Meet Lynne Smith

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynne Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynne below.

Lynne, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience wasn’t something I was given—it was something I uncovered within myself, through every challenge, every heartbreak, and every moment I chose healing over fear. My early life held deep wounds, but even in the hardest moments, something inside me refused to give up. I knew there had to be more than just surviving.

The biggest breakthrough of my healing journey was breaking through shame—the heavy weight that had kept me small, disconnected, and doubting my own worth. Shame can be one of the hardest things to overcome, but I found that by turning toward it instead of running from it, I could begin to reclaim my power. Instead of hiding my pain, I faced it. Instead of rejecting the parts of me that had been hurt, I learned to hold them with compassion. That was the turning point. Healing is possible when we give ourselves the love and patience we always deserved.

Yoga, Qigong, and meditation became my tools for transformation. These practices helped me move energy, release pain, and reconnect with something greater than my past. Trauma leaves a mark, but it doesn’t have to define us. I learned that pain can be transformed, that suffering isn’t the end of the story. Through practice, I discovered that trauma can be turned into wisdom, fear into strength, and pain into peace.

Finding community was life-changing. I surrounded myself with people connected to light and human goodness, and in doing so, I found my place—not as someone defined by the past, but as a leader in the field of mind-body healing. Teaching became a way to share the tools that helped me heal, and I quickly saw how powerful these practices were—not just for me, but for so many others.

The more I practiced, the more I realized just how effective Qigong and Yoga together are in healing anxiety, trauma, and even depression. These weren’t just practices—they were a way through. A way to calm the nervous system, quiet the mind, and reconnect to inner strength. That realization led me to create Qigong Infused Yoga™ classes, videos and a training designed to help teachers, therapists, and practitioners integrate these somatic tools into their work. Over the years, I’ve witnessed hundreds of people benefit from these practices, just as I have—releasing anxiety, healing deep wounds, and finding their own sense of resilience.

And now, after 23 years of teaching, I’m offering a workshop at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health—a dream I once thought was far off, but that has now come to life. Qigong has carried me through every loss, every doubt, every difficult moment. It has been my anchor, my guide, and my greatest teacher. It is still the way through for me today. No matter what life brings, I know I can meet it with strength, because I have built that strength within me.

The message I want to share is this: Never give up. Also, trust that you are an INDOMITABLE SPIRIT. Meet yourself with compassion and patience. Healing takes time, but it is always possible. Self-compassion is the cornerstone of resilience. No matter how difficult the journey, keep going. Trust in your ability to heal, and trust that light is always there—even when you can’t see it yet.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Qigong Infused Yoga® isn’t just something I teach—it’s truly a way of life. Qigong and Yoga together It have carried me through life’s most difficult moments, and I know it has the power to do the same for others. I created a Qigong Infused Yoga video subscription, allowing people to practice from the comfort of their home, whenever they need it most. Many of the videos address different issues like anxiety, chronic pain, shoulder/back/neck pain, trauma, and I even have a video called “Cultivating Resilience with Qigong” Whether you’re looking to boost your energy, release stress, or relieve chronic pain, these videos are designed to help you shift from suffering to a healing state of being. There’s a genuine shift that takes place from this practice.

I also offer a live online class, “Start Your Sunday with Qigong,” every Sunday at 10 AM (EST)—a chance to reset, recharge, and reconnect to yourself. The first class is completely free, so you can try it anytime! Sign up at www.qigonginfusedyoga.com/classes

For those who want to go even deeper, my Qigong Infused Yoga® Training begins in the fall of 2025. This program is designed to give teachers, therapists, and practitioners simple yet highly effective tools to help people release anxiety and manage stress and the challenges of life effectively. These practices are more important than ever as we navigate uncertain and stressful times.

We all need tools that help us through hard times, and Qigong Infused Yoga is one of the most powerful ways to cultivate resilience, strength, and inner peace. I invite you to join me—whether for a class, a video, or a full training—to experience just how transformative and healing this practice can be.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Never Give up. Never under-estimate the power of your own resilience.
2. Compassionate
3. Self-Belief

Wake up in the morning and no matter how hard things seem…think of all the things you are grateful for. Maybe it’s your breath, the ability to walk, having a home and nourishing food to eat. For me, I always think of my dog Tiny who I love with all my heart. Reflect on the things that magnify your joy and energy in life. Make sure to cultivate the light to balance out the darkness. Find mentors. Find community. Write down your action steps. Journal. Exercise. and let your self have fun and give your self permission to smell the roses…to stop and do what makes you most happy.

Keep trusting in your self and follow through on those action steps so that your dreams will come true. Because they will if you never give up.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I love working together with people who want to be a healing force in this life and to help alleviate suffering. I collaborate with universities, retreat centers, yoga studios and work-places that want to bring Qigong and Yoga and more wellness practices into their community. I also have trained therapists and collaborate with therapists who understand the role somatic practices play in healing trauma. Therapists, mind/body practitioners and holistic health professionals can reach out to me at lynnenicole@qigonginfusedyoga.com. My site is www.qigonginfusedyoga.com if you’d like to learn more about me and my work.

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