Providing affordable Shiatsu, Qigong and Self-healing techniques across the community

Qigong In The Woods

 Community Qigong: Home Practice

Qigong In The Woods- A class For Women

We are delighted that our National Lottery Community fund funding this year includes funding for our Qigong in The Woods, classes for women.

Qigong In The Woods- A class For Women

Support, nurture, more freedom in movement and connection with nature.


Is movement difficult or painful for you?


Would you like to change your relationship with your body, with how you move, how you feel about your movement?
There can be many reasons for movement to be difficult, maybe you are a menopausal woman who is experiencing joint pain for the first time in your life, maybe you have arthritis, or have had an accident or operation which has limited your mobility. Perhaps you came into this life with limited movement or a disability, maybe you have no movement difficulties, but would lie to explore your body more. Whatever the reason you are welcome to come and explore your movement in a safe group.


For myself, one of the keys in finding more freedom in movement can be how I relate to my limitations. In this course, as well as working with gentle and supportive movement (Qigong) we will also spend time sharing, and enquiring about our experience, and learning gentle bodywork that we can use daily to support our bodies.


We will do this in the beautiful woodland space @ The Glade, Dartington. Qigong works with our relationship with nature, we use the Earth and Sky to anchor our experience and movement. This connection is so much more accessible when we practice outside, and in past groups we have been delighted to share the woods with all its natural inhabitants.


Tuesday mornings 10am-12noon

5 week courses:

10th September- 8th October 2024

19th November-17th December 2024

14th January-11th Febuary 2025 (TBC)

4th March-1st April 2025

22nd April-20th May 2025

10th June-8th July 2025


£60-£85 self-selecting sliding scale, Fully funded places available, please ask.
Booking essential due to limited places.

What is Qigong?

Qigong is gentle exercise which improves mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent.

Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force (or Qi) underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.

Physically, slow gentle Qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; tonify vital organs and connective tissue; and promote circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial, lymph). Thousands of studies have shown Qigong effective in helping to heal life challenges ranging from high blood pressure and chronic illness to emotional frustration, mental stress, and spiritual crisis.

We offered a free daily morning practice 8.30 – 9.30 am  via Zoom Monday-Friday. This project lasted for three and a half months. We offered this practice to help us connect with ourselves and the world around us during the pandemic.

Zoom practise grey - featured image

Qigong generally works to strengthen our immunity, and throughout lock-down, in these daily practice sessions We had been focusing on exercises which work with our boundaries and breath to support our immune systems. These exercises also have the happy side effect of helping our joints be free, reducing stress, and waking our whole body-mind, so we are ready for whatever the day ahead holds.

“I find it really helpful. My balance is improving noticeably.”

“Today I noticed a much stronger sense of connection with the Earth through my feet.”

“Really beautiful, I feel soft and well.”

“This practice has helped me get through this difficult period.”

“An excellent way to start the day”

“Re-connected me, in a way that other things haven’t.”

“Starting my day with the movements enables me to access my vitality and a sense of wellbeing each time.”

“The morning session very quickly became, what felt like, a vital part of my day. It provides

much needed structure at a time when this is virtually non-existent – and this structure feels to be supporting good mental health.

It sets a positive tone for the rest of the day, settling the mind and both enlivening and grounding the body and spirit.

I notice that when I am feeling lost in the day, and the mind begins to get restless and anxious, it is supportive to remember that I will soon have another opportunity to learn, to move and nourish my body and feel connected with others at the same time.

I am certain that this daily practice is what has generated a sense of wellbeing, at a time when I am not sure how else I would achieve this.”