Online Classes

In this new series for the Spring season, we’ll be going through the 5 Elements, in relation with Spring and its element of Wood. In this first class, we’ll be Grounding into the Earth, with some rooting, some slow and gentle yoga that stays close to the ground, and end with planting a seed of intention (Sankalpa) into the soil of our lives.

There's often talks of detoxing in the spring, having to do with the Liver. Here we approach Metal, which is associated with Letting Go, through the large intestine. We'll be working on purging stagnant energy (qi) in our body, through some yoga, somatic exercises and qigong forms, as a metaphor for a bigger kind of releasing: The blocks on our path forward, unhelpful patterns that come into play when we try to implement change, and limiting beliefs that keep getting us down.

Fall is the season of the lungs, related to grief, and the large intestine, extracting what is precious and letting go of the rest. In TCM, feelings & experiences that aren’t processed and let go result in Qi stagnation, which causes many health & psychological issues. In yoga, Aparigraha is non-attachment to outcomes, behavior patterns, feelings, possessions and ego. It’s the practice of letting go of things that are unhelpful, cause us suffering and stand in our way towards freedom.

Fall & winter means cold & flu season and a need to boost our immune system. In TCM, Wei Qi is our protective energy. It protects us against pathogens with its physical field, which is dependent on our kidneys for vitality, our stomach & spleen for nutrition and our lungs for circulation. Wei Qi also has emotional and spiritual fields, strengthened by contentment, meaningfulness, confidence, the expression of our emotions and being in harmonious environments.

In this first class of the series we start at the bottom, with the Root Chakra and the necessary sense of safety, in order to regulate our nervous system. It is a slow and soothing class with gentle movements that stay close to the ground, as we connect with our breath and practice a few mindfulness moments.

In this 2nd class we stay in the Root Chakra, awakening our legs, which offers a slightly more active class. We discuss the spirit of the kidneys, the Zhi: willpower and aligned purpose. Having a purpose is what gets us up in the morning, willpower lets us put one foot in front of the other to accomplish it, and we find our footing as we go along.

In this class we focus on our digestive system, mainly the stomach and the spleen. Physically we must digest the food we intake, but spiritually we also must digest what we learn and experience. That is the task of the Yi, our intellect, which governs our thoughts, makes meaning out of our experiences and generates intentions. It’s a slower class that stays close to the ground but offers a lot of twists and folds to massage our abdominal organs, as well as side bends to create space.

In TCM there is two types of energy: Qi, our vital energy, and Jing, our essence energy. While Qi can be generated through our breath, movement, nourishment and rest, we are born with a certain amount of Jing that can only be depleted, through overwork, stress, lack of sleep & illness. The focus of our Western society on hyperactivity and performance leads to burnout. To avoid this, we must focus on a good energy that is calm, balanced & sustainable. Some Qi Gong forms are introduced.

There’s plenty to make us angry in this world these days, but we’re taught by society to repress our anger rather than expressing it. Anger needs to move, otherwise it becomes stagnant energy that transforms into toxic Qi, causing issues in our head, gut and womb. So it’s important for our wellbeing to find ways to harness and channel it in ways that are creative, compassionate and aligned with our values. This is a more dynamic class to help move this liver energy, with Qi Gong and Yoga.

Our lungs & heart and their respective emotions, Grief & Joy, live in coexistance. There is a lot to grieve in this world, personally, collectively and planetarily. It can be a lot to bear, so some prefer to live in denial, while others are overwhelmed by the sorrow. Grief left unprocessed hardens and causes pain, so we must let it move, like clouds passing through the sky. Like the breath, we take in the value of what we hold dear, hold on to it, and then we must let it go.

In TCM, the Shen is the spirit of the Heart. It’s our awareness and highest self, our individual spark of light. The Shen is our life’s compass that knows the ways we must go in order to be the most authentic version of who we are. It discerns the right actions for our soul’s evolution, called our Heaven’s Mandate, our purpose in this life, the unique gifts we need to share with the world. A class that moves a bit faster, mixing Yoga with Qi Gong forms.

To Know our Truth is knowing that not all of our thoughts are true. In Vedic philosophy, Avidya (Misperceptions) are the root cause of Dukkha (Suffering). Instead of believing our every thoughts, we must witness them from a place of greater wisdom, using Viveka (Discernment) to determine if they are true, or a misperception or misapprehension. Once we know what we stand for, we can express it by Speaking our Truth, following Satya: to think, speak & act with integrity.