Integrating Self through Qigong & Yoga

with Minke de Vos, Universal Tao Instructor & Kitty Wittkower, Yoga Teacher

May 1 - 3, Ballard Healing Center, Seattle

Bone Breathing Fri 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Five Element Qigong & Yoga Sat 1 - 6 pm
Feminine Treasures Sun 10 am - 4 pm

Join us as two great spiritual traditions play together to openly support the highest in all of us.
Experience your vital energy circulating through a wide range of postures and movements.

* Experience your vital energy circulating through the a range of postures and movements.
* Learn ways to keep your energy high, buoyant and grounded.
* Learn about fundamentals of Oriental Medicine.
* Learn how to balance your emotions and create a dynamic daily practice.
* Connect with the shaman in you.

We will integrate meditation, creative intention, healing sounds and breathing practices to transform our inner conflicts and negativity into the expansive virtuous emotions.
The Five Elements of earth, fire, metal, water and wood, are fused to balance our internal emotional weather conditions. The alchemy of polar energies are fused together to grow compassion in your core. This creates optimal conditions to grow your soul.

1. Water Element, Kidneys - Melt fear to cultivate peace.
2. Wood Element, Liver - Cut through anger to grow kindness.
3. Fire Element, Heart - Calm impatience in the heart to grow love.
4. Earth Element, Spleen - Break up worry and attachments to grow openess.
5. Metal Element, Lungs - Let go fo sadness in the lungs to cultivate courage.

Bone Breathing & Unwinding
Friday 6:30 - 8:30 pm $25

Strengthen your rooting, bone structure and immune system.
Iron Shirt Ch Kung gives you a strong, aligned posture in life.
Liberate your body with spontaneous chi flow. Surrender to the movement of your spirit.

Fusion of the Five Elements
Sat. & Sun., Jan. 24 & 25, 1 pm - 6 pm

Qigong directs chi through powerful breathing and flowing gestures connecting you with Source energy.
We will move "Five Animals Play" to integrate the forces of nature within us and protect yourself.

Yoga means union. Through our practice we harmonize our body with our mind, our intentions with our actions,
and our individual self with the universal energy - moving through and around us. This desire for union propels us
to release our attachments and feelings of isolation and connect us to our creativity and the spirit of nature.

Investment: Friday eve $25, One day $120, 2 days $220, whole weekend $240
10% discount for seniors and students

Location: Ballard Health Center, 1138 NW Market St

Bring: yoga mat

Please register by April 27, pre-registration is a must.

Register with Kitty: templeparlor@hotmail.com

Minke de Vos - teaches spiritual embodiment at Silent Ground Retreats, and is known as one of the top teachers of Qigong, self-healing and Kundalini Management. She has worked along side of Taoist Master Mantak Chia for over 20 years. She inspires practitioners of all levels to live with loving presence. Author of "Feminine Treasures", CDs & DVDs for home practice. See www.silentground.com

"Minke de Vos is one of my favorite teachers in the Taoist Arts. The work she teaches is easy to grasp and, at the same time, one would never reach the limit of its potential. An unappreciated aspect of all healing is whether one has the vitality or simply the energy to heal. At that level, the Taoist work addresses that foundational aspect to connecting with life's source of energy and power." John Tjenos, Therapist

"A lot of yoga teachers are now cross teaching Qigong concepts in the yoga practice, and I do that too, for years now, Minke is my teacher and a Master of the work. She has framed the Taoist practices in her own beautiful feminine style, culitvated over years of practice and self transformation." Kitty Wittkower, Yoga Teacher and Acupuncturist

Kitty Wittkower - Acupuncturist and Yoga Teacher trained in Kittythe Iyengar tradition, teaches a Yoga practice to nourish breath, body and mind to find fulfillment, spiritually and realize our true nature of Joy. Read more information about Kitty at her web site: www.templeparlor.com

The Elements in Yoga Asana Practice

Earth: When we connect with humanity we reach to the sides with energy and consciousness, this relates to our Dharma or duty, our calling, gift and responsibility to family, community and the world. Honoring duty the yogi reaches out to strengthen his foundation of legs and hips in the open hip standing pose sequence, connecting to the earth element, the student connects with Shakti the Mother Earth element.

