I hope this finds you well and holding steady despite the emergence of Pandemic 2.0: Just in Time for Christmas. I'm sending this to my complete list in case you've been thinking about returning to / starting classes, or wondering if I'm going to be running any guided meditations this winter. If I haven't chatted with you in a while, hello! This is a bit of a long note but there is, well, a lot to discuss.
In this post:
(1) Tai Chi and Qigong classes are moving to online-only for January and possibly (probably) beyond, schedule below
(2) You're all invited to join me in a guided meditation session to celebrate solstice (and the fact that we're still here), Thursday, December 23rd, 6-8pm. (Scroll down to the bottom of this message for more info.)
Tai Chi and Qigong Moving Online, starting Monday, December 20th
Sam, Gillianne, and I have had a chance to discuss how we're feeling in light of the current situation with the Omicron variant. We agreed that doing in-person class safely depends on two things: (1) a vaccine that provides sufficient protection and (2) sufficiently low numbers in the general population. With the new variant, we've lost both of those necessary conditions, so we are shutting down in-person classes starting now. It simply doesn't make sense to run a class for health and wellbeing when doing so poses a potential threat to health and wellbeing.
I will continue to offer classes through Zoom until it's safe to go back to in-person. I will be re-evaluating this decision on a month by month basis, so January will definitely be online only. If it looks like February will be clear enough, we'll return. If there's any question, we'll be online until March, etc., etc. You will have tons of heads up before we return to in-person classes. I will notify you all by email.
Online classes are (obviously) different from in-person, but I promise I can offer you a positive, uplifting experience that's absolutely as much of a good workout as you would get at the Centre.
Yes, you will most likely have to learn how to work out in a smaller space. Yes, you will be dealing with your at-home distractions (and my barky dog, probably). Yes, you will get to know at least one of my cats pretty well.
I can say, however, that the classes I taught online over the past couple of years were some of the best I've ever run. This is a great opportunity to teach you how to get in touch with what you're actually doing (versus what you should be doing) and to correct your technique. You'll learn how to transform common household items (mostly, chairs, doorways, and your kitchen sink) into helpful props for retraining your muscles and releasing the bodily habits that create aches and pains. Class is a wonderful thing, but your Tai Chi and Qigong practice really only becomes yours when you work out in your own space. Let's do that together.
The schedule will be similar to the in-person schedule. I'm preserving the breaks between classes as an opportunity for you to chat and touch base with each other without cutting into class time.
For beginners: Sam and Gillianne have thoroughly enjoyed teaching you this fall, but are unable to teach via Zoom, so Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon classes are on hold for now. I am opening the Saturday class from 1-2 pm just for you. (This includes those of you who are brand new and those who've been attending beginners for review purposes.) I've planned to use this time to help you make sure you don't lose the excellent progress you've made so far this year, and to carry on with learning the set at a slow, steady pace. I'm really looking forward to working on this with you. Beginners are as always also very welcome at Qigong.
For people who've been wanting to do more meditation, guided and otherwise: Thursday evening Qigong classes (6:30-8pm) will now include a sitting meditation session on the first Thursday of the month, and will be replaced with a guided meditation session on the third Thursday of the month. Guided meditation sessions will start at 6pm to allow us an opportunity to check in before we meditate. More info at the end of this message.***
The Online Schedule
Monday
Tai Chi Ongoing 1-2 pm
Lok Hup Ba Fa 2:15-3:15 pm
Qigong 3:30-4:30 pm
Thursday
Qigong 6:30-8pm
***First Thursday of the month: sitting meditation instruction and practice included in class***
***Third Thursday of the month: guided meditation 6pm-8pm***
Saturday
Tai Chi Beginners 1-2 pm
Other Forms Review 2:15-3:45 pm
TO ATTEND
To attend, EMAIL ME at smithmk2@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
If you encounter any difficulty, text me at 905 521-0043. I keep my phone nearby at the beginning of class, but I will not be checking email immediately before or during class.
THERE IS NO NEED TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME OR LIMIT YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASS SIGNUP DATES YOU CHOSE EARLIER. THERE IS NO CLASS CAPACITY LIMIT ON ZOOM. PLEASE JUST COME. If you've attended online classes before, it's the same Zoom room we've always used.
FEES
$60 / month or $15 / class, payable by etransfer. I'm waving HST while classes are online. Please pay me directly until we're back to in-person classes again.
If you don't wish to attend online and/or if I owe you fees back because of the way December played out, please just contact me and ask. It's not a problem at all. I'm happy to refund whatever part of your fees you didn't get to use. I'll send you the money via etransfer.
GUIDED MEDITATION, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23rd, 6-8pm
*Please pop me an email at smithmk2@gmail.com to let me know you'd like to attend*
Sometimes what we really need is to take a break, reflect, and regroup. I've been leading guided meditations for a few years now, and have found it's a wonderful way to come back to earth when events strive to unmoor us.
It may seem odd to do a meditation session remotely via the internet, but those who participated in meditations over the past year or two found it's actually a lovely excuse to cosy up under a blanket, lie back, and enjoy a deep, soothing, and relaxing experience. (Plus there's no commute home afterward!) If you've never done guided meditation before, it's a form of energy healing that involves listening to my voice as I take you on a fun adventure via images that I describe.
Everyone is welcome. There's no charge for this session. It's my gift to those of you who would like to attend.
FUTURE GUIDED MEDITATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON Thursday, January 20th and Thursday, February 17, also from 6-8pm. Mark your calendars, and please let me know if you'd like to come! These sessions will be included as part of your monthly Tai Chi fees, or are $15 each.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all (again: smithmk2@gmail.com or (905) 521-0043). I hope you stay safe and if I don't see you beforehand, have an excellent and joyous holiday season.
Cheers,
Melissa.
THERE IS NO NEED TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME OR LIMIT YOURSELF TO YOUR CLASS SIGNUP DATES YOU CHOSE EARLIER. THERE IS NO CLASS CAPACITY LIMIT ON ZOOM. PLEASE JUST COME. If you've attended online classes before, it's the same Zoom room we've always used.
FEES
$60 / month or $15 / class, payable by etransfer. I'm waving HST while classes are online. Please pay me directly until we're back to in-person classes again.
If you don't wish to attend online and/or if I owe you fees back because of the way December played out, please just contact me and ask. It's not a problem at all. I'm happy to refund whatever part of your fees you didn't get to use. I'll send you the money via etransfer.
GUIDED MEDITATION, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23rd, 6-8pm
*Please pop me an email at smithmk2@gmail.com to let me know you'd like to attend*
Sometimes what we really need is to take a break, reflect, and regroup. I've been leading guided meditations for a few years now, and have found it's a wonderful way to come back to earth when events strive to unmoor us.
It may seem odd to do a meditation session remotely via the internet, but those who participated in meditations over the past year or two found it's actually a lovely excuse to cosy up under a blanket, lie back, and enjoy a deep, soothing, and relaxing experience. (Plus there's no commute home afterward!) If you've never done guided meditation before, it's a form of energy healing that involves listening to my voice as I take you on a fun adventure via images that I describe.
Everyone is welcome. There's no charge for this session. It's my gift to those of you who would like to attend.
FUTURE GUIDED MEDITATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON Thursday, January 20th and Thursday, February 17, also from 6-8pm. Mark your calendars, and please let me know if you'd like to come! These sessions will be included as part of your monthly Tai Chi fees, or are $15 each.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all (again: smithmk2@gmail.com or (905) 521-0043). I hope you stay safe and if I don't see you beforehand, have an excellent and joyous holiday season.
Cheers,
Melissa.
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