Qigong Workshop

A quick note to say I'm shifting the upcoming Qigong workshop to August 4th, 2019. There wasn't enough interest in it this time around to run it this coming Sunday, June 2nd. There will be no workshop on that day, but all regular classes will run as usual. (I know you're all busy!)

So let me know if you'd like to attend on the 4th, and sorry for any inconvenience.  The July 7 workshop will focus on Lok Kup Ba Fa once more, if that suits you.

Take care and hope to see you at class!

Qigong Workshop, Sunday June 2, 2019

Qigong Workshop
Date: Sunday, June 2, 2019
Time: 1-5pm
Cost: $60
Location: Regent Health Centre, 150 Locke St. South
Prerequisite: None

Please contact me to let me know you'd like to attend: smithmk2@gmail.com, (905) 521-0043, or in person.

It's time to ease into Summer! This workshop will focus on Five Elements Qigong, a routine designed to help us build leg strength and harmonize us with the warm and rich energies of this season. We'll also work with standing and sitting Qigong meditation, forms designed to relax and focus our minds and refresh our spirits.

Holiday Reminder, Construction Information, Acupressure Routines, and a Cool Video About the Nervous System

....that is quite a title!

A reminder that classes are on hold for this upcoming weekend. There will be no classes on Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11, and Monday, May 13, 2019. All other classes will run as usual throughout the month of May, including the holiday weekend.

***

There's been an update about upcoming construction plans for Locke Street. This is my best information as of this time (note I didn't write this—this comes from the construction folks):

Locke street will be CLOSED between Canada and Melbourne Streets starting on May 21st, 2019. ( just after the long weekend). THESE SIDE STREETS WILL BE CONVERTED TO TWO WAY TRAFFIC AS PER THE ATTACHED PLAN TO ASSIST WITH ACCESS. Your patrons/visitors to the area can still gain access
Access to Locke Street from Main will remain open up to Canada street during this time as well. 

This closure is the first phase of works to allow the contractor full access to begin the underground works along the west side ( new watermain and water services) and catch basins along this side as well. 

Within these limits of the closure, sidewalks will remain open so that people can still get to their destinations. 

So the easiest way for patrons/visitors to Locke street should be Melbourne to Poulette to the parking lot behind Star Bucks and head over to Blessings Church at Stanley and Locke via Chatham street.

***

This past Monday we ran through an acupressure routine for the jaw, neck, and ear. This routine comes from a wonderful collection that is extremely handy for a wide variety of issues. It's always a great idea to learn more about points, how to find them on yourself, and how to use sequences of points massage to help heal yourself. Learn how to deal with headache, local pain, and nervous system issues like insomnia here at Free Online Acupressure. 

***

We talk a lot in class about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (at least, I feel like I talk about them a lot), but there are some fascinating new emerging theories about how they work. In this lecture from Nerd Nite, Seth Porges delivers a ton of helpful information about the nervous system, fight, flight, and freeze states, how these states influence perception, and the lingering effects of trauma on the body. (Sidebar: there's one little section where for some reason Porges decides to rip on the concepts of chi and the chakras...honestly I really wish scientists would refrain from comment on fields in which they have no training. But he does have a ton of cool things to say about the vagus nerve, so definitely worth a listen.)

For those of you who are studying push hands, one way to view that practice is to understand that we're trying to learn how to fight while remaining in the green light / relaxed state. Quite a trick! (And the reason why it takes so much training.)

Enjoy!