QiGong for Emotional Regulation: A Behaviour Support Practitioner’s secret weapon

Practising QiGong in a group

Have you ever felt like your emotions are about to explode while your body’s stuck in overdrive, ready to lash out or shut down? That’s the nervous system under pressure, something we see every day in the participants we support. Whether you're supporting neurodivergent individuals, people with trauma histories, or those experiencing heightened, risky behaviours, emotional regulation is often at the heart of effective Behaviour Support and long-term positive outcomes.

As a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner (PBSP), and someone deeply passionate about Martial Arts, I’ve found an unexpected but powerful ally in the ancient practice of QiGong (pronounced chee-gong). It’s a calm, mindful movement practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it just might be the most under-utilised tool in our Behaviour Support toolbox.

Think of QiGong as yoga’s relaxed cousin. No flexibility needed, no performance expectations, just breath work, and movement. For many of our participants, it’s a bridge between emotional overwhelm and self-regulation, particularly beneficial for those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who struggle to sit still to meditate.

Why QiGong works: The Behavioural Science behind the flow

Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System

When we talk about Functionally Equivalent Replacement Behaviours (FERB) in the Behaviour Support field, we are often trying to replace fight-or-flight responses (like aggression or shutdown) with calm, adaptive alternatives. QiGong achieves this organically. Its slow, rhythmic movements and deep breathing trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, our rest and digest mode.

This has clear implications for individuals who experience anxiety, explosive behaviours, or difficulty managing stress. QiGong offers a practice that physiologically (through body function) interrupts the stress response, and over time, strengthens the nervous system’s ability to return to a regulated state.

Movement as a medium for emotional release

Many behaviours have an emotional driver, frustration, fear, grief, shame. These emotions don’t just live in the brain, they lodge themselves in the body. As PBSP, we often see how emotional dysregulation presents as physical tension or psychosomatic issues, psycho meaning (relating to the mind) and somatic meaning (relating to the body).

QiGong supports somatic integration. Rather than requiring participants to talk about distress (which can be difficult or triggering), it allows them to move through it. Gentle swaying, flowing arm movements, and mindful postures offer a safe way to release tension without needing to explain it or sit still with it.

Mood support without medication

While medication can be essential for many participants, Behaviour Support thrives when complemented by natural mood regulation tools. Studies have shown that regular QiGong practice can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), increase endorphins, and improve sleep quality.

In practical terms, this might mean fewer morning meltdowns, better tolerance for change, and a greater ability to participate in daily activities. For PBSP working with clients

experiencing mood disorders, e.g., Autism, ADHD, or trauma responses, QiGong can be a non-invasive, empowering addition to a Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. Practice with them - not just for them

One of the most powerful ways to embed QiGong as a regulation strategy is to model it alongside the participant. This isn’t just about teaching a technique, it’s about building co-regulation, rapport and trust. When we practise together, we not only demonstrate that the strategy is safe and achievable, but we also create a shared emotional rhythm that promotes calm and connection.

Daily practice is key. Ideally, QiGong should be incorporated into the participant’s regular routine, whether at home, in a classroom, or in a support setting. Using age appropriate instructional videos, particularly in a group environment, can be a fantastic way to normalise the practice and promote engagement.

Practising daily, even when the participant is calm, ensures that the strategy is familiar and accessible when they do need to regulate. Like muscle memory, emotional regulation through movement and breath work becomes easier and more effective the more it’s rehearsed. When the time comes that their nervous system is overwhelmed, they’ll have a toolkit they know how to use.

Practical applications in Behaviour Support

• Use QiGong as part of a daily rhythm to support self-regulation before behaviours of

  concern occur.

• Replace escape/avoidance behaviours with a structured QiGong break, e.g., instead

  of leaving the classroom, take ten seconds to move and breathe.

• Use in classroom or program settings as a shared calming activity, improving the

  emotional climate for everyone.

• Many practitioners carry secondary trauma and emotional fatigue/baggage. QiGong

  is also a powerful burnout prevention strategy.

Final thoughts: A call to movement

In our work, we often teach others to pause, breathe, and self-regulate. QiGong is a living example of those principles in action. Whether used as a proactive Behaviour Support strategy or simply as a daily act of self-care, it has the potential to change how we, and those we support, experience emotional regulation.

So next time you, or someone you support, feels overwhelmed, try moving gently. Focus on the breath. Reconnect with your body. Because sometimes, the most powerful strategies are the simplest ones. In QiGong, we find a quiet, grounded path back to balance.

Go ahead.

Reconnect with your body, take a breath...

Practise it today, so when it really counts, you and those you support know exactly how to find a quiet, grounded path back to balance.