A wellness workout is practised by most people practising qigong. It is designed to prevent disease and improve or maintain health. The workout may last from ten. minutes to an hour or longer. It usually consists of exercises (dynamic in nature), self-massage, and sometimes meditation (static in nature). Additionally, we all experience times when particular parts of the body are calling for attention, whether due to disease or just feelings of discomfort. To cure a specific problem, we practice therapeutic qigong techniques, either, instead of, or in addition to the normal qigong practice. The daily workout occurs at a fixed time each day. Therapeutic qigong is practised whenever it is needed.

In traditional Chinese understanding, the period from midnight until noon is called sheng qi or the time of the living breath. It is best to practice your qigong wellness workout in the middle of this period, at about 6 am. The early morning is the springtime of the day. The winter portion of the day, form noon till midnight, is called si qi or the time of dead breath. Seeds planted in the early spring bear the healthiest fruit; those planted during the winter are less hardy. The living breath peaks at sunrise, the ideal time for qigong training. The effects of morning practice are long-lasting and cumulative. You are likely to still feel pleasantly energised in the afternoon. As each day passes, your supply of qi increases. In Zhineng qigong, practice can be performed at any hour of the day or night. Afternoon and evening practices are also important at the the Center.

When you are learning new qigong techniques, it is good to have two practice times, one just for yourself, to build qi and enjoy, and another homework time to review and memorise techniques and details. Do your homework after your morning wellness workout whenever your schedule allows. Review instructions and practise the exercises slowly and carefully, over and over again until your body can do them automatically. If you have time, there is no prohibition against more than one wellness workout per day.

No matter what time of the day you practise, always wait at least half an hour after eating a meal and after a full meal, longer is better. There is a saying. "If the belly is filled with food, there is no room for qi." A full belly interferes with breathing and movement. Digestion uses qi, making less available for qigong. It also diverts qi to the digestive system, away from the areas of the body that are the focus of your exercises. If you eat after practice, wait for at least half an hour after your session to allow time for residual effects of qigong practice. After the half hour 'cooling down' time, the qi will be settled and you will be ready for normal activities.

Orientation. The popular tradition for the direction to face during qigong practice is for men to face north, and woman to face south. That is because men are considered yang and they face the yin north to obtain harmony; whilst as women are considered yin and they face the yang south. When there is a yin or yang deficiency, they should reverse directions. The seasons too have an influence, when facing the direction where summer is, provides yang, and opposite to obtain yin. This logic when further extended to the equator where Singapore is (always summer), could mean that the direction to obtain yin is that area of the world experiencing winter, as Singapore would be yang. All this is irrelevant in Zhineng Qigong because no direction is emphasised, since the use of Universal Qi is emphasised. However it is also wise to practise in harmony with nature where ever you are practising.

Qigong for Healing. From ancient times, to overcome a life-threatening conditions, qigong was advised to be practised during "the Four Sacred Periods": that is Sunrise, Sunset, Midday and Midnight. These are the times of the day when yin is changing to yang, or yang changing to yin: when we are more susceptible to disease. We can use these periods to maximise the benefits of qigong in curing disease.

Western science has found that the strength of the immune system fluctuates through each twenty-four period. It is strongest at about 7 am and weakest at about one in the morning, a parallel to the Chinese idea of the living and dead breaths. Chinese medicine maintains that the circadian rhythm governs the health of not only the immune system but of each internal organ. Internal organs experience peak and minimum periods of qi as it circulates through the body. At noon the heart receives a strong flow of qi and it is a propitious time to do qigong for the heart. Check with your teacher on the peak periods of visceral qi if you need to know more.