When the Mind Lives in the Past or Future: Finding the Present Through Qigong
A Chinese perspective on the mind, body and spirit
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. — Lao Tzu
There is something remarkably simple about these words. They remind us how easily the mind can leave the moment we are actually living in. We may spend hours revisiting something that has already happened — a conversation, a mistake, a loss, a disappointment. Or we may constantly move forward in our thoughts, imagining what could happen tomorrow, next week, or next year. Meanwhile, the present moment is quietly passing by.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Chinese health traditions, this relationship between the mind, body and breath has always been important. One of the practices that brings these three together is Qigong.
What is Qigong?
Qigong is an ancient Chinese mind-body practice combining gentle movement, breathing, posture, relaxation and focused attention. The word Qi is commonly translated as vital energy or life force, while Gong refers to cultivation or practice.
Rather than being something that needs to be understood intellectually, Qigong is something that is experienced through practice:
You stand.
You breathe.
You move.
You become aware.
And gradually, you begin to notice what is happening inside you.
Modern descriptions of Qigong also emphasize this integration of mind, breathing and body movement. The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes Qigong as a practice involving regulation of the mind, breath and body, with the goal of supporting health and wellbeing.
When the mind is somewhere else
Have you ever been walking somewhere while thinking about something that happened yesterday? Your body is walking. But your mind is still having yesterday's conversation. Or perhaps you are sitting quietly at home, but your thoughts are already tomorrow morning, next week's appointment, an upcoming decision or something that might go wrong.
The body is here. The mind is somewhere else. This is a normal part of being human. But when this becomes a constant pattern, we can lose our sense of connection with the present moment.
This is where Qigong can offer something very simple. It brings attention back into the body.
Qigong: returning to the body
Imagine standing quietly with your feet connected to the ground. You begin to breathe slowly. Your shoulders soften. Your movements become gentle and deliberate.
Instead of analysing your thoughts, you notice your breathing. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, you notice your feet. Instead of replaying yesterday, you notice the movement of your hands. Nothing dramatic has happened. But your attention has changed. You have moved from thinking about life to experiencing it.
This is one of the beautiful aspects of Qigong. The practice does not necessarily require you to stop thinking. Instead, it gives the mind somewhere else to rest.
Mind, Body and Spirit
In many traditional Chinese practices, the human being is not viewed as a collection of separate parts. The mind, body and spirit are interconnected.
When the body is tense, the mind may become restless. When the mind is constantly occupied, the body may struggle to relax. When we feel disconnected from ourselves, we may lose a sense of vitality and inner direction.
Qigong works with this interconnectedness through three fundamental elements:
🌬️ Breath: The breath is always with us. By slowing and deepening the breath, we can bring our attention away from constant mental activity and back toward the body.
🧘 Movement: Qigong movements are generally slow, smooth and controlled. There is no need to force the body. The movement becomes a form of moving meditation.
🧠 Attention: Where the attention goes, the experience changes. Qigong encourages us to become aware of posture, movement, breathing and bodily sensations rather than remaining completely absorbed in thoughts.
Together, these elements create a practice that connects mind, body and breath.
The spirit of Qigong
There is also something deeper. In Chinese traditions, Shen is often translated as Spirit. In TCM, Shen is associated with consciousness, awareness, mental activity and our sense of presence. This doesn't necessarily mean something religious. It can be understood more simply as the quality of being present, awake and connected with ourselves.
When we practise Qigong, we are not only moving the body. We are practising the ability to be present within the body. And perhaps this is why Qigong can feel so different from ordinary exercise. You are not simply training muscles. You are training attention.
A simple Qigong practice for the present moment
You don't need an hour, or special equipments. Try this for just three minutes.
1. Stand comfortably
Place your feet approximately shoulder-width apart.
Let your knees remain soft.
Relax your shoulders.
2. Notice your breathing
Don't force it.
Simply notice the inhale.
And notice the exhale.
3. Feel your feet
Bring your attention to the contact between your feet and the ground.
Feel your weight.
Feel your stability.
4. Move slowly
Raise your hands gently as you inhale.
Lower them slowly as you exhale.
Don't worry about doing it perfectly.
Move comfortably.
5. Come back when the mind wanders
It will.
You may suddenly remember something from yesterday.
Or think about something you need to do tomorrow.
That's okay.
Simply notice it.
Then return to the breath, the movement, and the body. Return to now.
The present moment is where the body lives
Perhaps this is the deeper message behind the quotation attributed to Lao Tzu. We cannot change yesterday. And we cannot completely control tomorrow. But we can develop our ability to be present with what is happening right now.
Qigong gives us a practical way to explore that idea. Not through theory, or forcing the mind to become empty. But through something much simpler:
Breathe.
Move.
Feel.
Notice.
Be present.
The mind may wander.
Let it.
Then gently come back.
Again.
And again.
That, too, is practice.
At AcuClinic Cyprus Ltd in Paralimni, Qigong is offered as part of our Traditional Chinese Medicine and complementary wellbeing approach. Our Qigong practices include traditional movements inspired by different animal forms, Daoist Qigong traditions and exercises designed to connect breathing, movement, awareness and relaxation.
The aim is not simply to exercise the body, but to explore the relationship between mind, body and spirit — and to develop greater awareness of how we move, breathe and experience ourselves.
Whether you are completely new to Qigong or already have experience with Chinese movement practices, you are welcome to explore it at your own pace.
Sometimes the most important place to return to is the place where you already are.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition or concerns.
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