The 200-Hour Certification That Takes You From Qi Gong Practitioner to Confident Teacher
A complete, practice-based pathway to deepen your understanding of Qi Gong, develop real teaching skills, and earn a certification backed by demonstrated experience.
You feel what Qi Gong can do. What happens when you go all the way in?
You practice. You can feel it. The calm that settles in after a morning session. The way breath and movement bring you back to yourself when life pulls you in a dozen different directions.
You know Qi Gong works. And somewhere along the way, something started stirring. A pull toward more.
Maybe you've thought:
If any of that feels familiar, you're not alone. And what you need isn't more time. It's a clear path forward.
The gap between practicing Qi Gong and teaching it isn't filled by information alone. It's filled by experience, guidance, and the confidence that comes from learning how to embody and share the practice.
This path doesn't just teach you more Qi Gong. It shows you what you've been practicing all along — and gives you the depth, the voice, and the confidence to carry it forward. Whether that means teaching a class, supporting clients, or simply living this practice at a level most practitioners never reach.
The gap between practicing Qi Gong and truly living it isn't filled by more practice alone.
You've felt what Qi Gong can do. You know it works. But there's a difference between experiencing the practice and understanding the living system underneath it — the framework that explains why it works, how it deepens, and where it naturally wants to go next.
For aspiring teachers, that gap shows up as questions you don't yet know how to answer. Maybe you're wondering:
Most practitioners never receive clear answers to those questions. There is no universal standard in Qi Gong that tells you when you've crossed the line from student to teacher. Which means “ready” becomes a feeling you keep waiting for, and the pull to share what you've found keeps growing quietly in the background.
For others, the gap shows up differently. Not as a question of readiness, but as a ceiling. The movements are familiar. But something underneath them is still just out of reach.
In both cases, the answer is the same. Not more information. Not more solo practice. A structured path into the living framework that makes Qi Gong what it actually is — the Five Elements, the Three Treasures, the foundational architecture most practitioners never fully internalize on their own.
The Holden Qi Gong Teacher Certification Program
From Inspired Practitioner to Embodied, Confident Teacher
A 200-hour, self-paced online certification for practitioners who are ready to go deeper — whether that means becoming a teacher, integrating Qi Gong into an existing wellness practice, or developing a more complete understanding of the art itself. A practice-based pathway designed to take you through three stages: deepen the practice, develop your teaching voice, and earn your certification.
Deepen your personal Qi Gong practice
Through the Five Elements and Three Treasures frameworks — two of the core teachings within the Taoist and Traditional Chinese Medicine traditions.
Develop a grounded understanding
Of how Qi, breath, movement, and intention work together — and learn how to explain these concepts in language students can easily understand.
Learn how to structure and sequence classes
Guide others with confidence, and adapt practices for different people and settings.
Complete 30 hours of guided teaching practice
So you graduate with real experience, not just theory.
Receive mentorship from senior Holden Qi Gong instructors
Attend twice-monthly live masterclasses, and join a community of practitioners on the same path.
Earn certification through demonstrated readiness
Complete a written examination and recorded teaching demonstration — not simply course completion.
By the time you finish, you will have moved from practicing Qi Gong for your own wellbeing to confidently sharing it with others. You won't just understand the practice. You'll know how to embody it, teach it, and carry it forward in your own voice.
Created by Lee Holden, one of the world's most trusted Qi Gong teachers with 31 years of practice and a global student community of over a million, this program distills decades of lineage, teaching experience, and personal wisdom into a path that is both deeply grounded and genuinely accessible.
The doorway you've been standing at is still open. Are you ready to step through it?
Lee Holden
One of the world's most trusted Qi Gong teachers · 25+ years of teaching · American Public Television & PBS
Lee Holden is known for more than 25 years of teaching, his long-running presence on American Public Television and PBS, and his ability to make ancient energy practices feel simple, accessible, and transformational for modern life. His community includes more than 180,000 email subscribers, 330,000 YouTube subscribers, and 24 million video views. More than 2,500 students have enrolled in his Teacher Certification Program, and over 650 certified teachers now carry the Holden lineage into their communities, studios, wellness centers, clinics, and private practices.
Like many people who discover Qi Gong, Lee came to the practice looking for healing. As a collegiate soccer player at UC Berkeley, injuries threatened to sideline him from the sport he loved. What began as a search for recovery became a lifelong path of study, including training with renowned Taoist master Mantak Chia and deep immersion in Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, meditation, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong.
