In Chinese medicine and Qigong, the heart is seen as the sovereign and ruler of your body. In this gentle qigong class, we explore movements that help calm the heart and help it govern our bodily domain with care, spaciousness and ease. These gentle Qigong forms are accessible to bodies, yet are powerfully calming. This practise can be done standing, but you can also do them all seated in a chair. No mat is required.

In addition to pumping and circulating our blood tirelessly all day long, our hearts also work to metabolise all life experience. As such, it deserves to be nurtured and appreciated. This is exactly what we will do in this qigong class! Qigong Fire element meridian forms are followed by practices that cultivate playful intentions and healing energy. All forms will be done standing, but they can also be done seated. No mat necessary! All levels of mobility welcome, these practices are accessible to all bodies.

Compassion is a natural quality that begins to arise when we begin to free ourselves from the fetters that bind the heart. Qigong forms that help us embody the freedom and spaciousness of the heart will then lead into a practice that awakens our compassion. All forms will be done standing, but they can also be done seated. No mat necessary!

When beset by painful circumstances, the heart can harden and become numb. Nourishment and calm are what slowly begin to heal the heart when it’s been impacted by the difficulties of life, particularly heartache, sadness, and grief. This qigong class includes a short talk, meditation, and gentle movements to help the heart on its journey to healing. This class can be done anywhere - is demonstrated standing, but can be done seated, or is a very beautiful practice when lying down as well.

This qigong class helps to orientate towards the qualities of an awakened heart, and how this can help us live more fully and freely in the world. After some warmups, we practice the qigong form Fire’s celestial animal, the Chinese phoenix! Then we will close with a sunflower meditation and visualisation practice. All forms will be done standing, but they can also be done seated. No props or mat necessary!