Workshops
Workshops on Internal Chinese Self-healing arts
See Registration Page for Scheduled Workshops
Workshop Details
Not currently scheduled. Stress and how to manage it are all too common problems in our fast-paced daily lives. Too much to do with too little time leads to tension, stress, and physical and emotional impacts. Learn relaxed breathing techniques, optimized posture, and focused intention to rebalance your body’s energy and release stagnant energy, stress, and tension.
This workshop includes:
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Proper stance and body alignment to release tension and stress
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Natural diaphragmatic breathing techniques
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Qigong movement to balance energy and release stress
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Simple meditative techniques using breath and imagery
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Ways to identify stress indicators and develop daily management strategies
Not currently scheduled. A lesser-known ancient Taoist qigong set that helps gather qi, enhance health, and merge personal qi with the primordial qi of the universe. Improves dan tian awareness, encourages movement of jing, blood, and qi, and enhances martial arts and healing ability.
This workshop includes:
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History and origins of the two major taiji ruler sets
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Detailed instruction and practice using generic taiji rulers
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
Not currently scheduled. A rare Taoist qigong blending Heaven and Earth energy with the body’s internal energy to achieve vitality and longevity. Helps improve martial arts ability, healing power, and overall health.
This workshop includes:
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History and origins of the Primordial Qigong set
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Instructor-led teaching and practice
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
Not currently scheduled. The most widely known taiji ruler set. Helps gather qi, enhance health, and improve vitality. Enhances dan tian awareness and encourages transformation of jing, blood, and qi.
This workshop includes:
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History and origins of the two major taiji ruler sets
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Instructor-led teaching and practice (physical ruler optional)
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
Not currently scheduled. A consolidation of more than 30 form‑improvement tips gathered over 28 years of study. Includes a deck of cards with focal points to improve Tai Chi, health, and energy balance.
This workshop includes:
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A simple approach to practicing Tai Chi using the Focus Your Form list
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The list and deck of 30+ focal point cards
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Practical application using your own Tai Chi form
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Tips for daily practice
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Questions, feedback, and discussion
Not currently scheduled. An elegant, graceful set of eight exercises for flexibility, health, and qi cultivation. Helps lengthen muscles and tendons and stimulate meridians and internal organs.
This workshop includes:
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History and origins of the qigong
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Instructor-led teaching and practice
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
Not currently scheduled. A Yang Family exercise for strengthening and mobilizing qi. Described in print around 1930. Master Jou Tsung Hwa considered it the most important qigong exercise.
This workshop includes:
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History and origins
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Instructor-led teaching and practice
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
Not currently scheduled. Slow, spiraling movements that open joints, improve posture, enhance breathing, and stimulate qi flow.
This workshop includes:
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History and benefits
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Proper posture and alignment
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Detailed teaching of the 20‑movement set with handout
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Tips for maintaining practice
Not currently scheduled. Standing, walking, and seated qigong techniques for building life‑force energy.
This workshop includes:
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History and benefits of Zhan Zhuang
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Stages of standing, walking, and seated cultivation
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Proper posture and alignment
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Simple postures to facilitate qi movement
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Tips for maintaining practice
Not currently scheduled. Learn movement, breath, healing sounds, and intention to detoxify and tonify organs. Includes Mount Hua active sounds, Six Qi Meditation, and full‑body toxin expulsion.
Not currently scheduled. Covers qigong fundamentals and the body’s energy systems. Learn stance, movement, and breathing techniques to balance qi.
Workshop includes:
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Overview of energy systems
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Body alignment for releasing tension
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Optimal breathing techniques
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Exercises including Whole Body Breathing, Smoothing Qi, Small Circulation
Not currently scheduled. Exercises to center and focus before healing or energy work.
This workshop includes:
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Stance and breathing exercises
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One Finger Zen
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Shen Gong Standing
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One‑minute “Quick Recharge”
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Additional energy and listening techniques (time permitting)
Not currently scheduled.
Stress and how to manage it are all too common problems in our fast-paced daily lives. Too much to do with too little time in which to do it leads to an accumulation of tension, stress, and associated physical and emotional impacts. Conquer your stress with relaxed breathing techniques, optimized body posture, and focused intention that can help you rebalance your body's energy and release stagnant energy, stress, and tension.
This workshop includes:
- Details of proper stance and body alignment to facilitate release of tension and stress.
- Natural, Diaphragmatic breathing techniques to optimize the intake of oxygen, improve oxygenation of the blood, and enhance circulation.
- Qigong movement to balance the body's energy and release stress and tension on a daily basis.