Along the way, Lee realized these practices were too valuable to remain hidden. He saw that people everywhere were struggling with stress, pain, fatigue, and disconnection — and that Qi Gong offered a practical way to participate in their own healing. That became his mission.
For more than two decades, Lee has dedicated his work to translating ancient Taoist wisdom into practices that everyday people can actually use. The Teacher Certification Program is the deepest expression of that mission: helping students move from personal transformation to confident teaching, so the practice can continue to reach the people who need it most.
What Students and Colleagues Say About Lee Holden
What's Inside the Holden Qi Gong Teacher Certification Program
Everything inside the program is designed to do one thing: move you from someone who loves this practice to someone who can embody it, articulate it, and share it with others from a place of genuine confidence — through structured learning, hands-on teaching practice, and ongoing mentorship.
200-Hour Online Certification Curriculum
A complete self-paced training pathway covering the full foundations of Qi Gong and teaching methodology, with lifetime access to all course materials.
Monthly 60-Minute Group Q&A with Lee Holden
One live call per month where students can bring questions, receive guidance, and connect directly with Lee.
3 Private One-on-One Sessions with Senior Instructors
Individualized mentorship from experienced Holden QiGong instructors at key points in your training.
Weekly Group Open Office Hours
A weekly Ask Me Anything session with the Holden QiGong Teacher Community Mentor for support, accountability, and connection.
Private Teacher Training Community
A dedicated community space for students and graduates of the Teacher Certification Program.
Teacher Training Manual and Resources
Written materials, supplemental resources, and practice tools to support learning and teaching preparation.
Practice-Based Certification Process
A complete, earned certification through demonstrated readiness, not just course completion.
Certified Teacher Directory Listing
Upon completing your certification, you may be listed in the official Holden Qi Gong Teacher Directory.
Every element of this program is designed to move you through understanding, into embodiment, and out into the world as a confident, grounded Qi Gong teacher.
What You Will Learn Inside
By the end of this program, you will understand Qi Gong from the inside out, know how to teach it with clarity and confidence, and have the real-world experience to support what you teach. Each stage builds on the last, guiding you from personal embodiment into authentic, capable teaching.
Understand and apply the Five Elements and Three Treasures frameworks
In both your personal practice and your teaching — giving every class a clear energetic intention and a coherent body-mind-spirit foundation.
Guide movement, breath, and Qi awareness in language that feels simple
Grounded and accessible — whether your students are completely new to Qi Gong or have practiced for years.
Structure and sequence a Qi Gong class from beginning to end
Adapt practices for different groups and physical abilities, and create experiences that leave students feeling calmer, clearer, and more energized.
Move beyond imposter syndrome
And the belief that you need to reach some invisible threshold before you're qualified to teach. Confidence grows through practice, mentorship, and experience.
Earn your certification
Through personal practice hours, teaching hours, a written examination, and a recorded teaching demonstration — graduating with proof of your readiness rather than uncertainty about it.
Bring Qi Gong into your existing life and work
Whether that means leading community classes, integrating it into a wellness or healthcare practice, offering workshops, or sharing it with family and friends.
These skills are developed through practice, repetition, feedback, and real teaching experience. They become part of how you understand, embody, and share the practice for years to come.
Your Step-by-Step Path Through the Certification
The program is designed around three stages: deepen your practice, learn to teach, and earn your certification. Each stage builds on the last, helping you develop both the understanding and the real-world experience to teach with confidence.
Deepen the Practice
Before you can teach Qi Gong well, you need to know it in your body, not just in your mind. The first stage builds that foundation.
Master one of the core frameworks of Qi Gong and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Learn how energy moves through the body, how emotions connect to organs and seasons, and how to design classes with clear energetic intention.
Deeply understand Jing, Qi, and Shen: the three essential energies of Taoist practice associated with vitality, balance, and spiritual awareness — and gain the language to communicate them clearly to others.
Personal practice runs alongside the core curriculum, building consistency, repetition, and embodied understanding. This is where the gap between knowing Qi Gong and living it begins to close.
Learn to Teach
With the foundations in place, the focus shifts to the craft of teaching.
Exclusive, teacher-focused conversations where Lee shares the wisdom, stories, and hard-won lessons from decades of teaching Qi Gong.
Class structure, sequencing, opening and closing sessions, holding space, guiding students safely, explaining Qi in accessible language, and adapting practices for different abilities and backgrounds.
Additional resources, recordings, and practice tools that deepen your understanding and expand your teaching toolkit.
Lead real people through Qi Gong sessions and log a minimum of 30 teaching hours before certification. This is where experience becomes confidence, and you begin finding your own teaching voice.
