Sooner or later, every human being is confronted with questions that reach far beyond the
routines of everyday life. Questions about health, inner peace, fulfilment, and how to care for
one's life so that it may be lived consciously and in harmony with one's true nature.
 

It is therefore worth pausing for a moment and asking one of life's most important questions:
 

Do we have the courage to take responsibility for our own lives?

Most of us do not truly appreciate the value of health until we begin to lose it. In those
moments, it is not only the body that weakens. We often lose something far more subtle—the
connection with ourselves. The quiet messages arising from within become increasingly
difficult to hear, and our own body gradually ceases to feel like the trusted companion it has
always been.
 

Where Does the Health Begin?

Very few people wake up one morning already suffering from a fully developed illness. Long
before disease becomes visible, the body sends delicate signals that are all too easy to
overlook. Fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, restless sleep, irritability, inner
tension, or an unexplained sense of unease are commonly dismissed as inevitable
consequences of age, stress, or an overly demanding lifestyle.
 

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中醫學, Zhōngyīxué), however,
these are the earliest indications that the body's internal harmony is beginning to deteriorate.
The body always speaks quietly at first. Only when its gentle voice goes unheard does it begin
to speak through illness. Feeling unwell is not yet a disease, but it is rarely without cause. It is a sign that the free flow of Qi (氣) has begun to weaken, that the Zang–Fu organs (臟腑) are gradually losing their ability to support one another, and that the body must work ever harder to preserve its natural harmony.
 

The journey from health to illness is seldom sudden. More often, it is a silent and almost
imperceptible process.

• At first, there is only a vague and difficult-to-define discomfort.

•  Gradually, fatigue becomes part of everyday life.

•  The body takes longer and longer to recover.

•  Emotional balance begins to fade.

•  The immune system weakens.

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Only at the final stage do changes appear that modern medicine is able to identify, name, and
diagnose.

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Qigong (氣功) reminds us that it is precisely during this earliest stage that we possess the
greatest influence over our own health. The sooner we learn to listen to our body, the more
readily it can find its way back to its natural state of balance.

This is not about fearing every signal the body sends.

It is about learning to understand its language.

The body is not our enemy.

It is our most faithful guide.

Every single day, it reveals whether we are living in harmony with our own nature.
 

What Is Illness?​

This leads us to another important question:

What is illness, truly?

According to Chinese philosophy, illness does not arise by chance. It is the consequence of
gradually losing awareness of ourselves—of our body, our emotions, and the way we choose
to live. It is a sign that somewhere along the path we have drifted away from our inner
balance and ceased to recognise the subtle messages our body has been sending us all along.
 

Illness is not merely a disorder of the body, nor is it an enemy to be defeated. Above all, it is
an invitation to pause and to look at our lives with greater awareness. It encourages us to
reflect upon the way we live, the way we breathe, the way we think, and the way we
experience our emotions. When we begin to see illness as the expression of a body that has lost its ability to sustain its own natural harmony, we discover within it not only the source of suffering, but also the possibility of transformation.
 

In this sense, illness may become the beginning of a journey.

A journey that leads us back to ourselves.

Back to conscious living.

Back to a deeper understanding of our own nature.

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The De Rui Qigong Systems

De Rui Qigong (德睿氣功) is not merely a collection of exercises, nor is it a method
confined to a single approach to practice. It is an original and comprehensive system of

human development, shaped through many years of teaching, clinical experience, and
personal cultivation.
 

It brings together the classical principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine with decades of
dedicated Qigong (氣功) practice, creating a harmonious path for the development of the
body, the mind, and human consciousness. The individual systems are not separate methods but successive stages along the same path. They guide the practitioner from the foundations of conscious breathing and harmonious movement, through the cultivation and regulation of Qi (氣), towards a deeper understanding of the body's natural capacity for self-regulation.
 

Although each system possesses its own character, objectives, and methods of practice, they
all rest upon the same fundamental principles: conscious breathing, harmonious movement,
focused intention (Yi – 意), meditative presence, and the cultivation of the free and natural
flow of Qi (氣).
 

