Miles Kempton

☯️ QIGONG, NEIGONG & NEIDAN — WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

In my own practice I explore methods that could be categorised as Qigong, Neigong and Neidan.

But I generally use Qigong as the umbrella term for what I practise and teach — encompassing movement, posture, breath, meditation, Qi cultivation and deeper internal work.

Qigong 氣功 broadly refers to practices concerned with cultivating and working with Qi through movement, posture, breathing, awareness and stillness.

Neigong 內功 means something closer to “internal work” or “internal skill” — developing the internal qualities and processes of the practitioner.

Neidan 內丹, or “Internal Alchemy”, goes deeper into Daoist traditions of internal transformation, with concepts such as Jing, Qi and Shen, the Dantian, the elixir, reversal and return.

These distinctions can be useful — but they aren’t three completely separate boxes.

A Qigong practice may contain Neigong principles. Neigong may involve movement, breathing and Qi cultivation we’d happily describe as Qigong. Neidan can incorporate meditation, breath and Qi circulation that overlap with both.

Interestingly, Qigong as the broad category we recognise today is relatively modern. The practices themselves are ancient and appeared throughout Chinese history under many different names — including Daoyin, Yangsheng, breathing practices, meditation, Qi cultivation and internal alchemy.

So I don’t get overly concerned with categorising every practice I do.

Partly because the lines are blurred.
Partly because different teachers and lineages use the terminology differently.
And partly because it can become another intellectual subject to squabble over online rather than actually practising.

My own practice contains elements that could comfortably sit within all three categories.

So for simplicity, I call what I practise Qigong.

The terminology can help us understand the map.

But ultimately, the practice is the important part.

🏋️ TOTAL GYM CONFIDENCE

Could you walk into ANY gym and know exactly what to do?

If the answer is no, this programme is for you.

Starting 21st September, I’m taking just 3 people per group through a 12-week programme designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to train independently — for life.

This isn’t just 12 weeks of workouts you’ll learn how to train the whole body properly using your bodyweight, dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, gym machines and cables.

We’ll cover technique, exercise order, sets, reps and rest periods; how to progress or regress exercises; and what alternatives to use when the equipment you want isn’t available.

You’ll also learn how to build your own workouts, log your training and understand what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and what to do next.

🔸 FIRST, WE LEARN PRIVATELY

For the first month we’ll train in a private, small-group environment where you can learn technique, ask questions and build confidence.

🔸 THEN, WE HIT THE GYMS

We’ll visit different gyms together, learning how to use different machines, equipment and layouts — plus gym etiquette, what to take with you and how to confidently navigate a busy gym.

By Christmas, I want you to be able to walk into virtually any gym, look around and think:

“Yep. I know what I’m doing.”

You’ll also get access to an exercise video library, plus a January bonus week to get you straight back into training after Christmas.

No gym membership needed to start.
No previous experience needed.

The whole point? By the end, you shouldn’t need to ask a PT what to do anymore!

🏋️ TOTAL GYM CONFIDENCE
📅 Starts 21st September
⏱️ 12 weeks + January bonus week
👥 Maximum 3 people per group
🏋️ 1–2 coached sessions per week
💷 £600 or 3 monthly payments of £200
📍 Upminster

One programme. Skills you’ll use for life.

DM GYM CONFIDENCE and let’s chat.

Awareness is non-doing. Just observing.

By simply becoming aware of our breath, the system will often begin to correct itself — on its own accord, without our interference.

Sometimes we want or need to be actively involved and help guide that correction. But in many cases, simply getting out of our own way is enough.

Awareness is the doorway.

Health, fundamentally, is about repair, renewal and cell turnover.

As we get older, we gradually shift from being more anabolically dominant — building and repairing — towards greater catabolic activity, particularly from midlife onwards.

That makes what we put into the body increasingly important.

Are we providing the protein, essential fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytonutrients needed to support repair, recovery, healthy ageing and a balanced inflammatory response?

That’s why my nutrition philosophy is simple:

🥗 Food First — Eat Well
💊 Supplement Smart
🧪 Test — Don’t Guess
⚡ Maximise Your Inputs

If you’d like to do a home test, explore your options, or learn more about how we can age well and wilt well through personalised nutrition, get in touch.

Because ultimately, we all wilt — the question is how well we can wilt.

DM me NUTRITION.

AgeWell

Where are the majority of clients lacking strength and development?

The Posterior chain.

Broadly applies to many. Needs training across the board. Layla here working on hamstrings & glutes with a DB RDL.

This is a very healthy breakfast.

Sardines in homemade ratatouille with two boiled eggs. I approve, Georgia clearly doesn’t - what do you think?

Would you try or leave for the cats?

New treads 🏃‍♂️💨

One of my favourite ways to train pressing movements is to layer the dumbbell presses into one continuous set. 💪

Start on a flat bench and work your way through progressively steeper inclines until you finish with a seated overhead press.

Rest. Recover.

Then reverse the whole thing back down — overhead press through the inclines until you’re back to flat.

Simple. Quick. Effective.

A great way to cover multiple pressing angles in one session.