by Janice | 14 Feb 2026 | Qigong, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information, Qigong Routines
In Chinese astrology, the New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice.
Chinese astrology does not offer specific predictions about your future. Instead, it describes the energetic qualities of a particular year. When you understand this, you can structure your goals and activities to align with that energy so you are “swimming with the tide” rather than against it. For example, in a year focused on reflection and consolidation, it may feel easier to slow down, reassess, and refine your plans rather than push ahead with excessive action.
Save major action for a year when the energy is more forward-moving and purposeful (like the year ahead!). When we move in accordance with the flow of energy (Qi), we are in harmony with nature, and life tends to feel more fluid, with less effort or struggle.
There are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, each with its own characteristics and bringing its own energy to its year. There are also five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and each animal year is influenced by one of these elements. The elements shape how the animal expresses itself. With twelve animals and 5 elements, the complete cycle lasts 60 years.
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. The last Fire Horse year was in 1966 – the year before I was born!
Energetic Characteristics of a Horse Year
2025 was the Year of the Snake. The energy of a Snake Year is one of recalibration – taking stock of where you are, shedding old habits and de-cluttering (like a snake shedding its skin). The energy also supports the development of intuition and wisdom. If you have been flowing with the energy of the Snake Year, you will be well prepared for the dynamic year ahead.
The Chinese New Year of the Horse begins on 17th February 2026. This year is characterised by much more propulsion and momentum than the Snake Year. Think of the qualities of the Horse: speedy, enthusiastic, vibrant, flowing, while also capable of great endurance and strength. This is a year for action and adventure! The Horse also represents freedom – moving forward, unimpeded, with speed, spirit, confidence and purpose.
However, a galloping horse can also be wild, scattered and rebellious – in danger of running out of steam if left unchecked. Compare this with a calm, trained horse: strong, steady, intentionally moving forward at a measured pace with clear direction. Learning how to harness the “wild horse” energy will be essential in making the most of this year.
Energetic Characteristics of a Fire Year
When you think of Fire, warmth and heat likely come to mind. A Fire year expresses action, movement, intensity and passion. Fire is more Yang in nature, moving outward and upward. This high energy can feel powerful and motivating, but it also carries the risk of restlessness or scattered focus. If it moves too fast for too long, burnout becomes a real possibility.
Combining Horse with Fire
As you can see, the energy of the Horse and the Fire element amplify one another. We are entering a strong Yang year – warming, moving and activating. This is not a year for consolidation or prolonged preparation. It is a year for purposeful forward movement, personal growth, and starting (and completing) projects with confidence and endurance, unhindered by too many obstacles. This year brings enthusiasm and passion, underpinned by the gentle, steady, powerful energy of the Horse.
That said, we must avoid moving so rapidly that we lose direction and run out of steam, resulting in a long recovery period. The key theme of a Fire Horse Year is intentional movement with stamina, avoiding burnout while allowing some space for rest and recovery.
Health and the Fire Horse Year
To optimise and maintain our health, we need to balance the fast-paced Fire Horse energy with calming and cooling practices.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Horse is associated with the Heart system (and its paired organ system, the Small Intestine). These govern emotional stability, calmness of mind, mental clarity, circulation, sleep quality and memory. The Fire element is also linked to the Heart system in TCM.
Excess Fire Horse energy may lead to a scattered mind, irritability, impatience, poor sleep, anxiety or heart palpitations. The Heart system can become agitated, leading to a sense of unanchoredness or ungroundedness. We may become unsure and nervous about how to move forward confidently.
When we utilise practices that guide and ground Fire Horse energy (Qi), it can move powerfully and productively, supporting meaningful change without causing burnout. The goal is to harness this dynamic, wild Fire Horse energy and channel it sustainably, rather than letting it impulsively gallop off without direction.
Practices To Optimise Our Health in 2026
In general, focus on healthcare practices which balance Heart Fire and calm the mind. Think cooling, calming and grounding. The aim is to make the most of this dynamic year while staying emotionally centred.
- Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Qigong and Tai Chi. These elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine can help calm the mind and protect the Heart system from excess heat.
- Minimise stress, reduce caffeine, and prioritise good sleep to balance Heart Fire.
