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I'll be honest: I've typically been that person who, when I see a cluster of people doing qigong (always seems to happen in a park, right?), thinks "how lovely for them," with a healthy subtext of, "yeah, not for me." Break it down, and I could probably point to the slowness of it -- your feet stay planted as your torso and upper body rotate -- or, for that matter, the fact that everybody doing it appears to eclipse me in age by at least three decades.

But then this happened: The fitness team at Stone House, a beautiful Rhode Island resort I visited not too long ago, told me that qigong -- which they had just started to offer -- was a "beginner's martial art." Qigong, it turns out, is actually a form of tai chi, geared toward building balance, strength and energy. (This is why it often appeals to older people.) I, in my infinite maturity, thought, "wow, how cool to update my Facebook status to say I just finished doing some martial arts." I signed up immediately.

And that was how I found myself feeling very small on an expansive plot of grass, facing Antonia, my new instructor. She was built, driven and clearly meant business. I am a laughably-slow, uncoordinated learner. Only now has it occurred to me that the stuff I lack -- like precision -- was probably key.

Antonia assured me it all really was as simple as it looked. She also went on to tell us that qigong is thought to correct physical and energetic imbalances; regulate organs, hormones and the nervous system; and generally energize the body. Earlier, doing some cursory research, I'd also found compelling studies suggesting that this form of martial arts plays a role in reducing stress (partly, apparently, because it engages both sides of the brain), improving our sense of balance, releasing stored tension and boosting our immune systems.

It's not a shabby workout, either. Qigong targets muscles all across your body, so you get both strength and even muscle tone. The movements burn an estimated 280 calories per hour, which is roughly the same as what you'd manage with some moderate-impact aerobic exercise, like power walking.

During my first lesson, I was supposed to learn nine separate positions, and put them all together into one fluid routine. Definitely grounds for a flashback to less-than-glorious ballet performances of yore. But as I got started -- to my shock -- I found myself picking up the movements extremely fast. They felt intuitive, and because each phase flowed so naturally into the next, I hardly noticed that we kept ramping things up in terms of complexity. By the end, I was so energized that all I wanted to do was keep going. (I think I actually blurted out, "one more time!" Smooth.) Below, my post-game assessment.

Pluses: Even though it was slow, to me, qigong was rich in variation and rhythm, which made it exciting. Doing it, I felt energetic and not tired, but afterwards, my muscles were actually sore, which told me I'd gotten my workout. I actually did notice a mood benefit, too. After my session, I was calm, focused and upbeat in ways I wasn't earlier in the day.

Minuses: Trying it days later, away from my coach, I realized that I really had to know it through and through to do it alone (that said, the curve was quick, and it probably wouldn't take many classes to get there). While I really felt like it was having an impact, it was so easy, I did eventually find myself missing the sweat and burn of a more intense workout.

Takeaway: I'd want to do this daily for the incredible sense of mental and physical balance I got with so little effort. I like the fact that, with some study, I can practice this at home quickly, effortlessly and without breaking a sweat. That said, given that so much of our day is spent sitting still, I'd definitely recommend alternating it with some higher-impact, cardio exercises.

Learn More: Qigong Association of America, National Qigong Assocation, Qigoing Institute and Stone House 1854.

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