Walk tall, feel powerful, and inspire others to do likewise
Master Yourself, Master Your Life
Unleash the hero within you
Meticulously developed over 15-years, the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat stands as the epitome of Kung fu and Qigong excellence. Immerse yourself in these ancient arts within a Feng Shui inspired sanctuary, embraced by mountains, and the breathtaking vistas of the Pai River Valley.
100 Hour Intensive Qigong Teacher Certification.
Course Prospectus.
Unlock your personal powers - become a force for positive change.
Qigong (Chi Kung) is the fastest growing spiritual path on the planet. We are a long established school with very experienced teachers, a proven syllabus and a track record of producing successful teachers in the international Qigong community.
We will provide you with the tools to heal yourself, and then to elevate yourself and eventually master yourself so that you will be successful in whatever path you choose.
We will develop you as a pillar of strength upon whom others can lean; a shining example who inspires others to follow them.
We want to make you a leading teacher in your field, someone whom students will seek out.
We will teach you the truth about being a teacher, the things that only really experienced teachers know about, because we want you to succeed.
Learn how to be a truly world-class teacher, separating yourself from the competition and creating a demand for your classes. This training can also be used in other areas of teaching such as yoga, meditation or martial arts.
We want you to go out and make a difference in the world. If your life path is to help people by teaching them Qigong, we are set up to help and support you along your journey.
Why Choose Us?
Our teachers did not learn from YouTube!
Master Iain trained with some of the world’s best: Chinese Masters from China, Singapore and Malaysia. Moreover, he still practises regularly, even after 41 years.
Reading books, watching videos and attending lectures will never replace experience. These are necessary start points but it is a lifetime of practise which defines a genuine Master. Refuse to accept anything less.
We teach a broad and balanced Qigong program centred on some of the most effective systems. This is real undiluted Qigong that is rare to find elsewhere and has a clearly documented lineage.
We don’t just teach you how to do Qigong, we also teach the theory, psychology and practice of teaching. This is a genuine teaching course.
We have one of the best, most beautiful locations:
What Qigong instructor qualification will you receive?
Level 1: Basic Qigong teacher certification. Issued after 100 hours of intensive training. Focussing on the core exercises, how to teach them and how to best lead and inspire your students.
What you will learn:
- Tong Ling (clearing and circulating) Qigong. Soft Qigong for health.
- Bodhidharma’s vein tendon Qigong. Hard Qigong for facia and joint health.
- Sum Chien. Martial Qigong.
- Shuang Yang Pei Ho. The Sun Frost White Crane internal art.
- Full moon Qigong practice.
- Abdominal breathing techniques.
- Qigong facial massage.
- Qigong theory: vessels, meridians, points, circulations.
- Sensing Chi.
- Theory and practice of teaching including leadership, communication and class organisation skills.
How you will learn - Schedule
6:00 AM – 9:15 AM
- Tong Ling Qigong
- Sun Frost White Crane Art
- Master Iain’s tea talk
- Morning stretch.
9:15 AM
- Breakfast
10:00 AM
- Theory
- Teaching practise
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Fitness session
- Supervised self practice
- Bodhidharma’s Vein Tendon Qigong.
- OR Individual self study.
2:30 PM
- Theory
- Teaching practise
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Fitness and flexibility.
4:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Specialist content
- OR Individualized self study
9.75 hours/day, 5 days /week: 48.75 hours/week.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are rest days for relaxation and perhaps some self study and meditation.
Excursions and Activities
Weather permitting, on one Friday morning we will go to the mountain viewpoint above San Ti Chon Chinese Village for our lesson and soak up the views, the fresh mountain air and the Chinese vibe.
Upon graduating Master Iain will take you up this mountain once again for a celebratory Chinese meal at a mountaintop restaurant.
Teachers
Specialised teacher training sessions will be led by:
Master Iain Armstrong
- Author of ‘Get Your Health Back FAST With Chinese Qigong’.
- Post graduate degree in education from University of London.
- Two times world Kung Fu Champion.
- Began practising in 1981 and has studied in Singapore, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- Internationally acclaimed teacher with students on all major continents. Founder and Chief Instructor of the Kung Fu Retreat.
Testimonials - What people are saying about this course:
"What I achieved during my stay was exactly what I wanted. I think of my time here as a life investment. I have become both physically and mentally stronger." -Vinny K, Student
"All in all I got everything I wanted from it and a lot more in the sense that I found it really helped me calm my mind and focus on what’s important, Master Iain’s tea break talks were particularly interesting and thought provoking for me!" -K, Student
"I learned what a powerful impact breathing has on your body and mind – I was quite surprised to notice my ability to focus and concentrate significantly improved, as did my memory." -Malin B, Student
"It was one of my best lifestyle experiences so far. The lessons were intense, diverse, fun, challenging, sometimes mentally tough but so rewarding making progress each minute of the training. Master Iain has build something special over there and he is indeed a true Master. His wisdom and knowledge being shared over there is just fantastic." -Floris L, Student
"I found the Chi Gong classes very good in the study of the energy inside my body, which keeps me focused, stronger internally & in control of my life." -Amy Clare B, Student
"Interesting to get into the Chinese culture of ancestral arts, for wellness, concentration, relaxation and deep feeling of been in a great place in the mountains of Pai, north west of Thailand. I have discovered a wonderful way of living, learning skills that bring calm and happiness" -Sergio, Student
2024-25 Course Dates
Spaces are limited and available on a first booked - first served basis.
