Qigong/Tao Yin Park Community Practice

Name: Qigong/Tao Yin Park Community Practice
Start: 2025-09-01T17:15:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-01T18:15:00-07:00
Location: Ocean View Park

Schedule

Mon Sep 01 2025 at 05:15 pm to 06:15 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Ocean View Park | Santa Cruz, CA

NOTE: No practice on July 28th.
We meet under the Redwoods near the main entrance. (Park on the bottom of Branciforte Ave. and walk up from the lower entrance.)
We come together, in person and in nature, together to move our body temples, purge stress and anxiety, engage the "now," welcome a relaxing flow state, all the while boosting our immunity and our body temples' self-healing capacity.
Please bring a yoga mat or blanket or towel *(we often work on the ground). Also, bring layers for shade, warmth and a love offering ($15-25 suggested donation. All are welcome). Text with questions: 831-247-4649).
A love offering/donation of currency can be shared in person or it can be sent via Venmo: @Beth-Freewomon or as a friend on PayPal: [email protected]
RSVP is welcome via text or FFI: 831-247-4649 (m)
In the meantime, stay in touch and receive notifications for practices, well-being tips and more:
-Sign up for our email list: https://iamtheopenhearth.com/
-Like our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/TheOpenHearth
-Request to join The Open Hearth's Group: Around The Open Hearth (https://www.facebook.com/groups/AroundTheOpenHearth/)
What is Tao Yin?
AKA Taoist Yoga. This practice, also known as "leading and stretching," is an ancient Chinese form of exercise that focuses on cultivating internal energy (Qi) through gentle movements, stretching, and breathing techniques.
While Tao Yin shares some similarities with yoga, particularly in its emphasis on stretching and movement, it has a distinct focus on guiding and cultivating energy flow within the body
What is Qigong? (excerpted from NQA website):
"Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung") is an accessible practice that anyone can learn and benefit from even with casual practice. There are numerous qigong styles...but all are based upon Qi (“subtle breath” or “vital energy”) and Gong (“skill cultivated through regular practice”)...
Qigong promotes a balanced lifestyle to avoid energy depletion. Lifestyle choices that help preserve qi, such as adequate rest, balanced nutrition, moderate physical activities, and stress management are emphasized. Secondly, through tailored practices involving gentle movements, controlled breathwork, and focused intention, the individual cultivates and enhances their qi, refining its flow and enhancing its potency within the body's energy pathways. Finally, qigong teaches practitioners to consciously direct and guide qi within the body. By focusing their intention and using specific movements and breathing techniques, individuals learn to lead qi to areas that may need healing, balance, or revitalization...
These practices are believed to optimize the body's natural healing abilities and contribute to overall well-being when practiced consistently and mindfully."