Qigong Class Schedule: November 9 - 15, 2026
Lymph Flow: How Qigong Primes the Pump
Saturday was the first day of winter according to the Chinese solar calendar! Winter corresponds to the water element within us: the flowing, nourishing, calming energy we are encouraged to cultivate during this increasingly dark, chilly season in order to stay healthy. TCM directs us to focus more on rest, replenishment, and storing energy. As the Tao Te Ching says, “water sinks to the lowest places”, and so we’re coached to pay attention to the deepest parts of our own physiology: the joints, kidneys, and even the bone marrow.
This coincides nicely with our recent focus on our lymphatic system, the watery fluid that flows throughout our body, nourishing, healing, and protecting our health. The Cleveland Clinic says,
“When people imagine the watery flow powering their bodies, most may think of blood. Lymph is usually an afterthought, if it’s a thought at all. But blood and lymph are crucial partners when it comes to keeping you healthy and free of disease.”
Social media abounds with videos of lymph draining protocols. I’ve reviewed quite a few, and here’s my conclusion: keep doing Qigong and your lymph system will be just fine! Qigong is all about keeping the lymph circulating freely, beginning with deep abdominal breaths at the start of every class, to heel drops, to “silk reeling” for joint lubrication and mobility, to countless flows and stretches to relax muscles and move fluids and qi. Qigong truly “primes the pump”.
There’s much, much more fascinating info about this. Please stay tuned, and join our online classes to learn more. “The Tao is like a well: used but never used up” says the Tao Te Ching (vs 4). Won’t it be nice to enter into the winter season with a bottomless well of health and energy?
Class Schedule and Special Events:
“Qigong to Relieve Pre-Holiday Stress” at the Hotchkiss Library, Sharon CT. Saturday, November 14th, 10:30 am - 12 pm. Please register for this free, in-person class by calling the library (860)-364-5041. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up early!
Qigong at the Millbrook Library: Free, live and online classes two Fridays a month, 10-11 AM. The next class will be on Friday Nov 20th. Please register at Millbrooklibrary.org, which adds you to the library’s reminder email. The library will send you the Zoom link for the class, for those who aren’t joining us in person.