Fire: When the yogi connects vertically this is connection to spirit and is a clearing of the mental and emotional bodies. In the Salutation to the Sun, the poses linking together, and the repetition of the up and down dog movement opens the channels in the body; here the yogi becomes like an electrical antenna - there is a feeling of transformation, connection and oneness. This is the experience of Tapas the yogi's inner fire and desire to feel connected or at one with all things. This is the Shiva element of spirit, will, or burning desire: that which animates nature into life, the body into action. Here the yogi is moved, and motivated to action meeting the Shiva energy of Father Sky, the fire element.

Water: In the introverted forward bending postures, the yogi embraces his self and stillness, and the need to heal past scars on the consciousness: samskaras. Here the yogi must eventually surrender in trust to the universal truth and embrace his reality through self examination. The repetition of yoga asanas can bring awareness and heal the habits built upon old samskaras, which hold the practitioner back from fully enjoying life, finding a feeling of home and connectedness. The Spiritual Hero in repose self reflects. Water element.

Wood: Through the inversions and back bending postures the yogi seeks to "yoke" the Shakti/ Shiva energy, reversing polarity, now head to the earth, or heart to the sky: He becomes a clear channel for the creative flow or universal oneness. Having explored himself, now knowing his own nature, and relationship to gravity, the yogi opens to the moment, releases fear and anger, embraces joy, in an active moment of surrender. Wood element becomes strong and flexible.

Air & Ether: The breath running through the practice as essence is the ether element and Spirit.
"Both yoga and art aim at the same thing, that is, to re-establish our personal connection with the world around us according to our own inner creativity. To render body and mind a conduit through which the creative energy can flow freely, unimpeded by outer restrictions, in the trust that this energy is ultimately 'pure' and joyful." - Dona Holleman

Feminine Treasures
Tao Yoga for Women's Wellness

with Senior Universal Tao Instructor, Minke de Vos

Cultivate Female Sexual Energy to Grow Love, Beauty and Vitality

Sun 10 am - 4 pm

Tap into your "Fountain of Youth" and raise this rejuvenating energy to heal the body and soul and illuminate the spirit.

In this workshop you will be initiated into the sacred art of female sexual energy practices.
Cultivate your sensual, powerful sexual energy with:
* Emotionally transformative Inner Smile Meditation and regenerating Energy Circulation,
* Opening Tao Yoga, flowing and grounding Qigong.
* Healing and empowering Breast Self-Massage and Jade Egg exercises

Benefits:
* These practices have an excellent track record for helping with difficulties around: menstruation, hot flashes, incontinence, depression and cancer prevention.
* Balance your hormones and build pelvic floor strength.
* Pulling up energy inside counter-acts the "Sag and Spread" syndrome!
* Women before and after menopause benefit. Stay really healthy as you get older.
* Reviving your sensual sensitivity sends ripples out into your relationships
* Expand your orgasmic bliss!
* Bring out your unique beautiful radiance!

Learning from an experienced teacher with a supportive "group cauldron" we can brew up some bliss and bring lightness into your step!

Credits for Feminine Treasures Apprenticeship Program Embrace your divine qualities and share the feminine healing arts with others.

"I loved the dancing and the opening of the Microcosmic Orbit. Minke's instruction and movements really helped me to open my sexual center and feel the energy rise up.”

"Thank you Minke for creating a safe place for new exploration. I feel refreshed and energized. Spending time to strengthen my own connection with my body and life energy has been a gift." Wendy

“Minke de Vos embodies and shares her subject of Healing Tao with beauty and grace. She is an inspiration to behold, and a joy to learn from.”

Bring: a yoga mat, cushion, sarong or skirt, light blanket or towel, and a jade egg (for sale at workshop for $40)
One can also try out the exercises using an imaginary jade egg. If you have your period there will be exercises for channeling earth energy to build up your blood and energy reserves.

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