17 October 2026 (module II)
Rome (Italy)
Mindful body movement for health, prevention, and therapeutic purposes
Practical movement sessions and introductory theory for understanding the energetic dynamics based on Shaolin and Taoist Chinese Medicine principles
GENERAL INFORMATION
Basic course consisting of 5 modules, each of which can also be attended individually
- Dates: April 18, 2026 – October 17, 2026 – December 12, 2026 – March 20, 2027 – May 15, 2027
- Location: San Lò – Via Tiburtina Antica 5B, 00185 Rome
- Duration: h 11.00 – 16.00
- Language: Italian / English
- Participants: Adults
- Level & prerequisites: No prior knowledge or special skills required
- Available places: 20 (reservation required)
COURSE CONTENT
Recent research confirms that mindful movement — in its various forms such as Qigong, Tai Chi, or Yoga — is not merely a gentle physical practice, but a genuine tool for body–mind regulation. Numerous studies have shown that exercises based on slow movements, controlled breathing, and present-moment awareness positively influence the autonomic nervous system, reducing stress levels and promoting calm, concentration, and emotional stability.
From a neuroscientific perspective, these specific forms of movement foster integration among brain areas related to perception, body memory, and attention regulation, supporting what researchers call a form of “somatic intelligence”: the ability to listen to and modulate one’s internal states through movement, rhythm, and breath.
This course is designed for anyone interested in exploring how health can be maintained through awareness of the body–mind connection — how one can move consciously not merely for athletic purposes but for overall wellbeing — and how simple means can be used to calm a mind increasingly overstimulated by modern life. The approach is grounded in elements of Classical and Traditional Chinese Medicine, developed through decades of study, practice, and teaching.
Understanding internal rhythms, one’s basic constitutional type, and the eternal rhythms of nature helps individuals live with greater awareness and attention, revising habitual attitudes shaped by egoic, social, or cultural needs — sources of unnecessary energy expenditure harmful to one’s health. The balance between body and mind naturally leads to improvements in metabolism, sleep, mood, emotional regulation, attention, and, inevitably, physical form — a visible reflection of inner harmony.
Learning specific physical exercises and simple meditative techniques will enable each participant to personally and daily take care of their own health, restoring a sense of responsibility that today seems increasingly distant from self-awareness: everyone must first care for themselves before asking care from others.
Improving respiratory capacity (and consequently heart rate), tendon flexibility, and joint mobility — allowing energy, blood, lymphatic fluids, and all body systems to flow freely without stagnation or blockages — ensures, with minimal daily effort, an improvement in all circulatory activities, with visible results in every sphere: aesthetic, physical, and emotional.
Teacher
Dr. FRANCESCO DEODATO
Physician, Phytotherapy & Acupuncture Expert– Instructor of Martial Arts and Taoist and Shaolin Disciplines
Since 1991, he has coordinated research, clinical, and teaching activities in both university and private settings, focusing on the interconnections between posture and chronic pain, with particular attention to the relationships among occlusion, TMJ, posture, ocular motility, and related disorders. His approach integrates scientific medical analysis with elements of Posturology, Phytotherapy, and Chinese Medicine. For nearly 30 years, he has regularly taught these disciplines at the university level.
He is Past President and Founding Member of the Italian Society of Temporomandibular Disorders and Pain (SIDA), and Co-founder and Vice President of the Higher Institute for Research in Traditional Medicine and Anthropology. Author of several textbooks and scientific publications in national and international journals, he promotes the study of dysfunctions through conventional, traditional, and complementary approaches, with particular reference to the use of Chinese Medicine from the diagnostic phase onward. He has been, and continues to be, a lecturer and speaker at numerous national and international courses and conferences.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, during his training in acupuncture and Taoist medicine he developed a profound interest in Chinese internal arts, studying Chinese Medicine and Qigong for years under Master Jeffrey Yuen. He continued his martial arts journey by earning a black belt in Songham ATA Taekwondo and serving as an assistant instructor, managing and coordinating gym and international tournament activities.
He later became a certified Level 1 Instructor in Krav Maga and Kickboxing, expanding his expertise in self-defense disciplines. He further deepened his study of Taoist and Shaolin practices through courses in Chinese Medicine, Qigong, Kung Fu, and Meditation with Masters Shi Heng Chan and Shi Yan Hui. Under Master Shi Heng Chan, he earned the title of 3rd Level Shaolin Qigong Instructor and received recognition in international competitions.
He currently teaches as Instructor at Shaolin Quan Fa Firenze under Master F. Bedogni and has inherited the Southern Taoist medical lineage of the Lie family from Dr. Carlo Di Stanislao, becoming its 19th-generation descendant.
COSTS
FULL COURSE – € 220 (modules I-V)
SINGLE MODULES – € 50
FOR INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM OR WRITE TO info@bobih.org
For those who wish to explore further, a brief scientific bibliography:
1. Zou, L., SasaKi, J. E., Wang, H., Xiao, Z., Fang, Q., & Zhang, M. (2021).
Mindfulness-based Baduanjin exercise for depression and anxiety in adults: A systematic review and
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 9138.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179138
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on Qigong/Baduanjin: shows significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and autonomic tone regulation. It is one of the most robust studies linking slow movement, breathing, and psycho-emotional wellbeing.
2. Wayne, P. M., & Kaptchuk, T. J. (2008).
Challenges inherent to T’ai Chi research: Part I—T’ai Chi as a complex multicomponent intervention.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(1), 95–102.
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.7170a
Foundational article framing Tai Chi and related practices as complex mind–body interventions that integrate biomechanical, respiratory, cognitive, and emotional components. It is often cited as a theoretical basis for subsequent studies on mindful movement.
3. Lan, C., Chen, S. Y., Wong, M. K., & Lai, J. S. (2013).
Tai Chi Chuan in medicine and health promotion.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 502131.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/502131
Systematic review summarizing the effects of Tai Chi on balance, metabolism, cardiac function, and quality of life, confirming its positive impact on sleep, mood, and energy regulation.
4. Sharma, M., & Haider, T. (2015).
Yoga as an alternative and complementary therapy for cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.
Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 20(1), 5–14.
https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587214562009
Analysis of 37 controlled studies: regular practice of breathing exercises and slow movements improves heart rate variability and reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, with additional beneficial effects on metabolism.
Effects of Qigong on heart rate variability, blood pressure, and psychological status: A systematic
review and meta-analysis.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(9–10), 968–978.
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2018.0121
High-quality meta-analysis showing that Qigong practice regulates the autonomic nervous system (increasing vagal tone), reduces blood pressure and perceived stress, and improves mood.