IF you're feeling stressed, unhealthy or you simply want to feel more vigorous, then the ancient Chinese art of Qigong may be able to help you.

That is the view of Larry Scott, of Healing Works, who has brought in a Chinese expert this weekend to offer his Qigong advice to Bermudians.

Grand Master Tai Peter Tom was due to arrive from New Orleans yesterday to supervise a three-part workshop over this weekend. It is the sixth time he has visited the island.

The workshop starts this evening and continues with parts two and three on Saturday and Sunday, in the gymnasium of the Gilbert Primary School in Paget.

Mr. Scott said that Qigong (pronounced chee-kung) was usually practised in association with the better known and increasingly popular art of Tai Chi.

"Qigong is one of the aspects of traditional Chinese medicine which makes the body function better," Mr. Scott said.

It is claimed to be a self-healing art that combines movement and meditation, credited with reducing and treating illness, reducing stress and boosting the immune system.

Mr. Scott believes it works, based on his own experience.

"For me, Qigong was a life-saver," he said. "At one point, when I was in Africa, I was very ill. I was suffering from malaria and typhoid fever at the same time.

"Qigong was very helpful in restoring me back to health. After those diseases, I should have suffered some severe effects like brain damage, but I recovered completely."

Mr. Scott runs Healing Works with his wife Karen Simons and both are certified holistic practitioners. They run regular Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong classes at Astwood Park on Sunday mornings and say the interest in Chinese medicine is growing in Bermuda.

As well as giving classes at their Church Street base, they have been hired to go into some local companies to help stressed-out employees find a way of relaxing.

This weekend's guest, Master Hom, began practising Tai Chi Chuan under his grandfather's tuition at the age of nine. He studied acupuncture and Qigong at the Hong Kong Acupuncture Research Centre and continued his studies under Masters from Taiwan and China.

He is the director of the Tai Chi Wellness Centre in Harahan, Louisiana and has taught Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan at the University of New Orleans.

q The course begins with a session on meditation between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. this evening. The connection between body, mind and spirit will be the topic of the second part tomorrow afternoon between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and the final session on Sunday from 2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.

The course is open to everyone from absolute beginners to experienced practitioners and the first session costs $50 and the other two, $75 each. Call 292-2513 or 234-3098 for more information.