- Eat cooling foods such as cucumber, spinach, courgette, mint, mung beans, barley, pears and watermelon to balance Fire and restore equilibrium. Stay well hydrated. Limit spicy or greasy foods, which may increase internal Heat. (Note: those who tend to feel constitutionally cold may not need excessively cooling foods.)
- Physical Exercise. The strong, forward-moving energy of this year may tempt you to overdo it. Regular movement helps channel energy, but it is important to recognise when rest is needed.
- Grounding practices such as walking barefoot, stretching and Qigong can provide a stable foundation and prevent exhaustion.
- Spend time in nature. Journaling, breathwork and meditation can regulate the nervous system and balance Heart Fire.
- Develop awareness around rest and recovery. Balance strong Yang activity with Yin restoration (cooling, moistening, nourishing, replenishing). Avoid becoming overly busy without clear direction. Make intentional plans so that Fire Horse energy moves forward productively.
- De-clutter your environment to allow strong Yang Qi to flow freely and without obstruction.
Recommended Qigong Exercises For 2026
Below is a selection of Qigong practices that can help balance strong Yang energy with calming Yin qualities. Choose one for 5-10 minutes, or combine two or three to create your own routine.
- Abdominal Breathing – to calm the mind and nourish Yin, helping to anchor Yang energy.
- Healing Sound for the Heart – to discharge excess heat from the Heart system.
- Shaking Head and Wagging Tail (one of the exercises in my Eight Pieces of Brocade course) – to rid excess Heart Fire and promote mental clarity.
- Relax, Expand & Nourish the Heart (one of the meditations in my Audio Meditation Bundle) – to support circulation, calm anxiety, and improve sleep.
Summary
By understanding the energetic qualities of the Fire Horse Year, we place ourselves in the best possible position to harness its potential. Focus on steady, enduring rhythm, clear direction and balanced Yin and Yang. With intentional movement and thoughtful self-care, we can move through 2026 with strength, clarity and vitality.
by Janice | 25 Sep 2018 | Qigong, Qigong & Emotional Issues, Qigong Routines
I think all of us have at one time or another lost someone who is close to us and suffered the consequent grief associated with that loss. Grief can leave us unable to function on a day to day basis. We may feel exhausted, be unable to sleep and be so emotionally fragile that we feel unable to cope with even the smallest inconveniences or difficult situations. As with any emotion, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view, it is never healthy to bottle up grief (which leads to stagnation) but rather allow it to be felt and expressed in a healthy way without opening the floodgates so much that the person is left even more devastated. In the video on this page you’ll be learning helpful methods of Qigong for grief.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please head to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel and clicking the red button so you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
What Impact Does Grief Have Upon Us?
In serious cases the effects of grief may lead to suicidal thoughts, nicotine, drug and alcohol use, depression and an inability to complete simple daily tasks.
The emotional effects of grief include:
• Increased irritability
• Numbness
• Bitterness
• Detachment
• Preoccupation with loss
• Inability to show or experience joy
Grief can also affect our physical body and common symptoms include:
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Sore muscles
What is Grief in Terms Of TCM?
In TCM terms grief is the associate emotion of the Lung system. Therefore we need to nourish and strengthen the Lungs in order to help us process and let go of grief in a healthy way. Obviously there is no timetable for this as it depends on the individual and the degree of loss which they have suffered.
3 Methods of Qigong For Grief
Any Qigong methods which help us to get rid of or “Discharge” grief and nourish or “Tonify” (build up) the Lung system will be helpful.
The three methods below are a good starting point for you to let go of grief in a healthy way.
1. Lung sound of the Six Healing Sounds. This method is shown in the following clip and is method of discharging waste Qi (including the emotion of grief) from the Lungs using a specific sound.
2. Discharge Qi With Vibration Method. This is Lesson 3 in my free part video series. In the short clip here you can see that the movement is very simple. Be loose, allowing the knees, wrist joints and neck to be relaxed. As you do this think of “sifting” the emotion of grief up to the skin surface with the vibration of your body. As you breathe out release the grief from the skin surface, like raindrops moving away from the body. Continue with this for as long as it takes you to feel more comfortable.
3. Qigong Standing Meditation. Hold your hands in front of your chest, palms facing each other, like you are holding a ball. Feel the energy between your hands. This is a ball of Qi. You may want to visualise it as a white light penetrating into the lungs and energising them.
