Qigong makes You happy
- Sep 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 22
New study shows: Three days of intensive practice significantly boost happiness
Study by Álvarez & González, 2024 – Retreat with 42 participants in Mexico
💡 Why happiness is measurable – and what Qigong has to do with it
What if three days were enough to feel significantly happier – without pills, consumption, or self-optimization pressure?
The new scientific study by Citlalli Álvarez and Sofía González investigated exactly that. At the center is Zhineng Qigong, a modern and accessible form of Chinese Qigong.
The result: After just 3 days of intensive practice, participants' perceived happiness increased significantly.
🔬 Study design: How was happiness measured?
📍 Location: Retreat center Rancho El Rinconcito, Mexico
👥 Participants: 42 people (36 women, 6 men), ages 21–81
🕖 Intensity: 7 hours of Qigong per day, over 3 consecutive days
📊 Measurement: Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), before and after the retreat
🔎 Analysis: t-test for paired samples → statistically significant (p < 0.001)
🧘 What was practiced?
Under the guidance of two Chinese teachers, the group practiced the following methods:
Lift Qi Up – Pour Qi Down
Wall squats
Mudras and healing sounds for the 5 zang organs
Building the collective Qi-field
Qi-experiments: spoon bending, magnetized needles, group healing
The practice was not only physical but also deeply focused on consciousness – following the principle: The mind guides the Qi.
📈 What changed?
Before the retreat, only 38.5% of participants rated themselves as "very happy".
After the retreat, this rose to 74.4% – nearly doubling.At the same time, the number of those who felt “not particularly happy” dropped significantly.
Category | Before the Retreat | After the Retreat |
Very happy | 38.5% | 74.4% |
Moderately happy or less | 61.5% | 25.6% |
🧠 What does science say?
The authors also highlight neurobiological findings:
Happiness is trainable – through consciously created neural states
Neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin influence not only mood but also immune and cardiovascular health
Positive emotions can slow aging, e.g., via increased telomerase activity
Conclusion: Happiness is not coincidence, but a neuro-energetic state – and Qigong is a powerful method to activate it.
✨ What can you take away from this?
This study impressively shows:➡ Just a few days of targeted Qigong practice can deeply enhance your emotional experience.
Zhineng Qigong is especially well-suited due to its simplicity and effectiveness for retreats, online formats, and daily use.
📣 Conclusion: Happiness begins in the Qi-field
If you…
want to strengthen your inner balance
are looking for holistic ways to boost happiness and health
want to learn or teach Qigong
👉 then intensive Zhineng Qigong practice is a natural, evidence-based path.
🧭 Inspiration for you:Try practicing 1 hour of Zhineng Qigong daily for 3 days – and keep a simple happiness journal. You might be surprised.
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