The Zu Qigong journey began in 2010, the result of over a decade of exploration and dedication by founder Elspeth Fare.

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When asked how Zu Qigong came to life, Elspeth simply said:

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“Honestly, I don’t fully understand how it all came about. The pieces arrived over years — like a puzzle slowly fitting together — until the technique you see today emerged.”

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Blending her science background with a lifetime of learning from teachers in reflexology, Taiji, Qigong, Daoist philosophy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Elspeth created a new approach — one that reimagines how we work with the feet and energy flow in the body.

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From Reflexology to Qigong

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Elspeth’s curiosity was first sparked during her nursing training, where she encountered reflexology for the first time. Years later, she trained under Douglas Bell at the Scottish School of Reflexology, graduating in 2001, coincidentally the same school attended by Cobi Philipsen, mother of current instructor Karen Philipsen Brown.

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With her scientific mindset, Elspeth questioned some classical reflexology theories.  While the benefits were undeniable, the “why” often felt incomplete.  This led her on a quest, through countless post-graduate courses to uncover deeper connections behind reflexology’s effects.

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Discovering the Missing Links

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In 2006, Elspeth studied Chi-Reflexology with Moss Arnold, gaining insight into Chinese philosophy and the TCM meridian system. This training was a turning point — the bridge between her reflexology practice and Eastern energy theories.

By 2012, after completing studies in Daoist Internal Alchemy, Elspeth began to experience firsthand the benefits of regular Qigong practice, both for herself and her clients.  Like many therapists, she recognised the importance of maintaining her own wellbeing as part of caring for others.

As she deepened her study of Qigong, a remarkable connection began to appear, a shared energetic language between reflexology and Qigong.  From this realisation, Zu Qigong was born.

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A Practice for Everyone

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Zu Qigong is designed with three levels of practice, making it accessible to a wide range of people:

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• For carers, nurses, and health staff – a gentle, relaxing way to support patients, family, and friends.

• For qualified therapists – a powerful, stand-alone therapy or an enriching complement to existing modalities.

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Passing the Legacy Forward

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In 2023, due to health reasons, Elspeth made the heartfelt decision to retire. She entrusted her life’s work to two of her New Zealand students, Karen Philipsen Brown and Annamarie Huckin, both graduates of the 2017 Zu Qigong Practitioner course.

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Karen and Annamarie have witnessed the transformative benefits of this practice firsthand. Annamarie is a Qigong Instructor, and Karen is currently completing her instructor training.  Together, they are honoured to carry Elspeth’s legacy forward into a new era of teaching and healing.

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A New Era Begins....