The De Rui Qigong Systems
 

- De Rui 1 Qigong (德睿氣功一)

The foundation of the entire De Rui Qigong system. This introductory level teaches conscious breathing, correct body alignment, harmonious movement, and the ability to perceive the flow of Qi (氣). It forms the first stage of study and establishes the foundation upon which every subsequent level of practice is built.
 

The purpose of De Rui 1 Qigong is not simply to learn a sequence of movements, but to
develop a new way of experiencing one's own body. Through regular practice, movement
gradually becomes more relaxed, breathing deeper and more natural, and the mind calmer and
more focused. The practitioner learns to rediscover what has always been present—the body's innate capacity to restore balance.

 

- De Rui 2 Qigong (德睿氣功二)

The second level deepens the practitioner's understanding of the Jing-Luo meridian system (經絡) and the Xue Wei acupuncture points (穴位). This system integrates Qigong (氣功) with carefully selected principles of acupressure, creating a safe and practical method for supporting the body's natural self-regulating processes, promoting preventive healthcare, and cultivating a more conscious relationship with the circulation of Qi (氣).

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Rather than treating symptoms alone, the practitioner learns to understand the body's subtle language and to respond to its needs before imbalance develops into illness.

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- De Rui 3 Qigong (德睿氣功三)

The third level represents an advanced stage of practice, where movement, breath, and
awareness become increasingly integrated into a single, harmonious process.
Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening Jing (精)—the Essence of Life—which,
according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, is closely associated with the functional system of
the Kidneys (Shen 腎).
 

A central component of this level is a specially developed series of exercises known as Anti-
Cancer Movements. These practices are designed to strengthen vital energy, support the
body's natural regenerative capacity, enhance resilience, and cultivate longevity.
 

The objective is not the treatment of disease, but the systematic cultivation of vitality and the
preservation of health.

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- De Rui 4 – 生命轉化 (Shēngmìng Zhuǎnhuà)
Life Transformation – The Second Spring

Every life has its own seasons.
 

After the years of growth, creation, and giving comes a time of transformation—just as
natural as the succession of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In Chinese culture, the
period following perimenopause and menopause has long been known as the "Second
Spring" (第二春, Dì'èr Chūn). It is one of the most beautiful metaphors for a woman's life.
It speaks not of decline, but of renewal; not of loss, but of discovering a new quality of being. Traditional Chinese Medicine does not regard perimenopause and menopause as illnesses.
Rather, they are seen as a natural stage of transformation, during which the body seeks a new
state of balance. At this time, particular care is devoted to nurturing Essence (Jing),
nourishing Yin, and maintaining the smooth and harmonious flow of Qi. When the body
receives the support it truly needs, this period becomes not an age of limitation, but the
beginning of a deeper relationship with oneself.
 

生命轉化 (Shēngmìng Zhuǎnhuà) – Life Transformation is an original De Rui Medical
Qigong program created specifically for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
It brings together the timeless wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine with decades of
experience in Medical Qigong, offering a path that leads not only to improved well-being, but,
more importantly, to a deeper understanding of one's own body.

The practice nurtures Essence (Jing), nourishes Yin, harmonizes Qi, and supports the body's
innate capacity for self-regulation. Through mindful movement, calm breathing, and a quiet,
focused mind, it helps women move more gently through hormonal changes, restore inner
balance, and rediscover confidence in the wisdom of their own bodies.

The purpose of this program is not merely to relieve the symptoms associated with
perimenopause and menopause. Its deeper intention is to reveal that every transformation can
become the beginning of a new chapter in life. The "Second Spring" symbolizes a time
when experience matures into wisdom, serenity becomes a source of strength, and a woman
discovers the beauty that arises from living in complete harmony with her own nature.

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- De Rui 5 – 元氣再生 (Yuán Qì Zàishēng)

Renewal of Primordial Vital Energy
A man's life, too, follows the rhythms of nature.

