The roots of Qigong, particularly the foundational practice of Zhan Zhuang, trace back thousands of years, with origins often associated with the time of the Yellow Emperor around 2000 BCE. Through centuries of refinement, this profound system evolved into one of the most powerful methods for cultivating vitality, inner stillness, and embodied awareness.
To practice Qigong is to step into this unbroken stream of wisdom.
Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai
Wang Xiang Zhai is widely recognized as one of the most influential martial artists of modern Chinese history and the pioneer of the Zhan Zhuang system as it is practiced today.
Renowned for his extraordinary martial mastery, he developed Da Cheng Chuan (“The Great Achievement”), not only is it one of the most powerful martial arts but also the highest level of Qigong cultivation.
Grandmaster Wang applied the potential of Zhan Zhuang for health restoration, preservation, and therapeutic healing. He established the first Qigong hospitals in China.
Professor Yu Yong Nian
Yu Yong Nian began studying under Grandmaster Wang in 1944 and became one of his most dedicated students.
Professor Yu played a vital role in bringing Zhan Zhuang into the medical field. In 1953, he introduced the practice into hospitals in China as a therapeutic method for chronic illness and rehabilitation.
The results were remarkable.
Because of its success, Professor Yu was commissioned to write the first medical treatise on Zhan Zhuang for hospital use in China. His work helped bridge ancient wisdom with modern healing, allowing thousands to experience the benefits of this practice.
His teachings continue to influence practitioners around the world.
Master Lam Kam Chuen
Having studied directly under Professor Yu, Master Lam played a key role in introducing Zhan Zhuang to Western audiences in 1987.
His first book, The Way of Energy, was released in 1991 and became the publisher’s top-selling title, launching a successful series of publications.
In 1995, Channel 4 in the UK featured Master Lam’s instructional video Stand Still – Be Fit!, the first television program dedicated to Zhan Zhuang. The program’s popularity led to numerous repeat broadcasts.
Master Lam was later entrusted with preserving and continuing the tradition by Madame Wang Yuk Fong, daughter and spiritual successor of Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai.
Sifu Thomas Apfel
Thomas Apfel has been a devoted student of Master Lam since the early 1990s and is the founder of the Chi Kung Academy in Germany.
As a disciple within Master Lam’s inner circle, Sifu Thomas carries the responsibility of preserving and transmitting the teachings in the traditional way.
His decades of study, teaching, and immersion in Chinese philosophy have deepened his understanding of Qigong beyond technique—revealing it as a path of presence, awareness, and transformation.
The Next Generation
A true lineage remains alive only when it continues to be embodied and transmitted.
Sky Yang
Under the guidance of Sifu Thomas, Sky Yang carries forward this living lineage through dedicated study, embodied practice, and heartfelt teaching.
Founder of Qi Yoga Life Qigong Academy since 2020.
Through his teaching, this lineage continues to reach practitioners across cultures and generations.
Our Lineage at Qi Yoga Life
At Qi Yoga Life, we are deeply grateful to be part of this living tradition.
The practices we share are rooted in authentic transmission and guided by the wisdom of the masters who came before us.
When we cultivate the practice, we are not simply learning movements—we are participating in a lineage of embodied wisdom that has supported healing, inner cultivation, and exploration of our full potential for centuries.