- October 31st, 2026 - November 14th, 2026.
- January 30th, 2027 - February 13th, 2027.
- May 29th, 2027 - June 12th, 2027.
Paying for an Instructor course does not guarantee passing the course or receiving a teachers certificate. Read the FAQ (bottom of this page) to learn what you will need to do to pass
Price: 100 HR, Level 1 Course.
- Private Room - $2,590
- Shared Room - $1,850
Should you choose our 100 Hour or 200 Hour course?
If you need a 200 hour qualification for the purpose of employment or self employment then the choice is obvious.
The 100 hour course focuses heavily on teaching and, having completed it, you will be ready to teach 2 different systems of Qigong.
The 200 hour course delivers much more depth on the subject of Qigong, covers a lot more theory and exercises and allows for a much greater depth of practise. If you want to learn as much about Qigong as you can and not be rushed choose the 200 hour course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this course intended for? What are the entry requirements?
A: People with a strong desire to become a teacher, leader and role model, but who perhaps lack the time and the money to complete a longer course. It is open to those with no prior experience. Character values are important. If you are rude, disrespectful, lazy or similar, this is not the right course for you!
Q: What qualification does this lead to?
A: Successful completion of the Level 1 course will issue you a Basic Qigong teacher certificate covering 100 hours of intensive training. Focussing on the core exercises, how to teach them and how to best lead and inspire your students.
Q: What will be my future progression?
A: Successfully completing the Level 1 course gives you the opportunity to take on the Level 2 course. After the level 2 course, you could continue as an intern, teaching Qigong at our Retreat. This is not compulsory, though. We will do our best to support you with online training and a variety of future courses. You will be welcome to stay and train with us at the Retreat when you want. Ideally, we want you to succeed as a teacher, leader and role model within your own community and to expand our kung fu family. We will do what we reasonably can to support you with this.
Q: Can I extend my stay beyond this course?
A: Yes. You will be welcome to continue Your training with us. The best way of going about this would be to take our ‘Internal Kung Fu, Qigong and Meditation internship’ or, if you have less time, our 12 week Fast Track Internship. Alternatively, you could simply book an extension to your stay in which case, we will continue to coach you as a teacher and arrange teaching practice for you.
Q: What will I need to do to pass?
A:
- Attend the lessons. A minimum attendance rate of 80% is required.
- Conduct yourself in a fashion worthy of an instructor – i.e. with dignity and respect.
- Follow our code of conduct.
- Make a reasonable effort with your training.
- Most people will pass. Displays of bad character, rudeness, aggression, disrespect, argument and similar may stand in the way of your receiving a teacher’s certificate. We expect anyone representing us as a teacher to lead by example with good character values.
Q: If I do not pass the first time, can I take the course again?
A: Yes.
Q: If I did not pass because I missed part of the training, can I take just that part again?
A: Yes, in which case you will only have to pay for that part of the course.
Q: Does my teaching certificate need to be renewed every 2 years?
A: Yes. We are dedicated to maintaining a high standard amongst our teachers. Hence we require teachers to pursue their own training. We believe that if our teachers slack on their own training and let their standards drop it will bring the whole association and its teachers and students into disrepute.
Q: What do I have to do to renew my teaching certificate?
A: Either:
- Complete at least 14 days training per two years (i.e. and average of 1 week / year) with a ‘master level’ teacher or:
- Complete a 1 week instructor’s refresher course.
- Online renewal is coming soon and will avoid the need for you to attend in person.
Q: Will I have to pay for my certificate renewal?
A: No. Training is charged as usual. Provided that you complete the training, certificate renewal is free of charge.
Q: Can I split the course over two visits?
A: Yes. Although we don’t particularly recommend this. For people who can only take short breaks from work or other commitments it is possible to take this course in two parts – most likely of two weeks each. The certificate will be issued at the end of the course.
Q: What resources will you supply?
A: You will be supplied with Master Iain’s book Get Your Health Back Fast With Chinese Chi Kung. You will receive a digital copy after paying, and the hard copy on arrival. You will be given access to a large volume of notes, videos and pictures stored online.
Q: What support will you give me as a newly qualified teacher?
A: We will help with publicising your classes where we can. We will provide letters of endorsement, and can give you access to our logos, supply uniforms etc.