With flu season not quite gone and allergy season fast approaching, our immune system needs to be in top shape to keep us well. Mantak Chia, a Taoist qigong master and founder of Universal Healing Tao, suggests nine simple ways to boost the immune system naturally.

Laugh: Laughter shakes the body and bones, stimulating the production of stem cells and red blood cells; enhances oxygen intake; stimulates the heart and lungs; and releases endorphins that ease pain.

Smile: Chia created the Inner Smile meditation to detoxify and energize the internal organs necessary to digest food, clean the blood and eliminate waste.

Eat Real Food: For 30 days, eat unprocessed, organic vegetables, fruits, meats and herbs, natural oils and modest amounts of freshly prepared grain.

Move: Mindful physical movement squeezes toxins from tissues, flushes bacteria from the lungs and relieves stress that compromises immunity.

Practice 5 Bone Marrow Chi Kung (Qigong): Deepen your laughter therapy by focusing your laughter on the sacrum and femur. “When we activate the bone marrow in the sacrum and femur bones, we stimulate the production of the stem cells and healthy red blood,” Chia says.

Breathe: Deep diaphragmatic breathing supports the immune system by strengthening T-cell formation and improving lymphocyte production.

 Jump, Vibrate, Tap: Whole-body vibrating (via jump rope or trampoline), local tapping and gentle hitting with your hands will enhance blood circulation and lymph flow.

Try Abdominal Massage: Some 70 percent of the immune system resides in the gut. Try self-massage or visit a certified Chi Nei Tsang practitioner, that can help move immune-boosting cells from the gut to the rest of the body.

Drink Clean, Filtered Water: Drinking clean water helps blood carry oxygen to the cells. Without oxygen, we cannot have a strong immune system.

Tao master Mantak Chia will lead a teacher training in Universal Healing Tao (UHT), June 9-25 at Eastover Estate and Retreat, located in Lenox, MA, minutes from Tanglewood Music Center and Kriplau Yoga Center. See the full line of spring programs at Eastover.com.

Sarina Stone is a certified medical chi kung educator.