Why I teach Qi Gong to my acupuncture patients — even though it means they need fewer appointments
An acupuncturist recommending something that reduces how often you need acupuncture. Here's why that makes sense.
Acupuncture is direct and powerful. It wakes the body up, gets things moving, and creates change that patients often feel immediately. But it requires a practitioner, a clinic, and a trip to Sequim. You can't do it at home on a Tuesday morning when your back is tight and your nervous system is running hot.
Qi Gong can do that.
Two different tools for the same job
Think of acupuncture as the reset — it interrupts stagnation, reduces inflammation, and gives the body a strong signal to start healing. Qi Gong is what keeps the momentum going between sessions. Gentle movement, breathwork, and focused attention that keeps energy flowing rather than pooling and backing up again.
When patients practice Qi Gong regularly alongside acupuncture, they need fewer acupuncture treatments to get the same result. I know that sounds like a strange thing for an acupuncturist to say. My goal has always been to get people feeling better and send them back into their lives. When they refer a friend or family member because of their results, that's the business model. Not keeping people coming indefinitely.
What Qi Gong actually feels like
People who've never tried it sometimes imagine it's complicated or requires flexibility they don't have. It doesn't. Most people finish a session feeling calmer, breathing more deeply, with subtle looseness in their muscles and tendons. A general sensation of peace and clarity that's hard to describe until you've felt it.
It's also something you can do anywhere. That's the point. Acupuncture is a powerful intervention but it happens in my office. Qi Gong happens wherever you are.
Why the combination works
Acupuncture opens the door. Qi Gong helps you walk through it and stay on the other side. For patients dealing with chronic pain, stress, insomnia, or neuropathy — conditions that took years to develop — having a daily practice to reinforce the work we do in the clinic makes a significant difference in how quickly things resolve and how long they stay resolved.
I teach Five Element and Three Treasures Qi Gong at Blue Mountain Yoga in Sequim on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00–10:00. Classes are suitable for all ages and fitness levels. If you're already a patient, it's a natural next step. If you're not yet a patient, it's a good way to experience the work before committing to a full course of treatment.
Jason Taylor is a licensed acupuncturist and East Asian Medicine Practitioner based in Sequim, Washington, specializing in Five Element acupuncture.