Become Certified
The final stage brings everything together through demonstrated readiness.
Receive personalized feedback on your practice and teaching development, ask questions, and gain support from experienced Holden Qi Gong instructors.
Complete a written examination covering the key principles, practices, and teaching frameworks from the program, with one week to complete it.
Submit a recorded teaching demonstration of your own design, showing that you can lead others clearly, safely, and confidently.
Upon completing all requirements, you will receive your Holden Qi Gong Teacher Certification and become eligible for listing in the official Certified Teacher Directory. Most students complete the program in 8 to 10 months, though some finish in as little as 6 months depending on their schedule and pace.
What Students Are Saying
Bonuses Included When You Enroll Today
A dedicated Companion Guide walks beside you through every module, helping you reflect on the material, reinforce key concepts, and develop the ability to teach them in your own words.
Every lesson includes a written transcript you can read, annotate, search, and revisit whenever you need a quick reference.
Connect with fellow certification students from around the world and receive guidance from coaches throughout your training. Lee occasionally joins the community for live calls.
Every masterclass and monthly Q&A session is recorded and available on demand, so you can learn on your own schedule and never fall behind.
Additional guided practice sessions woven throughout the curriculum help deepen your embodiment of the material and strengthen your personal practice.
Continue expanding your practice and connection to the Holden lineage with a 20% discount on all live workshops and courses.
Your Enrollment Is Protected
We believe in the Holden Qi Gong Teacher Certification Program and want you to feel confident in your decision to enroll. Enroll today and explore the curriculum, live sessions, community, and all included resources.
If, within 30 days, you decide the program is not the right fit for you, simply contact our team and we'll refund your investment in full. We only ask that you give the program a genuine opportunity to experience the training for yourself.
What You Receive When You Enroll Today
More Stories From Our Community
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an advanced Qi Gong practitioner before enrolling?＋
No. The program is designed to meet you where you are. Some students arrive with years of Qi Gong experience, while others come from yoga, bodywork, acupuncture, or other wellness backgrounds. The curriculum begins with foundational principles and builds progressively, so you do not need to be an expert to start.
What if I want to deepen my personal practice but am not sure I want to teach?＋
That's perfectly fine. More than a third of students enroll primarily to deepen their own practice. The training offers significant value whether your goal is personal growth, teaching, or both. There is no requirement to teach after completing the program.
How much time do I need each week to complete the program?＋
The program is self-paced with lifetime access to all materials. Most students complete the certification in 8 to 10 months, though some finish in as little as 6 months. Live sessions are recorded, and practice hours can be completed at a pace that fits your schedule.
I already work in wellness. How will this program fit into what I already do?＋
Qi Gong integrates naturally into many existing practices. Students include yoga teachers, massage therapists, acupuncturists, health coaches, therapists, nurses, meditation teachers, and other wellness professionals. The program includes guidance on adapting Qi Gong for different settings and client populations.
Will I actually be ready to teach after completing the program?＋
Yes. The certification includes 30 hours of practice teaching, private mentorship sessions, a written examination, and a recorded teaching demonstration. You graduate by demonstrating your ability to teach, not simply by completing course materials.
What is the difference between this program and other Qi Gong certifications?＋
There is no universal governing body for Qi Gong certification, so programs vary widely. This is a 200-hour certification built around personal practice, practice teaching, live mentorship, and demonstrated competency. More than 2,500 students have enrolled, and more than 650 certified teachers have completed the program.
What live support is included, and what if I cannot attend sessions in real time?＋
Your enrollment includes two live masterclasses per month, one monthly Q&A call with Lee Holden, weekly open office hours, and three private sessions with senior instructors. Masterclasses and Q&A calls are recorded and available on demand.
How does the teaching practice work, and do I need students lined up before I start?＋
No. Teaching practice can take place online or in person, with individuals or small groups. Many students begin by practicing with friends, family members, or colleagues. You log your hours as you progress through the program.
What is the price, and is there a payment plan available?＋
The Holden Qi Gong Teacher Certification Program is $3,997 when you pay in full — or choose a payment plan of 3 payments of $1,427, or 12 monthly payments of $377. Every option includes lifetime access, and your enrollment is protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What happens as soon as I enroll?＋
You'll receive immediate access to the course portal, community, live session schedule, and all program resources. There is no waiting period or cohort start date. You can begin as soon as you're ready.
Become the Qi Gong teacher you already feel called to be.
200 hours of structure, mentorship, and real teaching experience — everything you need to move from private practice to confident, embodied leadership.