Qigong Class Schedule: July13 - 19, 2026
"...letting all of the voodoos of ambition sleep."
Recently I came across an unfamiliar phrase: “unconditioning the body”. It sounds like what happens during a nice, long vacation, doesn’t it? But the author was referring instead to how we can change unhealthy, conditioned physical habits by moving, breathing, and thinking in new ways. We hold many subconscious habits and patterned behaviors in our muscles and fascia, often as unnecessary, energy-wasting tension. Usually we don’t realize this until we redial our awareness and tune into a different station, so to speak. Once we do, a shift occurs, and it can be astounding! Being in nature really helps get us to this powerful and more tuned-in place.
A few days ago, I experienced “unconditioning” in a vivid way. I woke before dawn and walked to a nearby beach. As Taoism teaches, watching the sunrise, standing near a large body of water, and being barefoot on the ground are three ways to gather qi from nature. Combined with my pre-coffee state, it was a perfect opportunity to “uncondition”. Standing there I was able to effortlessly soak in the energy all around me. Breathing the fresh morning air and lulled by the sound of the waves, I could sense unconscious rigidities held in hidden corners of my soma beginning to melt and dissolve. “The voodoos of ambition” were still asleep: I had no agenda but to be present. I began to do “Opening the Flow” -- the simple Qigong exercise of floating the arms up and down---and the movements blended seamlessly with the quiet rhythms of the waves, the breezes, the rising sun, and my breathing. As in Mary Oliver’s poem, “quiet as a feather. I hardly move, though really I am travelling a terrific distance.” In those moments the distance I travelled was from my future-tethered, anxious mind back to the nurturing present.
You can do this, too. By playing/practicing Qigong, we learn how to “open the doors” and liberate all the lifeforce that is locked up in our unconscious, exhausting, conditioned tension habits. All it requires is practice, patience, and trust in the process. Take Mary Oliver’s sage advice: “…Take the day off. Quiet as a feather…Stillness. One of the doors to the temple.”
Workshops, special events, and class schedule in July
July 17th Acupressure Workshop at Millbrook Library: 10-11:30. Free, as are all classes and workshops sponsored by the library. Be sure to register at Millbrooklibrary.org.
July 18th, Hotchkiss Library, Sharon CT: Qigong Practice for Summer. Rescheduled from last Saturday. Please wear flat shoes and comfortable clothes and join me! Beginner friendly and free of charge. Call 860) 364-5041 to register.
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! Harvesting the Energy of Trees with Qigong | Kripalu
Online Zoom classes are cancelled on Sunday, July 26 and Tuesday, July 28, as I’ll be teaching at Kripalu. Our final Zoom Qigong class for the summer will be Thursday, July 30.
July 31, Millbrook Library Online-In person Qigong, 10-11 am. Please register at Millbrooklibrary.org for this free, beginner friendly class.