You can use one of these methods of Qigong for grief either alone or practice them in the order I’ve listed them, finishing with the meditation. It is always better to discharge or let go of what you no longer want in your body before you bring healing energy in with a method such as the Qigong standing meditation above.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more benefits of Qigong for grief then:
1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective methods of Qigong for grief, along with other emotions too.
2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you learned from this video.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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by Janice | 11 Sep 2018 | Qigong, Qigong Routines, Qigong To Help Manage Specific Health Conditions
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. It can affect men as well as women but it is more common in women. In the video on this page I’m going to show you how you can use Qigong for osteoporosis prevention by strengthening your bones. These methods may also slow down the development of osteoporosis if you have already been diagnosed with this condition.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please head over to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to improve your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
Methods of Qigong for Osteoporosis
It is well known that weight bearing exercise such as walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, lifting weights, playing tennis and dancing can help strengthen our bones and thereby manage the condition of osteoporosis.
In the same way, weight bearing Qigong methods will help you if you suffer with osteoporosis and help to improve bone health.
Here is a list of the methods from previous videos which will be helpful for you. Select your favourites and practice them every day as a 10 minute routine of Qigong for osteoporosis.
1. Qigong Morning Routine. Establishing a morning routine will help you get into the habit of regular practice which is important if you are to slow down the progression of osteoporosis. Click here to watch the video.
2. Qigong for Illness Prevention. In this video you will find out why it is much easier to prevent and illness or condition from arising in the first place rather than treat it once it has occurred. Click here to watch the video.
3. Qigong for Cleansing. This lovely 2 minute method can help you to rid any pains or stiffness in the body which might be associated with osteoporosis. You will feel 100% better after doing this! Click here to watch the video.
4. Qigong Standing Posture. Learn the correct standing posture to maximise the flow of Qi, (energy), blood and fluid in to the bones and joints. This method helps if you have developed a hunched posture as a result of loss of bone density. Click here to watch the video.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more benefits of Qigong for osteoporosis and bone health then:
1. Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level. You’ll learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods, all which can be adapted to be used for the condition of osteoporosis.
2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you learned from this video.
3. Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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by Janice | 4 Sep 2018 | Qigong, Qigong Routines, Qigong To Help Manage Specific Health Conditions
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, which is carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain, bursts or is blocked by a clot. This causes an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain. This can damage or destroy brain cells which will affect body functions. For example, if a stroke damages the part of your brain that controls limb movement, your ability to move an arm or leg may be affected. A stroke can also affect mental processes such as how people feel, think, communicate, or learn. In the video on this page you’ll learn some methods of Qigong for stroke recovery. These exercises can speed up the recovery process, regardless of how long ago the stroke occurred.
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please head over to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
5 Reasons Why – Qigong For Stroke Recovery?
- As I explained above, if you have a stroke, your brain is affected. Qigong helps you to form new connections in your brain as the movements involved are ones which your body isn’t used to carrying out. These new movements promote new brain connections.
- Qigong involves repetitive movements which help you to reinforce the new neurological connections in your brain. Repetition is the key here. The more repetition, the more stable these new connections become.
- Qigong is free and easily accessible. Unlike attending the gym, physiotherapist or swimming to help with recovery from stroke, Qigong methods, once you have learned them, can be performed in the comfort of your home for no cost. Other methods to help recovery may incur a cost or visit to a special facility which is not always practical. You can also practice Qigong from a standing, sitting or lying down position. Because of this you can easily adapt Qigong methods to suit your individual range of movement following a stroke.
- Qigong exercises can easily be integrated into your daily activities. This makes the repetition aspect easy to carry out as you can practice Qigong when you are standing in a queue, walking, driving, standing, reaching for things, etc.
- Qigong helps balance the whole body. Working from a whole body perspective is very important subsequent to a stroke as this means that the parts of your body which may have been weakened by the stroke can be assisted by the stronger parts.
Where Can I Learn Qigong for Stroke Recovery?
If you would like to learn some Qigong for stroke recovery then there are a number of things you can do:
- Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. Next you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods, all which can be adapted for stroke recovery.
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you learned from this video.
- Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Qigong Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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by Janice | 28 Aug 2018 | Qigong, Qigong Practice Guidelines & General Information, Qigong Routines
In our busy world we might often find it difficult to find the time to eat. However, statistics show that people in the Western world are increasingly getting bigger. Obesity is on the rise. In Ireland, where I live, the percentage of people who were classified as overweight or obese in 2015 was 60%. This has risen to 62% in 2017 (Central Statistics Office – “The Wellbeing of the Nation 2017“). We all know that the healthiest way to shed pounds is to combine healthy eating with exercise. Fad diets rarely work and the weight often piles back on again afterwards. In the video on this page I’ll be showing you how you can use Qigong for weight loss. I’ll give you a few tips to get you started and let you know how you can progress and take things further if you really want to explore how you can use Qigong for weight loss that lasts!
Janice Tucker is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Medical Qigong. She is also the founder of the Space To Relax online programme of Qigong video lessons.
Please head over to YouTube to subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. These videos will help you to enhance your health and prevent illness from arising in the first place. Also please give this video a “Like” if you found it informative.
Qigong for Weight Loss
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers an alternative method to help those who are trying to slim down. Qigong, as a branch of TCM focuses on bringing back balance to the body and treating the root cause of a problem by promoting the smooth flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body. Combining Qigong with other exercise and healthy eating can have tremendous results in your effort to lose weight.
Below are some of my recommendations of methods of Qigong for weight loss. There are lots more in the Space To Relax Online Programme but what is important is that you practice regularly, exercise regularly and eat healthily. CONSISTENCY is the key!
1. Develop a Morning Routine
This is the best way, I find, to be consistent. Set yourself up for the day with 5-10 minutes of Qigong. If you don’t have time, get up 10 minutes earlier! :-). Following along with my Qigong Morning Routine here.
2. Get Rid Of Toxic Build Up In Your Body
Often we put on weight because toxins accumulate in our bodies which make us feel sluggish and less likely to exercise. Before we know it our weight has increased. Also, excess weight can be a result of excess fluid accumulating in the body if the lymphatic system is not draining and moving fluids around in a healthy way. Below are two previous videos for you to watch if you want to use Qigong for weight loss:
To cleanse or detox your body use this Qigong cleansing method daily (click here to watch). It only takes 2 minutes to practice once you have memorised the movements.
To drain lymph watch my previous video on Qigong for Lymphatic Drainage.
3. Emotional Factors Affecting Weight Gain
As many of you may know emotions can play a significant role in weight gain because we can resort to “emotional eating” in response to stresses from family and work. The stress hormone cortisol can upset the body’s metabolism too, causing an increase in weight or failure to lose weight even when you are not overeating. Refer to my previous videos if you feel that emotional factors contribute to your situation.
Qigong for Anxiety
How To Calm Down With Qigong
Qigong For Overwhelm
Relieve Stress With Qigong
Other Tips To Help You Lose Weight
- Acupuncture helps a person lose body fat by reducing appetite and thus reducing the calorie consumption by the body. On the other hand, it increases the metabolic rate of the body and aids in burning more calories. Acupuncture also stimulates the release of endorphins that help to reduce the body fat and insulin levels. Seek out a practitioner in your area if you need some help and don’t want to tackle losing weight on your own.
- Consult a Health Coach. If you want to find someone to help keep you motivated and on track the you may want to consider seeking out a health coach who can help you with dietary and exercise advice. They know all the pitfalls on your journey to slimming down and getting healthier so can help you to overcome them, should they arise. Take a look here for a good example from Dr Ailis Brosnan, who works here in Ireland and runs online programmes available to people worldwide.
Where Can I Learn More?
If you would like to learn even more methods of Qigong for weight loss then:
- Head over to my Space To Relax homepage. There you can sign up for a free 3 part video series of Qigong lessons. Once you’ve completed the free series you’ll have the opportunity to join my Space To Relax online membership programme of Qigong video lessons. This will allow you to take your practice to a whole new level where you will learn many exercises to eliminate health issues before they become a major problem. I’ll guide you step by step through many more effective Qigong methods, all which can be used for helping with weight loss.
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel by clicking the red “Subscribe” button. That way you won’t miss my regular videos which are full of useful health enhancing tips. Also please give this video a “Like” and share with me in the comments box what you learned from this video.
- Join my free Facebook group, “Space To Relax Free Group” and leave any comments or questions for me there. I’ll be happy to answer them. Also, by joining this group, you will receive regular posts of Qigong articles and videos with really useful tips about how to use Qigong to improve your state of health.
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