Hundreds of people met at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Saturday to study qigong, an ancient Chinese mind-body exercise similar to Tai Chi.

“I like it a lot. It’s very enjoyable and relaxing,” said first-timer Robert Williams, 30, a U.S. Xpress employee from Chattanooga who was among the crowd of 350 people.

Jeff Primack, founder of the Sunny Isles, Fla.,-based Supreme Science Qigong Center, taught the ancient Chinese mind-body techniques to participants who included massage therapists, nurses and others in the healing professions.

“We’re trying to bring qigong to people of all cultures, races, religions. It’s the one energy of God that can unite everybody,” Mr. Primack said.

Attendees hailed from as far away as Michigan, South Carolina, Illinois, Texas and France.

Qi (also spelled “chi”) is the Chinese word for “vital energy.” Gong means “work or skill.” The breathing techniques and physical movements of qigong build and circulate vital energy through the body.

Qigong was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as the “Best Longevity Exercise,” according to Supreme Science’s Web site.

Terry Durham, 57, a retired teacher from Hixson who is fighting lung cancer, said she attended the conference to assist her healing.

“It very much attracted me, because I know the power of the breath. It says in the Bible ‘God breathed his spirit,’” she said, referring to the verse in Genesis I where God breathes life into people, turning them into living souls.

Stephen Drew, a 45-year-old computer programmer from Hixson, said he was surprised at the turnout. “The fact that so many people are here shows there is more support (here) for these things,” he said.

QIGONG CLASSES

Yin Yang House, 512 Tremont St., (423) 756-8010 Clear Spring Yoga, 7 N. Market St., (423) 266-3539