After more than a decade living and working in Estes Park, Kristina Naldjian is bringing a practice rooted in thousands of years of Daoist philosophy to Estes Park Yoga. On Saturday, February 21, Naldjian will lead a three-hour workshop at the studio called “Introduction to Qigong,” which will introduce participants to qigong, an ancient Chinese system of coordinated breath, movement, and meditation that promotes physical and emotional well-being.

“It literally means energy work,” Naldjian said. “Qi is energy or life force and gong is work or working. It’s an ancient Chinese system of expertise that incorporates mind, intention, visualization, breath, movement, and body.”

Naldjian, who moved to Estes Park in 2012 to work at DaoHouse on Colorado Highway 7, has more than 25 years of experience studying and teaching Daoist healing arts such as tai chi, qigong, meditation, and Daoist life philosophy. She has previously taught classes at the Estes Park Recreation Center and Senior Center, as well as a talk on tai chi and basic qigong at the Estes Park Library, but this will be her first workshop at Estes Park Yoga.

Instructor Kristina Naldjian.

Rooted in Daoism, a philosophy focused on cultivating longevity and quality of life, qigong uses slow, intentional movement, visualization, and breathwork to promote relaxation and internal balance.

“It’s a moving, healing form of meditation,” Naldjian said. “There’s a lot of emphasis on the way you breathe. Qigong is a slow and gentle practice that helps move energy through our body, through the different meridians.”

The Feb. 21 session will introduce participants to wudang primordial qigong, a form known for its simplicity and meditative qualities. Rather than emphasizing complex physical technique, the workshop will focus on building awareness through subtle coordination of breath and movement.

“Through the movements of qigong, one helps to recognize the breath and build the awareness and start to open up space for healing to take place,” Naldjian said. “We all have a qi doctor within. If you give the body the right environment, it will heal itself. We need to give it that space of stillness and qi, so we work with both internal and external qi to slow down the aging process and achieve that.”

The class is open to all experience levels, including complete beginners. Participants will receive a brief introduction to the history and philosophy of qigong, along with practical tools they can integrate into daily life to support stress reduction and overall vitality.

“It’s going to be a very basic but very informative class,” she said. “We’ll cover a little history, the benefits of qigong, how we can create a qigong mind and environs in our daily lives, and how to practice this philosophy and the movement.”

Attendees should wear comfortable clothing and socks, as shoes are not permitted in the studio. The session will center on simple, meditative exercises designed to help participants become more aware of their breathing and physical habits, which Naldjian believes can benefit long-term health when integrated into daily routines.

“It’s a wonderful form because it helps to increase the internal energy of the body,” she said. “It works on bringing harmony and balance to oneself.”

For those new to the practice, she emphasized that prior experience is not necessary.

“You can show up a complete beginner,” Naldjian said. “That’s kind of what I’m expecting. I’ll teach you all the fundamentals of qigong in an approachable and enjoyable manner. I’ll show you how to practice this philosophy and movement, which are both relaxing and healing for everyone.”