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With the passing of the years, it is not only the body that changes, but also the way it
generates, stores, and uses its vital energy. Modern medicine describes this period as the
gradual decline of testosterone levels, commonly referred to as andropause or late-onset
hypogonadism. Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, views this process from a broader
perspective. Rather than defining "andropause" as a separate medical condition, it understands
it as a natural stage of life associated with the gradual depletion of Essence (Jing), the
weakening of Kidney Qi, and the evolving balance between Yin and Yang.

This is not a time of diminishing masculinity or the end of vitality. It is an invitation to
embrace a new way of living—more conscious, more peaceful, and more deeply rooted in
harmony with one's own body. At this stage of life, caring for one's health is no longer simply
a choice; it becomes an expression of maturity and self-awareness.
 

元氣再生 (Yuán Qì Zàishēng) – Renewal of Primordial Vital Energy is an original De Rui Medical Qigong program developed for men entering this stage of mature life. Drawing
upon the classical principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it combines ancient wisdom
with practical methods that support the body's natural regenerative capacity and encourage
healthy, conscious ageing.

The practice nurtures Essence (Jing), strengthens Kidney Qi, harmonizes Yin and Yang,
and enhances the body's inherent ability to regenerate and restore itself. Through mindful movement, deep breathing, and focused awareness, it helps preserve physical vitality,
emotional balance, mental clarity, and an inner strength that arises not from effort or tension,
but from harmony within.
 

Renewal of Primordial Vital Energy is not an attempt to resist the passage of time. It is a
path of conscious maturation and the cultivation of life itself. In Chinese philosophy, true
strength does not lie in opposing the natural course of ageing, but in learning to move in
harmony with its rhythm. As experience ripens into wisdom, balance gives rise to inner peace,
and the harmony of body, breath, and mind becomes the source of an enduring vitality that
allows one to enter each new stage of life with dignity, confidence, and joy.

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- The Six Secret Words – Liu Mi Yan Qigong (六密言氣功)

Among the therapeutic Qigong traditions, Liu Mi Yan Qigong occupies a unique position. Its origins extend back more than two thousand years, making it one of the oldest
continuously transmitted therapeutic Qigong systems. The practice combines conscious breathing, healing vibrations, and therapeutic movements that harmonise the functional activity of the Zang–Fu organs (臟腑). Within the De Rui Qigong System, Liu Mi Yan Qigong is transmitted according to the traditional lineage of the Wu Li Family (吳氏), preserving both its classical principles and
their contemporary application in preventive healthcare and the cultivation of wellbeing.

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- The Tibetan Morning Greeting
This gentle morning practice is designed to awaken the body, harmonise the breath, and
prepare both body and mind for the day ahead. Simple yet profound, it restores vitality after sleep and establishes a calm, centred state from which the activities of daily life may naturally unfold.

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- Walking Qigong (行氣功)
Walking Qigong transforms an ordinary walk into a moving meditation.
Each step is taken with awareness.
Each breath becomes intentional.
Each moment becomes an opportunity to cultivate inner stillness.

Through the harmonious integration of movement, breathing, and focused attention, the
practitioner develops balance, concentration, emotional stability, and a deeper sense of inner
peace.

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- Dynamic Shaolin Qigong (少林氣功)
Inspired by the centuries-old traditions of the Shaolin Monastery (少林寺), this dynamic
system develops strength, flexibility, coordination, and vitality through flowing movement.
The emphasis is not on physical performance alone, but on expressing power without unnecessary tension. Every movement is guided by breathing, rooted in stability, and animated by the unobstructed circulation of Qi (氣). In this way, physical training becomes simultaneously a practice of mental discipline and internal cultivation.

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​Although each of these systems may be practised independently, together they form a
coherent path of human development—a journey leading from conscious work with the body
toward a deeper understanding of oneself.
 

For this reason, I always encourage students to begin with De Rui 1 Qigong (德睿氣功一).

Not because it is the easiest system, but because it provides the essential foundation upon
which every subsequent stage of practice is built. Just as every enduring structure begins with a solid foundation, profound Qigong practice begins with mastering what appears to be the simplest: the breath, the posture, the movement, and the quality of one's awareness.
 

Only then can the deeper dimensions of practice unfold naturally.

 

Marcus Bongart
Shi De Rui (釋德睿)