FEELING INTO MOVEMENT
An Autumn Exploration of Qi Gong, Traditional Chinese Medicine & Somatic Movement
A two-hour experiential workshop exploring movement, energy, intention and stillness through Qi Gong, somatic movement and Yin.
What happens when you stop focusing on getting a movement right, and start noticing how it feels?
In this workshop, we’ll explore movement from the inside out.
Rather than learning a sequence of movements to get right, we’ll play with different qualities of movement and energy gathering, dispersing, opening, containing and finding focus.
You’ll be invited to notice how changing your intention can change the way movement feels in your body.
There’s no particular outcome to achieve. Just space to explore, feel and notice.
This is an opportunity to slow down, become curious and experience movement in a slightly different way.
A PRACTICE FOR THE SEASON
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is associated with the Metal element a time of gathering inward, creating space, refining and letting go of what is no longer needed.
Rather than spending the workshop learning about the theory, we’ll explore some of these qualities through the body.
How does gathering feel?
What happens when we create space?
What changes when our energy moves outwards, and then returns?
The season provides a gentle backdrop for our exploration.
WHAT WE’LL EXPLORE
Through a combination of Qi Gong, somatic movement and Yin, we’ll explore:
Bringing awareness into the body through self-massage and movement
The qualities of gathering, dispersing, opening and containing
How intention can change the experience of a movement
Moving with the breath and noticing the body from within
Finding focus, clarity and a sense of centre
Moving between more dynamic and quieter states
Allowing movement to become softer and more inward
Resting, integrating and noticing what remains
The emphasis will be on experience rather than performance.
FROM MOVEMENT INTO STILLNESS
We’ll gradually move from flowing Qi Gong into the quieter practice of Yin.
But the exploration doesn’t end when the movement becomes softer.
You’ll be invited to continue noticing the qualities of movement and energy through the stillness of each Yin posture exploring both sides of the movement, from opening and gathering to expansion and softening.
Even in stillness, there is something to feel, notice and experience.
The movement becomes quieter, but the exploration continues.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF EXPERIENCING MOVEMENT
This isn’t about collecting more movements or learning another sequence.
It’s an opportunity to explore the relationship between movement, sensation, energy and intention.
To ask questions such as:
What happens when I change the intention behind this movement?
How does it feel to gather, rather than expand?
What do I notice when I stop trying to achieve something?
You might find yourself experiencing familiar movements in a slightly different way.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF EXPERIENCING MOVEMENT
This isn’t about collecting more movements or learning another sequence.
It’s an opportunity to explore the relationship between movement, sensation, energy and intention.
To ask questions such as:
What happens when I change the intention behind this movement?
How does it feel to gather, rather than expand?
What do I notice when I stop trying to achieve something?
You might find yourself experiencing familiar movements in a slightly different way.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This workshop is open to everyone. No previous experience is needed.
It may particularly appeal to you if you’re curious about Qi Gong, somatic movement or Traditional Chinese Medicine, or feel drawn to a practice that moves between energy and stillness, movement and rest.
It may also offer yoga teachers and movement practitioners another way of experiencing and understanding movement without adding another sequence to learn.