Qigong for Stress | Building Resilience | Wood Element Chi Kung for Stress, Anger, Manic Depression

Traditional Chinese Medicine sees anger, stress, and wild emotional swings like manic depression and bipolar disorder as being due to an imbalance in the Liver Chi. The liver is ruled by the Wood element, and is in charge of the smooth and even flow of Qi through the body. When that smooth flow is disrupted, say by liver stagnation, then we wind up feeling stressed, overwhelmed, inflexible, indecisive, or, in extreme cases, manic depressive.
In this sequence we use exercises that clear stagnant Qi from the liver meridian, and help to spread and smooth the flow of Qi throughout the body, such as the Leopard Stretch. The leopard is the Wood Element animal from one of many "Five Animal" Qigong sets oriented around the Five Elements.
For best results, balance your blood sugar and eat plenty of digestible protein. This helps support your liver so your liver can help regulate your moods. Also, if you are having more serious mood imbalance issues, consider seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner for help with herbs and acupuncture to support this practice. Or consider booking a coaching session with me to talk Qigong, lifestyle, and diet strategies: www.Nickloffree.com
Also, I love to answer your questions in the comments! Let me know if you have anything you'd like me to talk about or create for future videos.
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Every day at 9AM San Fransisco Time I am teaching Qigong, Tai Chi, Taoist Yoga, and Meditation via Zoom. Join me any morning or every morning for a full body and mind tune-up! Flexible sliding scale pricing available. Email me at [e-mail] for more info.

[@johannaholmer6331]

Thank you - again - for every routine that you share. You are the most inspiring qigong teacher I have come across; the way you combine movement with explanation (in a calm voice) is great. I am hooked, doing your qigong every day, and it has helped me to get rid of migraine. Thank you!

[@qigongannis]

Thanks again Nick 🙏 But I'm jealous at that background, soooo beautifull!

[@brianacollazo9417]

I am bipolar and been into qigong for almost a year now. life changing. this video feels amazing, i've already done it like 7 times in the past 2 weeks and its doing wonders in helping my energy flow and balance my mental state.

[@TheNickLoffree]

I'm so glad to hear its been helpful! Keep it up! Consistency really makes it work :)

[@brianacollazo9417]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@Pikiri]

After 2 years now, you still believe that this excercise was your "wonder" in bipolar? cause I'm bp also, an skeptical of this practice too (being aware that bp is a severe illness), regards! and hope you are well!

[@brianacollazo9417]

2 years later and I still go to this video to help me come down from hypomania. I’m not as disciplined as I “should” be but I do these videos 3-4 times a week. I noticed myself getting hypomanic tonight and my first thought was “I need to come down. How do we do this in a healthy way… lets start with qigong!”

[@mereunetulburat8022]

@@brianacollazo9417 Hi Briana! I like your reply very much! I, for example, was diagnosed with osteoporosis, but I still keep on doing my qigong exercises. They help me maintain the elasticity of my joints, strenghten my muscles to support my spine and so on...The benefits are countless. I wish you all the best!

[@saralandare3580]

This is just too good to be true! But it’s true, and I’m doing it. Life changing, you life saver, the gratitude I’m sending your way is beyond comprehension🤩🙏🏼🍀

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thank you so very much :) Stoked to hear this blew your mind :D

[@oracleowen]

So grateful to connect in this lifetime brother always welcome to ckme visit in Colorado

[@webslinger516]

Thanks, Nick! Very much enjoyed this one.

[@laurabiernacki9164]

As usual I really enjoyed this. 😊🙏 I felt so much calmer and grounded at the end. Thank you very much for this lovely qigong practice 😊🙏

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thanks!😊

[@PetPhotographyMN]

Excellent!

[@zulfikarmurji2441]

Simply amazing!

[@h.m.devisser5349]

love it! thanks!

[@petegriffiths930]

Could please more thank you

[@BunBunBun79]

thank you, this was really helpful!

[@anida61]

so Awesome! Thank you

[@luzjeannetteluccioni8532]

Thank you my second day and feeling much better!

[@TheNickLoffree]

😊🙏

[@TALEI369]

Beautiful. Short and sweet and qigong always incorporates movement that somehow stretches out all my aching muscles at once. Thank you for this offering

[@kerryjohnson3483]

Hi Nick . I love your videos but I like when you talk through the video more than a voice over. I am only really new to Qigong and I find that talking through the practice helps me adjust and follow your instructions with greater ease. It also feels more personal as well. Thank you for your great content.

[@TheNickLoffree]

Noted! I've been debating which way to go. I think the average feedback is in line with yours, so I will switch back. Thank you!

[@SylviaZoe1]

Feeling good. I always feel better with your classes. Feel heated and releasing.

[@TheNickLoffree]

Fantastic. Qi keeps ya warm :D

[@jeanetteferguson5082]

That was a great practice 😍 I loved it especially the snake movement. I can feel the energy flowing. Ready to take on my day 😊 Namaste

[@TheNickLoffree]

Awesome! Swimming Dragon is great eh?

