mindfulness – Page 2 – Dr. Kathy Yep

Hello, We are ending a joyous month of practice and beginning a new month. There is some schedule changes in March and it is listed above.

I hope to see you at our practice sessions: Generally, Tu, Th, Sa, Su, 8 – 8:30 a.m. PT.
All are welcome. Open and suitable to all. Come as you are. Come late, leave early. Furry family are welcome to join on screen. No reservation necessary. Drop in.

Zoom link: https://pitzer.zoom.us/j/513664738

I offer this in the spirit of generosity. If you have time and capacity consider one of the following related to nourishing dignity and respect for all:

* Donating to folks on the ground in Gaza for food, clean water, medical treatment: Middle Eastern Children Alliance (MECA).

* Donating to our community partner Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity

* Donating to our community partner Women for Genuine Security

* Take an action of your own choice to support treating all with dignity and respect.

No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Poems, drawings, photos, seeds, a letter are welcome as an option. Send to kathyyep@yahoo.com or to K. Yep, PO Box 1313 Monterey Park CA 91754.

Thank you for your donations and offerings.

May our qì gōng practice for the benefit of all so all beings do no harm and be free from harm. May we imagine and create the qì conditions — where all may live from a place of abundance and interconnectedness.

Be well,
Kathy

WHAT: Free Drop-In Qi Gong Class

Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient and contemporary Chinese exercise that combines movement, breathing, awareness, and body posture.

The goal is to learn simple practices to help people grappling with hard situations (e.g. COVID19, illness, natural disasters, chronic stress, violence, loss, imprisonment, inequities, etc).

WHO: Open to all. No experience necessary. This is a gentle class for folks of all bodies and abilities. You do not have to experience insomnia to take the class.

WHEN: First Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PDT and Third Thursdays, 12:15 – 1 p.m. PDT (from Jan. through end of May, 2021)

WHERE: Click here or go to https://pitzer.zoom.us/j/513664738

COST: The sessions are offered in the spirit of generosity. All are welcome regardless of funds.

JOIN THE QI GONG EMAIL LIST

TEACHER BIO: In addition to being a researcher and a tenured Full Professor at Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, I have practiced and taught qi gong for 25 plus years under the mentorship of Paul Li and Bingkun Hu, who learned from dayan qi gong lineage holder Yang Mei Jun. I am also a certified mindfulness facilitator and certified to teach Mindful Awareness Practices-1 from UCLA Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Behavior.

COMMUNITY PARTNER: From policy and advocacy to direct services and popular education, IM4HI is a statewide California organization that manifests the framework that “all humans are sacred across borders and bars” into reality.

CLASS CONTENT: As part of a pilot online health equity curriculum, I teach select movements from wild goose (da yan) qi gong. It is intended to be calming and nourishing according to traditional Chinese medicine. It is intended to address the ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up rested. (Irwin et. al 2017).

I also teach some qi gong movements that engage with compassion according to traditional Chinese medicine. Research suggests a connection between compassion exercises and nourishing parts of your brain that impact decision making. (Neff et. al., Singer & Klimecki 2014) This is significant in the context of health equity. It is a simple practice to nourish us from the wear and tear of challenging circumstances (e.g. hypertension, violence, incarceration, racial profiling, national disasters, etc.)

I invite you to utilize any or all of the resources: live sessions, free videos, or written instructions available in over 25 languages via Capacitar.

NOTE: This qi gong class is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.