Qigong Class Schedule: June 8 - 14, 2026
How Do You Slow Down?
Sometimes what seems like it should be the easiest thing to do is actually the most challenging. I’m referring to slowing down enough to be honestly and completely in the present moment. Only in the present do we have the opportunity to absorb energy like a thirsty plant after the rainstorm. It’s the first step to connecting to the qi around us, and cultivating more of it within.
Ironically, although I have taught and practiced being present for decades, it’s still a moving target! That’s why I get so much from my yearly retreat to the woods, away from cell phones and the internet. During my recent trip, I had a particularly vivid experience of the revelations that come from being present. I hiked to a quiet, open field. I attuned to my senses, more than I usually give myself time to do. I let the colors and shapes around me fill my eyes without analyzing what I was looking at. I listened to the sounds of the birds, and felt the breezes drift past and the solid weight of the rocky ground beneath me.
I have no idea how long I stood there like that, probably only a few minutes, but I had a wonderful surprise: My sense of smell suddenly opened up and grew very much sharper. I realized I could sense many more layers of aromas emanating from the leaves, the earth, the decaying wood, the flowers. It was amazing and totally unexpected. I wondered if what I was experiencing was a tiny taste of what animals rely on to orient themselves to the world around them. I realized this had happened only after I had given myself the intention, permission, and space to be present.
Now, I understand we can’t all spend days in the woods. But even in the city we can enjoy connecting to nature via the parks, a neighbor’s terrace, or a glimpse of “Manhattenhenge” between the buildings. I’ve witnessed some of the best, more qi-ful sunrises and sunsets of my life through the windows of my Upper West Side apartment. All this magical awareness requires is the choice to slow down and be present.
I would love to hear from you about how you are learning to slow down and become present. Do you have any favorite ways to retreat from the hubbub and hurry and reconnect to nature and the peaceful places within you? There are no wrong answers, and I’m genuinely curious to learn what you do. Please write and let me know, and I’ll share your tips and discoveries—anonymously, if you prefer-- in future newsletters. Many thanks!
Save the Dates:
Millbrook Library, In person/online Qigong classes in June: This Friday, June 12, and June 26th, 10-11 AM. Please register for this free, beginner friendly class at Millbrooklibrary.org. Jen will send you a reminder of each class a few days before.
Sunday, June 21: Qigong for the Summer Solstice — Innisfree Garden Join me on the first day of summer to celebrate the loving, healing energy of summer and the Fire element within us. Learn relaxing flows, rejuvenating stretches, and self-massage acupressure points to support a healthy heart and compassionate connection to nature and others. Register at the link, above.
Harvesting the Energy of Trees with Qigong, at Kripalu. July 26-29. I encourage you to join me and my wonderful colleagues John and Mary Platt at this relaxing, rejuvenating, and friendly retreat where we work directly with the healing essence and aromas of the various trees on the beautiful Kripalu campus. It’s a true step away from stress and into arms of nature! I hope you can join us! Harvesting the Energy of Trees with Qigong | Kripalu