- Simple meditative techniques using breath and imagery to regain mental balance.
- Ways to identify your body's stress indicators and develop strategies for ongoing daily stress management.
Not currently scheduled.
Probably the lesser known of the two major taiji ruler sets to have survived to the present day. This ancient Taoist qigong set helps us gather qi to enhance our health and merge our qi with the original qi of the universe to achieve vitality and longevity. This exercise system will enhance dan tian awareness, encourage the movement and transformation of jing, blood, and qi and help the practitioner improve their martial arts and healing power and improve health and quality of life.
This workshop includes:
- The history and origins of the two most common taiji ruler sets.
- Detailed instruction and practice of the set using generic physical taiji rulers.
- Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion and pictures of each of the Primordial Ruler exercises.
- Discussion and time for questions and feedback.
Not currently scheduled
A rare and powerful qigong from the ancient Taoist tradition, this exercise system blends the primordial energy of Heaven and Earth with the energy of life within the body to achieve vitality and longevity. This qigong will help the practitioner improve their martial arts and healing power and improve health and quality of life. Exercises differ slightly from the Primordial (Hunyuan) Taiji Ruler set.
This workshop includes:
- The history and origins of the Primordial Qigong set.
- Detailed instruction and practice of the set using instructor-led teaching and practice.
- Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures of each of the Primordial Qigong exercises.
- Discussion and time for questions and feedback.
Not currently scheduled
The first and most widely known of the two major taiji ruler sets to have survived to present day. Slightly different than the lesser-known Primordial Ruler, this set helps us gather qi to enhance our health and achieve vitality and longevity. This exercise system will enhance dan tian awareness, encourage the movement and transformation of jing, blood, and qi and help the practitioner improve their martial arts and healing power and improve health and quality of life.
This workshop includes:
- The history and origins of the two most common taiji ruler sets.
- Detailed instruction and practice of the set using instructor led teaching and practice. Use of a physical taiji ruler is optional in this system.
- Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion and pictures of each of the Primordial Ruler exercises.
- Discussion and time for questions and feedback.
Not currently scheduled
We've all heard profound tips and guidance from our own teachers and various masters we've encountered in workshops and other events on how to guide our bodies to the optimal position to enhance our martial and energetic skills. This workshop consolidates more than 30 of these tips gathered from class and workshop notes from more than 28 years of study. You may have heard some of them before - but here they all are in one place, at one time, in a deck of cards you can use in your daily practice. Practicing your form on a daily basis with one or more of these focal points will profoundly improve your Tai Chi, your health and your energy balance.
This workshop includes:
- A simple approach to practicing your Tai Chi forms using the Focus Your Form list.
- The list itself and a deck of cards with more than 30 focal points for your use.
- Practical application of each tip using pieces of your own Tai Chi form.
- Tips for implementing a daily practice.
- Questions. feedback and discussion.
A simple approach to practicing your Tai Chi forms using the Focus Your Form list.
Not currently scheduled.
These eight exercises are an elegant, graceful, and essential method to improve our flexibility, health, and Qi Cultivation. Although first described in an eighth-century Taoist text they are generally attributed to a twelfth-century Chinese general named, Marshal Yeuh Fei. These gentle stretching exercises help lengthen the muscles and tendons and stimulate the meridians and internal organs. This is an excellent set to begin any qigong or tai chi workout.
This workshop includes:
- Discussion of the history and origins of this wonderful qigong.
- Detailed instruction and practice of the set using instructor led teaching and practice.
- Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion and pictures of each of the Eight Brocade Qigong exercises.
- Discussion and time for questions and feedback.
Complete cycle offered 4/18–6/17/2021, Mansfield Community Center. Learn this 1800‑year‑old qigong system attributed to Hua Tuo. Each animal supports organ health and overall well‑being.
All workshops include:
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History and origins
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Instructor-led teaching and practice
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Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures
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Discussion and Q&A
The Crane opens the spine and major channels. Light, soaring, calm, and tranquil, it stretches the sinews and serves as a gentle warm‑up for the full Frolics system.
The Bear builds leg strength and kidney energy. Ponderous yet agile, it strengthens kidneys, liver, bones, spleen, and stomach.
Monkey: Quick, alert, nimble, yet calm. Encourages agility, flexibility, and internal stability.
Tiger: Fierce, powerful, dynamic. Externally strong, inwardly supple. Builds internal and external strength.
The Deer stretches and opens the spine and legs. Encourages natural, free movement and helps circulate qi through the Governing Vessel.