[@chrismcdonald2609]

This is great! What an amazing practice

[@nomeolvidesful]

Excelente Gracias !!!

[@doriking1784]

Loved this!! Thank you Nick! Lovely setting too. Blessings!

[@TheNickLoffree]

Glad you enjoyed it! A friendly deer led me to find this spot :)

[@soniacravillon2675]

❤

[@naomirobinson2748]

I feel Amazing after that :) thank you!!

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thanks!

[@regulaschwab5017]

Thanks, was just what i needed today🙏🙏🌱🌱🌱

[@TheNickLoffree]

So glad!

[@brandymouser9684]

Thanks Nick, what a beautiful practice. Namaste 🖤

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thanks Brandy! Truly means a lot

[@mel.melly.]

Thank you🙏

[@TheNickLoffree]

Any time! :D

[@evegoodmon]

Where is stoic sunrise? Love this video it is my favorite...question...when you bring the hands together for the crunches inhale the hands forward and then swing back exhale? it feels better to exhale when the arms are going backwards...Eve from Bali..

[@TheNickLoffree]

Hi Eve, Stoic Sunrise is on the website: nickloffree.com under E-courses. Yes, if you are referring to Beating and Drumming the Qi, it is exhale as arms go back. Glad you are enjoying the Qi!

[@boondock8082]

This is a great start of the day thank you.

[@TheNickLoffree]

You bet! Glad you dig it :)

[@meleakua]

Thank you- this is wonderful! I definitely felt many of the postures in my tendons, which have apparently been needing some attention. Very calming. I think I might just survive the weekend with my nerves intact after all. I'll probably be back again tomorrow. 😂 ✨🙏✨

[@siobhanstevens7665]

Amazing. Thank you 💙🙏

[@TheNickLoffree]

You are so welcome!

[@EveCostarelliAlwaysBeDancing]

Great class Nick. Your classes really help me to stimulate ideas for my own teaching. I really appreciate that.

[@TheNickLoffree]

That's awesome! I'm the same, learning new things gets me super inspired to teach.

[@EveCostarelliAlwaysBeDancing]

@@TheNickLoffree You are doing a great job branding yourself too! Your stuff looks very spiffy. I am not quite there-just finally got 100 followers on KZbinm,so I am about to set my name, but if you ever feel like checking my work out, here's my page kzbin.info/door/oTtp_NTTXmY6WaxAQzSjdw?view_as=subscriber

[@seg112380]

This is excellent. The mountains in the background are so soothing, and the exercises really did bring down my anger and stress levels considerably. I love your channel!

[@TheNickLoffree]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm as amazed as you are that it works haha

[@ewalittle3934]

I really like to practice with you. Greetings from Poland

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thank you! Greetings :)

[@markpinkus1959]

hey Nick, happy and very healthy new year to you....Just did this video again... what I'm also realizing is that the footwork is a bit tricky to learn,,, with the leopard pose and a couple of others....they are very subtle movements but very important in order to do the flow posture.... have a great day, many thanks, peace within, Mark

[@TheNickLoffree]

It's all about the feet ;) I should really do a video on feet and qigong

[@ChristyN2530]

This is great! I also have been doing the Stoic Sunrise. I love the added information. Picked up some ingredients for the breakfast. I am going to try that. I usually eat sprouted oatmeal with cinnamon, a little butter and agave. Good to try new things and see if the body likes it.

[@TheNickLoffree]

Awesome! Sounds like an Earth-Center friendly breakfast :) Glad to hear you are liking the course!

[@meleakua]

I was just scrolling through comments to make sure I hadn't already commented on this one & saw this! Where do you get sprouted oatmeal? 😆 That sounds amazing! (& is it gluten-free?)

[@meleakua]

I really want to try Stoic Sunrise someday too! I think I'm booked out this semester though. 😂

[@ChristyN2530]

@@meleakua Oats aren't wheat, they have always been gluten free. They sell sprouted oats at whole foods. One degree is the brand.

[@meleakua]

@@ChristyN2530 Cool I'll have to try them out! I know some oats are processed on the same equipment as wheat or something so have heard you have to be careful with them when you have gluten allergies, but I'm not sure how sensitive I am. Thanks! :)

[@mrsamba8151]

Thanks Nick. Are there any books on Qigong and Chinese Traditional Medicine that you recommend?

[@TheNickLoffree]

The Way of Qigong by Ken Cohen is a great place to start.

[@mrsamba8151]

@@TheNickLoffree thank you.

[@foilbyjennifer320]

This was an amazing practice. You are a great teacher and your voice overs are perf! I didn't think I was going to catch on to the moves, but somehow you did it slow enough and I got it on the first try. It boosted my confidence and mood. I also like how your outfit blends into the background but your gloves 🧤 stand out. Reminds me of a magician and helped me follow your movements. Also, this "holding glass", "frisbee" analogies help paint a mental picture. At the end, when you talk about teacher training, I love this landscape 👕. Very artistic and helps everything flow. Thank you. I will check out your website and share with friends!

[@TheNickLoffree]

Thank you!