About Laura Gurney
Qigong Practitioner, Ceremonialist & Spiritual Celebrant in Leeds
TAOIST QIGONG | CACAO CEREMONIES | CELEBRANCY
Laura Gurney is a Qigong teacher and ceremonial practitioner based in Meanwood Leeds. Through Lotus Seed Qigong and Ceremony she offers weekly Qigong classes in Leeds alongside wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and sacred gatherings including cacao ceremonies and sound baths.
My Qigong Journey
I have been practicing the slow arts of Tai Chi and Qigong since 2002. Today I teach gentle Taoist Qigong classes online and in Leeds, helping people restore balance, improve wellbeing and support recovery through ancient healing practices.
I initially trained with the International Daoist Society (2002–2017) and then began practicing under supervision of a Master Teacher based in Beijing; this is on-going and a wonderful connection to a traditional Taoist lineage. My teacher training certificates are awarded by the White Cloud Temple (2018) and have been translated and verified (available upon request).
I have been coaching since 2010 and running Lotus-Seed Qigong classes online and in Leeds since 2020. The qigong that I practice and coach now, whilst originating from Tai Chi Chuan and the Lee Family System, now incorporates other traditional Taoist qigong, distilling the most efficient healing practices so that you can feel the tangible results despite limiting physical health conditions. This practice makes healing not only possible, but more likely.
Why This Work Matters to Me
I say this as someone who has experienced significant health challenges, having been both paralysed from the waist down and navigating a blood clotting disorder. I have now had multiple surgeries on my legs and have lived experience of being physically limited. I sought out qigong as a way to move energy through my legs when I couldn’t move them and the greater awareness of qigong very slowly crept into my life. Now it's a daily practice and I love sharing these ancient movements, especially with anyone facing their own health challenges—whatever they are.
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If you can breathe, you can practise qigong.
" I am much more in touch with my energy. So positive. And Laura, you helped my back pain with one comment and being aware of that positioning has made a huge difference"
Ceremony, Anthropology & Spirit
My career started with an academic interest in Latin America, Shamanism and Buddhism and after a Masters degree in Social Anthropology, I began to inch my way more towards being a participant rather than an academic. I crossed paths with Tibetan Lamas, took part in Candomble ceremonies in Brazil, worked on curatorial projects at the Pitt Rivers Museum until gradually, a new path emerged.
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In the midst of my health crisis, paralysed, pregnant and in worlds collide moment, Lama Rabsang of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism appeared and together we spent several months practising the Medicine Buddha as a friend, nearing end of life and wanting a Buddhist farewell, passed into spirit.
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More recently, I entered the magical world of ceremony; first joining a phenomenal group of women in Wales where the fire was lit, and then going on to train with The Isis School of Holistic Health in Glasgow, where I became a Priestess of the Moon in 2023. Since then, I have been holding funeral ceremonies, weddings, one-to-one transformational ceremonies, circles and celebrations of the equinoxes, solstices and full moons.
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Training & Qualifications
2007–2008
Medicine Buddha training with Venerable Choje Lama Rabsang, Palpung Changchub Dargyeling, Brynmawr, South Wales.
2002–2017
International Taoist Society, student and coaching assistant.
2017–Present
Qigong supervision from Taoist Master, White Cloud Temple, Beijing – Teacher Training awarded 2018.
2022–2024
Priestess of the Moon, Spiritual Celebrant & Ceremonialist, The Isis School of Holistic Health, Glasgow.