Ridha Lhiba

6th Duan Black Belt
State-certified Instructor (DE JEPS AEMC)

“Qigong […] is the silent engine of Wing Chun, its inner fuel.”

Preface

For over thirty years, I have explored Chinese martial arts, Wing Chun, and traditional energy practices. Qigong, in particular, has always been for me much more than a discipline: it is the silent engine of Wing Chun, its inner fuel. It is what gives life to movement, transforms technique into presence, and nourishes power without violence.

I learned Qigong in its most demanding form, the one that requires years of repetition, patience, and immersion in a culture and philosophy thousands of years old. And I have measured its full richness. But over time, I also observed a gap. Transmitting these practices to a Western audience, with its relationship to time, efficiency, and understanding of body and mind, was not self-evident. What is obvious to a Chinese practitioner can seem abstract, slow, sometimes discouraging to a Westerner.

So I felt the need to create a bridge. A practice that keeps the soul of traditional Qigong — its depth, its wisdom, its link to vital energy — but speaks a clear, accessible language, adapted to our way of life. A practice where every movement has meaning, where you understand why you do it, and where you feel the benefits quickly without having to wait for years.

Thus Vitality Qigong was born. A living, structured, progressive method, addressed to today's human being. It draws from tradition, but dares to step away from it in order to return to it better, through a more direct, more conscious, more embodied path.

Ridha Lhiba

Before you begin

Introduction

What is Qigong?

Qigong (氣功) literally translates as “work of energy” or “mastery of the vital breath”. It is an ancient Chinese practice combining slow movements, breathing and awareness.

The three great families of Qigong

Health Qigong — to maintain vitality and prevent illness.
Martial Qigong — to strengthen the body and develop inner power.
Spiritual Qigong — to cultivate inner peace and harmony with the universe.

This manual belongs to the health approach, while integrating elements of philosophy and awareness.

Vitality Qigong: a modern and conscious approach

Vitality Qigong is a contemporary Qigong method, born from over thirty years of practice in Chinese martial arts and the teaching of traditional Qigong. It was designed to meet the needs and sensibilities of a Western audience, without ever betraying the depth of the tradition from which it comes.

At the heart of Vitality Qigong lies awareness — a quality of clear and attentive presence to mental, emotional and bodily activity. This awareness, when cultivated, generates a harmonious Qi that acts on both the body and the environment.

The method offers a wide variety of exercises: sways, meridian massages, shaking, balance postures, sequences, etc. Each exercise is described simply and precisely, with indications on breathing, key points and expected benefits.

Vitality Qigong integrates a modern understanding of the human body: fascia, myofascial chains, the law of viscosity, the role of the shoulder blades as “great wings”, and the biomechanical principles of gravity, normal force and centre of mass.

Accessible to all, beginners and experienced practitioners alike, Vitality Qigong offers a living, immediate and deeply regenerating practice.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who wishes to discover or deepen a living Qigong practice, accessible and adapted to the Western way of life.

Audiences

For beginners: each exercise is explained step by step, with clear instructions and key points. Progress at your own pace, without pressure, listening to your body.
For regular practitioners: a complementary approach to yoga, tai chi or martial arts, with varied exercises that enrich your practice.
For teachers and wellness professionals: a teaching support with precise descriptions, educational sidebars and theoretical reminders to structure classes.
For anyone seeking to live better: no particular physical condition required; the practice respects each person's limits.

How to use this manual

This book is designed to be both read and practiced. Here are some tips to get the most out of it.

Tips for use

Read first, practice afterwards: take time to read the Foundations section (chapters 1 to 6) to understand the spirit of Qigong.
Progress step by step: exercises are presented in a logical and progressive order. Do not skip steps.
Practice regularly, but without excess: better 10 to 15 minutes every day than one hour once a week.
Follow the breathing instructions: in the early stages, breathing remains natural. Never force the breath.
Read the educational sidebars: they clarify a specific point, explain a concept or give a tip.
Listen to your body: Qigong is not a performance. Reduce the range or move on if a movement is uncomfortable.
Give yourself the right to slow down: this is not a program to “tick off”, but an invitation to slow down, breathe, feel.