Journey of Qigong & Meditation: For Health, Vitality, and Spiritual Growth
- Nicholas Wong
- Aug 18
- 3 min read
An Evening with Fr. Paul Chong on Friday, 8 August 2025, 8.15 PM, St. Francis of Assisi Church.
We live in a restless age where our bodies carry tension in our shoulders, our minds are weighed down by worry, and our spirits often feel far from the peace we long for. Even in our service to God, we sometimes forget to care for the body, mind, and breath that God has given us. Fr. Paul Chong began his talk with a story.
There was a man in a parish, known and loved by everyone for his dedication. He served as a catechist, sang in the choir, and sat on the parish council but inside, he was running on empty. His back hurt, his temper was short, his prayers felt dry and mechanical. One day, during a retreat, he admitted to the retreat master, “I don’t feel God. I just feel tired… like a machine going through the motions.”
The priest didn’t tell him to take on more devotions or push himself harder. Instead, he invited him to the garden at sunrise. Together, they began a series of gentle movements. “Breathe in… breathe out…” The man felt his muscles loosen. His mind grew still. His spirit lightened. After thirty minutes, he experienced something he hadn’t felt in years, peace. That was his first experience of Qigong. It became the start of a journey not only toward physical healing, but toward spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with God.
Fr. Paul explained that Qigong means “energy work” the art of cultivating and balancing the body’s life force (Qi) through mindful movement, breathing, and stillness. It is a practice that unites body, breath, and mind, creating space for the spirit to dwell in harmony. He drew a beautiful parallel to Christian spirituality. Just as the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Qigong can be a form of embodied prayer, a way of honouring God with the whole self. In movement, the body releases tension; in stillness, the spirit finds its centre. “Relaxation is the first and most important principle of Qigong,” Fr. Paul shared, quoting Taiji Master Wu Tu-Nan, who lived to 105 years old. “The secret of longevity is a relaxed spirit.” where else, in today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, we live mostly in a state of fight, flight, or freeze. The nervous system is constantly on high alert, leaving little room for the rest, trust, and surrender that Jesus invites us to in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Fr. Paul reminded the audience that healing is not always immediate. He told the story of the bamboo farmer who planted a rare species of bamboo. For four years, nothing grew above the soil, people mocked him but in the fifth year, the bamboo shot up over thirty feet in just a few weeks. The truth was that all along, the bamboo had been developing deep roots underground. Our journey with Qigong, meditation, and prayer is the same. The slow, steady practice of moving gently, breathing deeply, and entering stillness nurtures roots of peace, health, and holiness that may be unseen until one day, they transform our lives.
The evening closed with an introduction to Ba Duan Jin Qigong, a classical set of eight gentle exercises. Fr. Paul guided participants through warm-up stretches, mindful breathing, and simple flowing movements, ending with a period of silent Christian meditation. As the hall grew still, there was a tangible sense of peace; the kind that comes when body, breath, and spirit rest in God together. Fr. Paul left everyone with an invitation: “Breathe. Move. Be still. Let God’s healing flow through you.” And for those inspired to go deeper, he announced that there will soon be a sequel to this talk, focusing on breath work and practical Qigong techniques, offering a hands-on opportunity to experience the healing power of this practice in greater depth.
Written by: Shivonne Prevena
