November 2022 – Dr. Kathy Yep

MWF, Weekend mornings: 8 – 8:30 a.m. PT. Live online. Drop-in, No experience necessary. Offered in spirit of generosity. Donations accepted for community partner: Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity.

Join the qi gong email list to get updates on schedule changes and information

Or click here or go to https://pitzer.zoom.us/j/513664738 on MWF, Weekend mornings, 8 – 8:30 a.m. PT

WHAT IS QÌ GŌNG?

Qì gōng (Chee gong) is connecting to, working with, and cultivating qì (flow, energy or life force). We do this by stretching and moving the body to open the energy pathways known as meridians or channels. Qì gōng can foster calm awareness and the relaxation response. Beyond the physical level, Qì gōng can be empowering because qì is in everything and everyone, including the earth and the sky. In this way, qì gōng can remind us that we are all interconnected even in the face of being torn apart, confronting a large and cruel system, or experiencing loneliness. Qì can nourish the sense and feeling that we are not alone. Practicing qì gōng has the potential to center interconnectivity — in contrast to dehumanizing, appropriating, tossing away, violating, extracting, or marginalizing.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Whether its your first time or your 26th, all levels are welcome. I encourage you to practice the movements and breathing in a way that makes sense for you — whether sitting in a chair, standing, or lying down. If you come late or have to leave early, you are invited to participate. Feel free to share this with people. Bring cultural humility, an open heart, and water.

DA YAN/ WILD GOOSE QÌ GŌNG CONTEXT

I started to learn wild goose qì gōng because I was recovering from cancer and it was rough. I am cancer-free and have practiced this form close to 30 years. This knowledge system dates back over 1000 years, and is also known as dayan qì gōng. It is a comprehensive system of medical qigong that includes over fifty forms. Some are movement-based and others are sitting meditation practices.

The current understanding and practice of this qì gōng system is credited to Grandmaster Yang Meijun (27th lineage holder). Living past 100, Yang Meijun shifted the discourse and practice by becoming the first woman lineage holder and by teaching it to the public starting in the 1970s.

May our qi gong practice for the benefit of all so all beings do no harm and be free from harm.

Are you a caregiver? Join me , Ms. Liu, and AARP-CA for a free event this Thursday: “Self-Care for Caregivers: Explore the Benefits of Qì Gōng”

Qì Gōng, a meditative practice of gentle stretching, movement and breathing, has shown the potential to lower stress and anxiety.
For caregivers, finding time for self-care can be very difficult, and yet it is so necessary for promoting overall well-being and to avoid stress and burnout. Professor Kathy Yep, a certified mindfulness facilitator and a practitioner of Dayan Qì Gōng, will engage in a conversation with AARP California volunteer and caregiver Lily Liu about the importance of caring for yourself as a caregiver and the benefits of meditative practices like Qì Gōng. Dr. Yep will also provide a short demonstration of qigong’s gentle, flowing movements and breathing technique.

Please do not opt out of event-related emails, as you will be emailed a link to join the class via Zoom prior to the event.

For more information, contact AARP California at caaarp@aarp.org.

About the Speakers:
Professor Yep teaches Asian American Studies at Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges. Ms. Liu cares for her 90-year-old mother and is writing a book about her experiences as a 1.5-generation immigrant family caregiver.
#mindfulness #event

https://lnkd.in/gSaG-mjv