What the Bone Marrow Washing Qigong Means to Me:
A Body in Crisis, When Pain, Fear and Exhaustion took over

I have been practicing Qigong diligently since 1994. But two years before that, my health was unraveling.

I was living with persistent musculoskeletal pain—severe back pain, knee injuries from a bicycle fall, and debilitating carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists. I had recently migrated from my hometown of Singapore to the United States, was newly married, and trying to build a life while my body seemed to be breaking down.

After a seemingly minor bike accident that injured my left knee, I did what many people did in the 1990s: I cleaned it up, put on a bandage, and moved on. But the pain never truly left. In an effort to “get healthier,” without guidance or a plan, I pushed myself into activities my body wasn’t ready for. A three-mile hike—without prior conditioning—landed me on crutches with a painful micro hairline fracture in my foot.

At the same time, I was working ten-hour days as a financial analyst, commuting nearly two hours daily on the train between the South Bay and San Francisco. The stress, exhaustion, chronic pain, low immunity, and what I now recognize as hormonal and emotional imbalance began to compound. I felt disconnected, overwhelmed, and increasingly hopeless.

A Pause — And a Mirror

If you’ve ever felt trapped in a body that no longer responds the way it used to…
If pain, fatigue, anxiety, or emotional heaviness seem to come and go without clear answers…
Or if you’ve tried “doing all the right things” and still don’t feel fully at home in yourself—

                        you are not alone.

At that time in my life, I only knew that I needed help—help that went deeper than symptom management.

Meeting the Bone Marrow Washing Qigong

About eight months into my Qigong journey, Dr. Hu began introducing me to the Bone Marrow Washing Qigong (BMWQG) during private sessions. At that point, I had experienced some relief—but my practice was inconsistent. I practiced when I was in pain, and stopped when I felt better.

When he first taught me BMWQG, I didn’t like it.

Compared to the flowing, circular movements of Wild Goose Qigong, this form felt still, demanding, and unfamiliar. Standing in place felt stiff. My arms tired quickly. Deep bending movements felt challenging and uncomfortable.

“No,” Dr. Hu said calmly. “For you, this Qigong is essential. You must cultivate your inner strength—your heart-mind (心意). If not, the pain will return.”

I resisted internally. But something in his certainty made me listen.

What Bone Marrow Washing Qigong Was Really Teaching Me

Over time, I came to understand that Bone Marrow Washing Qigong is not about force or performance. It is about rebuilding from the inside out.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this practice nourishes Jing—our essence energy—supporting the kidneys, nervous system, endocrine balance, and emotional resilience. Through deep stances, gentle focus, and stillness, the body gradually shifts from chronic stress and “fight or flight” into restoration and stability.

This was not a quick fix.
It was a long-term conversation with my body.

I practiced daily—sometimes only parts of the form, sometimes imperfectly—but consistently. Over months and years, subtle changes emerged:

• My joints softened
• Pain eased
• Fear loosened its grip
• My energy stabilized
• Hope quietly returned

By year four of practice, I welcomed my first child. By year six, I had regained stamina, resilience, and strength—enough to begin weight training for the first time in my life.