Not currently scheduled. Learn the first walking movement of each animal. A playful introduction to the healing qualities of the Five Animals.
QIGONG INTENSIVE - A 4-PART QIGONG WORKSHOP SERIES FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING -
SILVER DRAGON SPECIAL PRICING: $50 per session or $175 for the 4-part series. Pre-registration required.
Not currently scheduled. Covers qigong fundamentals and the body’s energy system.
Workshop includes:
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Overview of vessels, channels, and collaterals
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Body alignment for releasing tension
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Natural diaphragmatic breathing
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Whole Body Breathing, Smoothing Qi, Small Circulation
Not currently scheduled. Overview of immune system (TCM + Western) and major energy vessels. Learn intention‑based exercises for bone marrow cleansing and strengthening.
Workshop includes:
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Immune system overview
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Review of major energy vessels
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Role of intention
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Bone marrow washing, bone breathing, compression exercises
Not currently scheduled. Builds on Fundamentals. Introduces Five Element Theory and healing sounds.
Workshop includes:
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Review of previous material
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Detailed look at 12 primary channels
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Five Element Theory practice
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Active Healing Sounds & Six Qi Meditation
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Toxin expulsion exercise
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Additional smoothing and detox techniques
Not currently scheduled. Standing, walking, and seated qi cultivation techniques.
Workshop includes:
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History and benefits of Zhan Zhuang
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Stages of standing and qi cultivation
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Proper posture and alignment
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Postures for qi movement
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Yi Chuan standing and walking
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Small Circulation meditation tips
Complete cycle of all five animal exercises offered 4/18-6/17/2021, Mansfield Community Center - 860-429-3015.
Come play with these wonderful 1800-year-old Chinese health and healing qigong exercises. Attributed to Hua Tuo (CE 207), the father of Chinese medicine, we'll learn and play with each of the five Animals individually as listed below. These have been used for hundreds of years as preventive exercises to keep the body healthy and prevent disease. Each has been overtime associated with individual organ health but all should be considered together as a complete health system. Come play with us and seek the spirit of the animals to restore well-being and maintain health.
All of these workshops include the following parts:
- Discussion of the history and origins of these wonderful qigong exercises.
- Detailed instruction and practice of the set using instructor led teaching and practice.
- Handout with instructions, movements, ranges of motion, and pictures of each of the Five Animal Qigong exercises.
- Discussion and time for questions and feedback.
The Crane opens the gates of the spine and the major connecting channels of the body. The Crane is light and soaring, calm, and tranquil and opens and stretches the sinews. Look for the Crane to be graceful, standing like a tall pine, opening its wings and soaring into the clouds and can serve as a gentle warm up to the entire Animal Frolics system.
The Bear creates leg strength and develops the energy of the kidneys, the body's fundamental source of vitality. The Bear fortifies the liver and bones and is the energetic and healing compliment of the Crane. Look for the Bear to be ponderous, solid, and stable but with a surprising lightness and agility. After practicing the Bear for some time, the kidneys and legs will be greatly strengthened and the spleen and stomach harmonized.
We'll teach the Monkey and the Tiger, the shortest of the five-movement sequences, together.
The Monkey is quick-witted, alert and nimble but conceals a watchful calm and focus. We will work to incorporate the Monkey's agility and flexibility with balanced, quick movements while maintaining an underlying inner peaceful calm. Play with the Monkey's sense of mischief and with its lightning speed and appreciate its internal element of stability.
The Tiger is the most external and dynamic of the five—fierce and awesome, the king of
the animals, externally strong, inwardly supple, deliberate and calculating. Tiger moves like a whirlwind yet is tranquil like the moon. We'll play with the spirited eyes and fierce claws of the animal and seek to replicate its awe-inspiring power. Over time, continued practice of the Tiger will greatly increase our strength both internally and externally.
The Deer helps to stretch and open the spine and the legs with its relaxed yet proudly erect and extended movements. Look to develop natural and free movements without constraint or tension. Practicing the Deer helps to circulate the inner energy (Qi) from the base of the spine through the top of the crown. Over time this exercise can help you feel the sensation of energy in the Governing vessel and develop flexibility in the bones and sinews.
Not currently scheduled.
Come play with the first walking movement of each of these five wonderful qigong exercises. Attributed to Hua Tuo (CE 207), the father of Chinese medicine, we'll play with one exercise from each of the five Animals. These have been used for hundreds of years as preventive exercises to keep the body healthy and prevent disease. Come play with us and seek the spirit and healing qualities of the animals.