself.

Protect yourself and strengthen your field to shield you from external pathogens and internal pathogens.

Protect and Shield Yourself

Obvious external pathogens are colds, flu’s and viruses but it may surprise you to know that internal pathogens are things like negative emotions and unhealthy thought patterns, we’re talking  FAGS!  fear, anger, guilt and shame. Banish those yucky emotions.

Since Autumn is a time of letting go and Mother Earth, is shedding layers and dying off, it’s actually quite normal to experience sadness and grief, weepy and low at this time of year.

As we say goodbye to the summer joys and all it’s warmth and prepare for the cold dark winter days ahead it can feel like grieving.

Other internal pathogens are poor attachments in the form of  bad habits or addictions that can return with a vengeance as we reach for unhealthy comforts. When you lose  your drive and feel rudderless this is also a call to action to strengthen and protect yourself.

So how do we combat this and strengthen our immunity? Luckily there are many ways, heres’ a few.

Keep Warm. A simple common sense approach to the changing seasons, such as protecting your body – especially neck/throat area – from wind and cold will help you. Plainly put, you’ve got to start wearing those extra layers even if that big yellow thing is still shining in the sky!

Disicipline. Find whatever way  works for you but  knuckle down and do some regular exercise, whether it’s jogging, an aerobic class, yoga or Qigong get into something that you can practice for a short time each day, ideally working up a sweat. By the way don’t wash the sweat off for at least 1/2 an hour because when you allow it to soak into the pores you strengthen your Wei Qi and  that’s your shield.

Nourishment. Ideally eat food that’s in season and nutrient rich with a variety of fruit, veg, nuts and seeds – the gut biome likes that! If you don’t know how to get your act together on the food front contact a good nutritionist

Stress Free. Reduce stress by practising relaxation techniques or listen to any of the programmes such as Yoga Nidra  available in the shop here at thestresshacker.com .

Sleep Well. Aim for seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. Get into a routine, avoid visual stimulus for at least a couple of hours before you turn in. Clear your mind by writing a list of everything you have to do tomorrow and rise early to address your list.

Boundaries. Look at your boundaries make a note of who pushes them, or where and when your own boundaries weaken and you reach for your ‘fix’. Make a conscious decision to address them by writing out the ways you can deal with your boundary pushers for example learning  assertive skills. Make an alternative plan to avoid the people, situations, times and triggers that make you want to use your comforters, consider other ways to handle this.

Know Yourself Better. In order to establish good clear boundaries, it’s important to know yourself. One simple way to do this is to journal daily. Just write a couple of pages either last thing at night or first thing in the morning before you get up. No rules, just write whatever comes out… over time you’ll see a pattern emerge. Noticing this can help you start addressing the things that get in the way of you feeling strong and you’ll be able to help yourself.

Finally, if you struggle with any of the above enlist some experts and get a wellbeing team behind you.  Go and see a homeopath, get some acupuncture  to boost your immune system and clear stagnation. Find a life-coach or therapist to work through your mental and emotional blocks and lastly set clear goals and then  practice being present i.e meditation and mindfulness.

If you’re looking for a yoga and Qigong class, drop me a line meaI look forward to hearing your thoughts on taking steps to protect yourself.

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Protect, Preserve and Conserve Your Life Force Energy

Get cosy in winter

As this year comes to a close and we move into the darkest most quiet time of the year give yourself permission to sleep longer, nap more often and generally hibernate. In this way you will emerge into spring with more verve and energy.

Get cosy in winter

5 Top Tips for Surviving Winter

  1. Keep your lower back warm. Kidneys and adrenals appreciate the warmth. Wear an additional layer around your hips, perhaps a thick warm scarf. Use a warmed wheat bag on your lower back if you’re sitting for long periods of time.
  2. Keep hydrated with warm drinks – try the winter drink recipe if you think you’re going down with a cold.
  3. We’re closest to Mother Earth at this time and as such a time for reflection, write down what lessons you learned in 2023, what you don’t want to repeat and what you’d like more of.
  4. If you’re too sedentary get up and Shake The Tree. Stretch up onto tip toes and raise arms and hands above your head with interlinked fingers. Make the sound Aaaah as you bring your arms down by your sides. Rinse and repeat.
  5. Finally, develop a strong building block by improving the quality of your sleep. Turn all technology OFF and leave it out of the bedroom. If you ruminate a lot, then write your thoughts down before you go to bed. A warm bath/shower an hour before bedtime and when your body begins to feel chilly that’s your body’s way of telling you it’s bedtime.