Looking forward to some new flowing mindful movement with you all!
YIN YOGA & QIGONG
WINTER STILL FLOW
With Miz DeShannon
NB: this event will be taught in english.
Winter is a time when we always seem busy, but yet our bodies are slowing down. As we are also animals, we need to retract, to hide away and rejuvenate, ideally hibernate like small woodland creatures, but we have many things to face in life. Sometimes it feels like life is taking over, anxiety is rising and we get caught up in 'future thinking'. Allow your body and mind to flow, releasing circles of despair and the fear of the unknown. Conserving energy needed for growth in the spring, our practice can teach us to focus on our internal forces, collecting ourselves, building our reserves, and navigating with care and caution in all ways.
This is a time when yin dominates yang, therefore one should refrain from overusing the yang energy. Retire early and get up with the sunrise, which is later in Winter. Desires and mental activity should be kept quiet and subdued, as if keeping a happy secret.
The water element rules winter in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and controls the balance and function of chi (energy) around our kidney and urinary bladder meridian (energy) lines. If our kidneys function well, our bodies have more vitality. If our fluids flow easily, through-in-out of our bodies we release tension, headaches, backache and those tight frozen physical sensations we attribute to stress.
Through gentle mindful Qigong movement and controlled awareness in the stillness of Yin Yoga, we can nurture those new spaces we found through autumn, melt into our new flow, and be ready for the flourishing of springtime. Don't be fearful of change, embrace the excitement of new adventure, being present in every moment – each of which is just how it should be, because through it all we act effortlessly, with the strength, courage, and wisdom of Water.
What is Qigong?
The main active principles for Qigong exercises are; breath, posture, movement, relaxation, and concentration / visualization, the word roughly translated means 'energy work'. These five principles are involved to varying degrees in any system, and the mindful steady movements to shift and settle energy are a perfect lead-in to the stillness of Yin.
Yin yoga and Qigong both have strong links with Traditional Chinese Medicine (a form of therapy for the entire body, mind, and spirit), and these ancient practices observe that all living things in the universe – including us humans – are dynamic and beautifully interdependent.
Time table
16:00 Introduction to Yin & Qigong, and setting up your space
16:15 Qigong practice (gentle movement) and breathwork
16:45 Yin yoga (stillness) – Water element focus
17:45 Closing meditation and rebalancing
