Flexibility and Growth: A Yoga, Qigong and Mindfulness Meditation Spring Immersion
Seasonal Practices for Energy, Balance and Wellbeing
April 15, 2018
Glasgow, Scotland
10:00 – 17:00
Seasonal Practices for Energy, Balance and Wellbeing
April 15, 2018
Glasgow, Scotland
10:00 – 17:00
In the words of Leo Tolstoy, “Spring is the time of projects and plans.” In the spring, we climb out of the cold, winter months and often feel ready to take on life with renewed vigor. If, however, we're unprepared for it, the outburst of energy can sometimes knock us off balance and be a shock – like we just want to crawl back under a warm duvet! This workshop will explore ways to align with the energy of spring using qigong practices focusing on the element of wood, associated in Chinese medicine with spring, growth, resourcefulness, flexibility and vision. It will also incorporate fluid yogic practices that focus on the flexibility and health of our joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons.
In this immersion you’ll learn:
About this series:
Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a seasoned teacher, this series of highly experiential daylong immersions will broaden your understanding of how seasonal energies based on the Chinese Five Elements can be explored and embodied through yoga, qigong and mindfulness meditation practices. Working with these distinct yet complementary systems of practice will enable practitioners to accrue benefits from each independent methodology as well as understand how the intellectual and physical threads of these traditions can weave together in compelling ways.
Each immersion will include:
About Yoga, Qigong and Mindfulness Meditation:
Qigong is an ancient Chinese energy practice with roots in Daoist traditions. It works with the principle of “xing ming shuang xiu” – meaning “the spirit and body are equally refined and cultivated.” It is designed to encourage healthy qi, or life force, to move within the body through fluid or static movements, breathing practices, and visualization techniques. Yoga is a Sanskrit word whose root meaning is “to yoke”. Through disciplines including asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation, yoga works to purify the body and expand the consciousness. Mindfulness meditation offers skills in meeting the challenges of everyday thoughts, actions and feelings. Based on Buddhist methodologies and doctrines, it invites us to meet life’s experiences with less reactivity and judgment and greater insight, compassion and awareness. Working with these three systems can offer practical and inspiring resources to help us navigate the messy, complex job of being human.
In this immersion you’ll learn:
- What is flexiblity? We will take a look at the function and role of the body’s tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.
- Qigong practices for the liver and gall bladder – organs that associate in Chinese medicine with rhythm, dreams, visions, and plans.
- Mindfulness meditation practices that focus on developing skilful means and resources for working with irritation, frustration and anger and converting them into creativity and positive growth.
About this series:
Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a seasoned teacher, this series of highly experiential daylong immersions will broaden your understanding of how seasonal energies based on the Chinese Five Elements can be explored and embodied through yoga, qigong and mindfulness meditation practices. Working with these distinct yet complementary systems of practice will enable practitioners to accrue benefits from each independent methodology as well as understand how the intellectual and physical threads of these traditions can weave together in compelling ways.
Each immersion will include:
- Experiential anatomy relevant to the themes and focus for each season
- Creative, mindful vinyasa practices that integrate yoga and qigong
- Active, static and meditative qigong practices
- Mindfulness-based meditation practices
- Talks and contemplations
About Yoga, Qigong and Mindfulness Meditation:
Qigong is an ancient Chinese energy practice with roots in Daoist traditions. It works with the principle of “xing ming shuang xiu” – meaning “the spirit and body are equally refined and cultivated.” It is designed to encourage healthy qi, or life force, to move within the body through fluid or static movements, breathing practices, and visualization techniques. Yoga is a Sanskrit word whose root meaning is “to yoke”. Through disciplines including asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation, yoga works to purify the body and expand the consciousness. Mindfulness meditation offers skills in meeting the challenges of everyday thoughts, actions and feelings. Based on Buddhist methodologies and doctrines, it invites us to meet life’s experiences with less reactivity and judgment and greater insight, compassion and awareness. Working with these three systems can offer practical and inspiring resources to help us navigate the messy, complex job of being human.