The qigong program was being offered by the oncology department of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation free of charge to the public. "For someone who's going to cancer treatment, the treatments are harsh, to say the least. Though little understood in the Western world, qigong is becoming popular in the Bay Area. The form of qigong practiced by Chiang is called Dayan qigong, based on the movements of the dayan, or wild goose. Unlike other forms of qigong, Dayan qigong requires no special breathing techniques or mental images to facilitate the circulation of qi, so it's easy and safe for beginners, said Chiang.