Cal Anderson Park - Wise Orchid Taijiquan & Qigong

Spring at last… it seems as though it has been a long and dark winter. With longer brighter days ahead, there are many great opportunities to get your Qi flowing!

First, we’ll be taking a break between quarters and there will be no classes from March 24th to April 1st, then we’ll begin Spring session with a Sunday practice of Push Hands and Broadsword on April 2nd at the Studio from 10am to noon.
Look below for the full spring schedule and links to class registration. Registration is now open.
Then, coming in April, we’ll be hosting Master Shanti on April 22nd for a training in Structure, Internal Power, and Connection. There are still a few places left. Jump on them as this fills fast.

And, as is our tradition, we’ll be celebrating World Tai Chi Qigong Da y at Cal Anderson Park Saturday, April 29th from 10am to noon. Spiral Qigong, Push Hands, and Broadsword will not be meeting and all are encouraged to join us in the park for an extra practice to join the millions of people sending healing energy around the planet.

Also, you may be aware that this year we have a new special series of mini-workshops to support social justice, the environment, and other important causes. The first, Standing for Social Justice, was held on Jan. 14th to raise funds for ACLU. Many people participated and contributed in an afternoon of Silk Reeling and Standing and together we raised over $2000!
Then, just this last Friday, March 17th, we took another take on Green for St. Patty’s day and offered a Spiraling Qigong session to benefit Conservation NW. We are still accepting donations for this great organization to help protect wildlands, connect habitats, restore wildlife, and more. Please make checks out to Conservation Northwest and get them to Viola by the end of the day on Thursday, March 23rd.

Look below for details on our new special series on the Spiral Qigong starting April 8th, at 9am. Spend 8 Saturday’s with us “firming your roots!”

In May, I am excited to be hosting Master Arthur Baner on Push Hands Techniques. See the details below.

Then, in June, Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei will be offering another of his Light of TaiChi summer camps, this time in Toronto. There is still time to get an early registration discount, so get your registrations in soon, and join us there if you can!

Lastly, Rus and I had an extraordinary trip to Costa Rica over the holidays, meeting rare birds in the cloud forest, howler monkeys foraging in the canopy, and finding a fitting retreat center for a Tai Chi and Qigong retreat to bring you with us next year. January 2018 we’ll be returning to Costa Rica to offer a journey into deep practice. Details below on how you can join us!

Master Shanti’s workshops will now be held on April 22nd in the afternoon and evening at Wise Orchid Studio. With two sessions on Structure, Internal Power, and Connection as well as integration with movement and partner work. Link here for information and registration.

Spring schedule of classes

Wise Orchid Studio:
-Mon. & Wed. 7:30am, Qigong
-Mon. & Wed. 8:45am, Chen Taiji
-Mon. 10:15am Tai Chi for Seniors
-Mon. & Thurs., 6:00pm, Chen Taiji
-Wed. 6:00pm, Intro to Tai Chi
-Fri. 8:45am, Advanced Chen
-Sat. 9am, Spiral Qigong
-Sat. 10am, Push Hands
-Sat. 11am, Weapons Class

West Seattle Classes:
-Tues. & Thurs. 8:30am Yang Taiji @Center for Movement & Healing
-Wed. 5:30pm Yang Tai Chi for Beginners @SS C
-Wed. 6:45pm Qigong @SSC
-Thurs. 2pm Tai Chi for Seniors @West Seattle Senior Center

Burien Community Center:
-Tues. & Thurs. 10:45am, Tai Chi for Everyone
-Tues. 6pm, Chen Taiji
-Wed. 10:45am, Qigong

Renton Senior Activity Center:
-Tues. 1pm, Yang Tai Chi & Qigong Full Calendar of Classes Here.

Details about the Spiral Qigong Series

Starting in April, we’ll be offering a new Saturday Qigong Series, beginning with Spiral Qigong. Join us for 8 Saturdays, not including World Tai Chi Qigong Day at 9am-10am.

The Ba Fa Pan Gen (Eight Methods to Firm your Roots) Qigong comes from the internal Chinese martial art of Xing Yi, and is designed through it spiraling movements to cleanse and heal the body. The twisting movements of this Qigong stimulate the energetic pathways in your body (meridians) and massage your internal organs while developing a more stable foundation, improving the strength and structure of your legs.

Master Authur Baner will be joining us May 6th in the afternoon for the beginning of a new series of workshops focused on Push Hands skills.
The art of Taijiquan consists of both solo and partner training. Solo practice teaches us about our relationship with ourselves and with gravity while partner training takes that to a new level with the introduction of “external” forces. It allows us to study conflict and harmony in a way that is both effective and a lot of fun.
In this series, we’ll progress from our foundations of form practice, moving into single and double hand exercises that lead to stepping practices and a 2 person form. Link here for registration and more information.

This year, Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei’s Light of TaiChi camp will be held in Toronto, Ontario Canada! Here is a link to registration information and details about the camp. Not only will there be a training offered for beginners as well as advanced this year, but also there’ll be an opportunity to compete. Have a look and join us, eh!

And Lastly, over the winter break, Rus and I journeyed to Costa Rica to take some time in the cloud forest and celebrate my 50th year on the planet. We also researched retreat centers where we might host a Tai Chi and Qigong Adventure Training Retreat and we succeeded! We discovered the beautiful Pura Vida Retreat Center, where we will be hosting a training adventure intensive in January 2018. This is a great opportunity that I am so excited to be offering. Please check out our Costa Rica Retreat webpage where you’ll find information about the location, the training, and cost and then put your deposit down to reserve your spot. For 7 days of training, lodging, and delicious meals, it’s a great deal. Pura Vida!!

So much to look forward to in practice and community this spring. As always, I am grateful to you for joining me in this exploration of deeper connection.

Peace and practice,
Viola