Accreditation Standard Guideline Initiative for Tai Chi and Qigong Instructors and Training Institutions

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Health and Wellbeing

Background:

• Tai Chi and Qigong (TQ) demonstrate significant health and wellbeing benefits.
• TQ is underutilized in Western healthcare due to limited promotion and lack of qualified instructors.
• No current government regulations exist for TQ instructors or training institutions globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the underutilization of TQ in Western healthcare.
• To develop accreditation standards for TQ instructors and training institutions.
• To promote the integration of TQ within an integrative healthcare framework.

Main Methods:

• An integrative healthcare approach was adopted.
• A collaborative initiative involving health professionals, academics, TQ masters, and consumers developed accreditation standards.
• The Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association (MTQA) was organized to facilitate this.

Main Results:

• A proposed accreditation standard guideline for TQ instructors and training institutions was developed.
• The guidelines aim to integrate diverse TQ practices and institutions.
• The initiative acknowledges the need for further refinement and addresses the complexity of TQ.

Conclusions:

• The developed guidelines are a crucial first step towards standardizing TQ instruction and training.
• These standards will serve as a primary resource for healthcare professionals, consumers, and the TQ community.
• Standardization can enhance the safe and effective integration of TQ into modern healthcare systems.