#midlifewomen

Как-то раз меня очень сильно отрезвила мысль, что мне за 30. Я тогда подумала - а ведь и правда, мамины подруги в этом возрасте казались мне уже такими серьезными, всё-знающими, всё-женское-умеющими тётями. Справедливости ради сказать тогда женщины и правда рано становились тётками, не от хорошей жизни.

С одной стороны это осознание меня взбодрило - определенно приобретаешь какую-то загадочную силу, когда обращаешься к своему племенному, истинно женскому началу. А с другой стороны прилично вспугнуло. Как будто меня вызвали к доске, а я не учила, я как назло забыла все слова и в голове играет дурацкая музыка.

Watching my mom's health decline (slowly, thankfully) definitely has me focused on the things I need to do to improve/maintain my own.. but I'm finding it hard to even consider changes to my diet or incorporating more exercise without immediately focusing on dropping a couple inches off my waist or pounds off the scale.. and while, yes, losing a little is part of the goal(primarily to ease stress on my joints, my mom's knees are losing cartilage and my own prolonged mobility is important to me).. I find myself spiraling thinking about the ways these would.. idk bring back? Prolong? my youth.. and then I wonder why do I care so much?! But, I do care.

Maybe I care because it's a privilege that I've never had to examine that feels like it is tangibly, visibly, observably slipping away.

Maybe I'm scared of being treated the way unattractive people get treated? That sounds so pretentious. To be clear I'm not a fucking model I'm a solid 6, symmetrical, a couple pleasing features and (for the majority of my life) quite thin, never a gym rat.. just won the genetic lottery. If I fem it up I could pass for an 8 on a good day.. but probably not anymore. I've got crow's feet and laugh lines and decades of sun damaged skin. There is no chance I'm getting mistaken for a twenty something and that doesn't bother me.. or at least I think it doesn't.. but then I think about someone clocking me as 40 and I think.. oh no. Do I really look *that old.. is 40 old?

If I make it to 60(statistically likely) or 70(still highly probable) .. my life is still, definitively, already half over.. what does that mean to me?

I don't know..

Blonde ambition, black lace, and a mirror that knows too much.

If you have ever finished a Qigong session and wondered, “Why do I feel tired after Qigong?” you are not alone.

Many people quietly expect Qigong to feel immediately energizing. And sometimes it does. But for others, especially in midlife or during periods of stress, gentle practice can reveal fatigue rather than erase it.

This is not a sign you are doing it wrong.

It may be a sign your body is finally slowing down enough to tell the truth.

Is It Normal to Feel Tired After Qigong?

Yes. It can be.

If your system has been running on adrenaline, pushing through long days, or living in subtle bracing, Qigong may be the first time you truly downshift.

When the nervous system shifts from sympathetic activation to parasympathetic regulation, stored fatigue often surfaces.

You are not losing energy.

You are becoming aware of how depleted you already were. So when students start with our ‘Jumpstart Your Energy’ Free Qigong class, they sometimes experience just the opposite…

For many practitioners, that awareness is the beginning of real healing.

How Qigong Affects the Nervous System

Qigong is not just movement. It is regulation.

Slow, rhythmic motion.

Soft breath awareness.

Gentle joint opening.

Standing postures.

All of these influence the autonomic nervous system.

When practiced skillfully, Qigong can

reduce sympathetic overdrive

improve vagal tone

increase interoceptive awareness

shift the body toward restoration

But increased interoception, meaning feeling more, can initially register as fatigue, heaviness, or emotional sensitivity.

This does not mean the practice is harming you.

It often means your body is finally safe enough to feel what was underneath.

When Fatigue Signals Depletion

There is also a practical layer.

Sometimes fatigue after Qigong is not just nervous system recalibration.

Sometimes it reflects real physiological depletion.

In our work, we frequently see fatigue linked to

low ferritin and iron stores

thyroid imbalance

unstable blood sugar

poor sleep quality

perimenopausal hormone shifts

chronic stress load

Qigong supports regulation. It cannot replace foundational physiological support.

If fatigue is persistent, disproportionate, or worsening, it may be wise to gently explore the physical layer with a qualified practitioner.

You can read more about midlife iron and mood here Before You Call It Anxiety, Check Your Ferritin

How to Adjust Your Qigong Practice Safely

If you are feeling wiped after sessions, try adjusting the dosage rather than stopping entirely.

You might experiment with

shorter standing times

more joint loosening before stillness

keeping your eyes softly open

ending practice before you feel drained

sitting rather than standing on low energy days

Stop while you still feel resourced.

Not after you push through.

Early stage healing is about building capacity, not proving endurance.

Over time, as your system strengthens, you may notice that what once felt tiring now feels grounding.

When to Look at Iron, Hormones, or Sleep

If fatigue continues despite gentle adjustments, consider asking a few grounded questions

How is my iron status

How are my sleep rhythms

Am I eating enough protein and stabilizing blood sugar

Am I in perimenopause or menopause

Has my thyroid been evaluated thoroughly

These are not dramatic interventions.

They are foundational.

Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for your Qigong practice is to nourish the body that is practicing.

Qigong is not about pushing energy.

It is about restoring contact.

Contact with breath.

Contact with sensation.

Contact with the body you live inside.

If you feel tired after practice, you are not failing.

You may simply be meeting yourself honestly for the first time in a while.

And that moment, even if it feels humbling, is part of the path.

FAQ

Can Qigong make you tired? Yes. Especially in early stages of nervous system healing or when underlying depletion is present.

Should I stop practicing if I feel fatigued? Not necessarily. Adjust duration, posture, and pacing before stopping completely.