Qigong Classes
How are your energy levels? Can you get through the day without crashing or relying on caffeine and sugar to boost your productivity? Do you need more balance in your life, or a better way to enhance your spiritual practice?
Your vitality is the direct correlation to your overall physical, emotional and spiritual health. How much energy you have shapes your experience and the overall quality of your life.
In our sessions you’ll learn how to regain that ‘Vibrant Body and Peaceful Mind.’ You’ll learn simple exercises you can do any time, anywhere to recharge. Exercises may be done standing or seated and are suitable for most physical levels.
Current ‘Live and In-Person’ Class: Community Qigong Spring 2023
When: Thursdays, noon to 1pm, April 6 through May 11
Location: Island Soul Studios, 326 Carter Ave, Friday Harbor
Details: Community Qigong is taught in a manner similar to TaiChi, with basic, simple instructions. The focus in this class is on cleansing and toning the body’s Qi, with emphasis on the physical organ pair that corresponds with the current season.
All levels of experience – or inexperience – are welcome. Class is conducted standing, but can also be done seated (please bring a straight-back chair for yourself.) Wear loose, comfortable clothing and flat-soled indoor shoes, yoga socks with grips, or go barefoot.
Goals: for participants to feel the Qi; experience the feeling of well-being with a group of practitioners focused on the same movements to bring in Universal Energy; have simple exercises you can do at home, singly or in a sequence to continue your practice in bringing the mind from outward focus to inward focus.
As the yang energy of Spring rises, it is important for us to release the stagnant Qi held in the Liver and GallBladder. The liver is associated with holding anger and long-held emotions and stress. The Gallbladder is involved in planning, decision making, holding boundaries. With attention to these areas, we are better able to remain grounded and calm during the fast movement and growth of Spring. Results are typically increased energy and vitality, calmer approach to the everyday stresses, improved overall health. This means: a Vibrant Body and Peaceful Mind.
Pre-Registration and Pre-Payment Required: contact me, [email protected] to enroll; payments can be mailed prior to class (471 Dexter Lane, Friday Harbor, 98250) or made via Paypal (https://bit.ly/MIM-Spring23).
What is Qigong?
Qigong, pronounced “Chee-gong”, is a meditative movement practice developed through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and is the energetic foundation of acupuncture and Tai Chi. There are thousands of different Qigong styles today, and millions of people practicing world-wide because of its remarkable health benefits. Even physicians in Wuhan, China are leading quarantined patients in traditional Qigong forms.
Qi is our body’s ‘Life Force Energy.’ We all have it, but in our modern society, we’ve lost touch with it or it’s become depleted. Qigong uses gentle meditative exercises to access and develop the body’s bio-energetic ‘Qi’ system for greater health, vitality, and self-awareness. With regular practice, practitioners typically reduce stress, calm the mind, sleep deeper, increase the ability to focus, experience improved emotional functioning, and improved physical energy and health. Read more about the medical benefits of Qigong here.
Stephanie’s Training
I am trained in both traditional, Shamanic styles and more modern versions. Currently I am teaching the more modern versions in my Move Into Mindfulness Qigong ‘moving meditation’ sessions. They uniquely integrate ancient Chinese mind/body/spirit energy cultivation techniques with forms that are compatible with the hectic pace of modern life.
It’s much easier to reach a peaceful state when you’re focusing on the simple, gentle moves that I’ll teach you, and the sensations of moving Authentic Qi through your body.
“Stephanie has a warm, lovely presence; wonderful, enjoyable teaching style… very focused and helpful…specific instructions that are easy to follow.”
Qigong Student
What you’ll Learn
- Activating the energy field and opening the energy gates, centers, and channels, enabling Qi to flow smoothly for improved health
- Harmonizing the organ network so the organs come back into balance and harmony to effect healing
- Creating that inner alchemy of the 3 Treasures (Essence, Qi, Spirit) that works to align Body, Mind, and Spirit for greater self knowledge and awareness of being one with the Universal Energies.
There’s no special equipment or clothing required. All you need is to wear flat, comfortable shoes and clothing, and be ready to relax and open yourself to learning self-healing cultivation techniques. You don’t have to make the movements perfect, and you don’t have to be all serious! Just relax and enjoy the feeling of Authentic Qi!
“I learned a lifelong discipline for enhanced wellness and expanding my inner awareness. I experienced a big shift in vitality after each practice, and overall sense of calm, as well as an inner strength.”
Qigong Student
Private Qigong Sessions Customized to Your Needs
Private Sessions: In-person sessions if on San Juan Island, WA; on-line sessions if Off-Island. $125 per 90-minute session if a one-time booking. Pre-paid 4 or more sessions, $95 per 90-minute session.
Contact me to schedule your preferred time at: [email protected], 360.940.0063
“Stephanie’s focus and dedication to the practice is superior. She seems to breathe the techniques and sequences from her bones and yet at the same time is very conscious of how the instruction is being received by the students so learning is maximized. She brings a deep level of awareness to the practice which changes the energy of the group to one of acceptance and openness. I really appreciated her approach, encouragement and helpfulness. The practice itself of Yi Ren is very powerful. I felt a strong connection to my energy systems and the benefits of the different techniques. I would highly recommend this school of Qigong as well as Stephanie as an instructor.”
Qigong Student
More about Qigong
Excerpt from Qi:The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness, Summer 2018, article by Stephanie D. Harper:
“Qigong is practiced in the internal and external habits that mold us, shaping the outward expression of our lives. Our bodies, like nature, grow from the inside out. Thus, we practice cultivating our qi in our body, organs and the wisdom mind, building the spirit temple in the heart every day. We become soft, supple, strong and responsive, full of vital life force, and become our own alchemists as we transform energy in the body. In turn, we come more in tune with elements within us and within existence, thus we come in to harmony with ourselves and the universe. With practice it comes with ease.”
Testimony from Students
“I’m more able to control my internal stress…”
“This class has helped me listen…to life, self, nature, myself”
“I have increased ability to release and let go of negative experiences…”
“I would encourage anyone to try it on for size, as the benefits could be far reaching.”
“Worthwhile class – tip of a positive iceberg..or energy-berg”
“Stephanie has a lovely gentle way about her, exudes kindness, is clear, and very approachable.”
“Very grounding, supportive and easy to follow.”
“Stephanie holds the energy in the room beautifully, and enhances the students’ experience of their own energies”
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