Community Qigong for AAPINH Month

Come celebrate AAPINH month with a community qigong class! We will focus on breathing and moving with clarity and purpose. This is a slow-paced class, focused on gentle movement, breathing, and meditation. No experience needed.

What to bring: Just yourself and an open mind! No need for a yoga mat or anything special. After you RSVP, I will send more information on what to prepare for and expect.

Donations: If you feel called to donate, I will be collecting donations via cash, Venmo or Zelle after the class. The focus is on bringing qigong to the community though, so come and enjoy the experience!

Kim + Ono will be offering sips + snacks before/after the class, as well as an exclusive 20% off retail (not including sale items) to all participants of this class, so bring a friend and enjoy an extra boost to your wellness!

What is qigong?

qi (pronounced chee) = life force energy

gong = skill/work

Qigong is the skillful practice of applying our mind, body, and spirit to move and shift our energy through breath, movement, intention, and sound. It originated in China and is thousands of years old, and while it may have gotten popularized through Taoist and Buddhist traditions, it can be practiced by anyone, regardless of religion. It is one of the four main branches of Chinese medicine. There are over 3,000 different types of qigong, so what you experience in my class may be a bit different from other classes.

There are 3 general types of qigong:

1. martial arts - more physical, tai chi is a form of martial qigong
2. spiritual - more meditative, the type that Buddhist and Taoist monks practice
3. medical - connected to Chinese medicine and healing both internally and externally

The qigong I practice is a blend of all 3 types of qigong, but with more focus on the spiritual and medical aspects. I will focus on Five Elements qigong. Each element is associated with a season, a yin (more earth-based) organ, and a yang (more heavens-based) organ. Think of the elements and seasons interacting with each other in a cyclical way, as everything is interconnected.

Chinese medicine and astrology is a bit different from western medicine and astrology in that we have five seasons, instead of four; and five elements instead of four. The five elements are: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Note that there is no air element (air is considered as water vapor), but there is both a wood and earth element, as well as a metal element. Furthermore, the fifth season is earth season, which is often considered as "late summer" (late August to late September) or also as a transition season between each season.

About Odelia and Kim + Ono:

As an Asian American who was born and raised in San Francisco, Odelia's mission is to help people connect with their authenticity and feel like they belong. Her style of teaching yoga focuses on cultivating people's mind, body, and spirit connections. She has taught over 1000 movement classes in both barre and yoga, and pays attention to each participant with love and care.

Odelia connected with Tiffany and Renee, the founders of Kim + Ono, because they are also San Francisco natives who want to share wellness practices with the community. Kim + Ono is a family owned and operated business that empowers (wo)men to connect with their innate beauty, both inside and out. They specialize in silk and charmeuse kimono robes, and offer other wellness products in their boutique shop.

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