Taoist Practices
Our tools within the Taoist practices are Qi gong and Yin yoga; therapeutic gymnastics; simple and friendly practices with the body, which invite silence, stillness, attention and listening to oneself in order to find balance, calm and remain in the presence of one’s center. Both based on Taoist philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, oriented towards the observation of nature and its cycles. They work by regulating the flow of energy/vital force (qi) which circulates through the body’s energy channels (meridians) to maintain optimal health. The essential goal is to inhabit balance. A balance that is dynamic, it is a continuous dance of opposites in permanent dialogue and complementarity, the dance of Yin and Yang.
With these practices I am interested in working on health prevention, which I consider very important in the times we live in. We usually pay attention to the body when it is already sick.
These practices are simple, to make them accessible to all. During the practices, we aim to cultivate one’s health and vitality, to regulate and harmonize the energy flow, linked to organs, tissues, emotions and thoughts.
• What is Qi Gong (chi kung)?
Qi gong translates as the mastery, work of or time devoted to (Gong) the energy or vital force (Qi).
It is a moving meditation that aims to align three fundamental aspects: breathing, gestural posture and intentional mind (Yi and Shen).
Works with both static postures and slow, soft, sweeping, mindful movements to regulate your breath, body, mind, and spirit. The gestures are “round”, they resemble everything that exists in Nature.
Qi Gong is an attitude towards life, or rather life itself. How present am I in my everyday life? Where does my attention go? Where is my mind doing what I do? This practice is an invitation to presence, to full attention. Where my mind and my intention go, my energy follows.
“The essence of qi gong is learning the path of fluidity: fluid breath, fluid movement, fluid energy.” (Yves Requena)
• What is Yin Yoga?
Yin Yoga is a contemplative practice of awareness, attention and intention.
Through gentle postures, it acts on the yin tissues of the body: the connective tissue (fascia, joints, ligaments), subjecting it to stress by applying light pressure and then releasing the posture to let it rest (rebound), and thus strengthen it.
It is based on three fundamental principles: finding adequate depth in posture (listening to each one’s limits), committing oneself to remaining still (in body, breath, mind) and maintaining the posture for a long time.
The essence of yin is acceptance and surrender to what is. Its premise is observing and feeling instead of thinking; it’s inhabiting the soft, finding calm and peace in body, mind, emotion and spirit.