Tai Chi and Qigong Outdoors

The inspiring feeling of practicing Tai Chi and Qigong outdoors, especially next to water or trees can be described as an injection of health and tranquility. The fresh Chi emanating from nature, transforms the quality of the practice into a deeper experience and a lasting feeling of well being.  That is why we practice in the parks – either at Holmby park in Westwood, near the tall, beautiful and powerful trees, or in Culver City at Paulson park, where the grass and the trees are green, engulfing us with nature’s healing Chi. In Santa Monica at the Colorado center, we seek the intimacy of the trees for protection and inspiration. Trees provide us with shade and protection, home and food  for many animals. Trees convert sunlight into into food! They absorb Carbon Monoxide and produce fresh and clean Oxygen for us to breath. Trees are some of the oldest living beings on the planet. Ancient tea trees in Yunan province in China are between 2000 and 4000 years old! Trees are inspiration for stability, ease, power, relaxation and rootedness. We know trees communicate under ground over wide distances, help each other by transferring food and nutrients to and from each other. (for more on this fascinating subject listen to the pod cast from RadioLab). 

“In stillness be like a tree, in movement be like water or clouds” ( Tai Chi Proverb)