Red Raven Acupuncture partnered with The Center - Pride Center SA to offer free Community Qigong classes before the pandemic! We've uploaded dozens of free classes to our YouTube page so check them out! Also check our facebook page for updates and information about new classes. Classes will begin again in April 2023
what is community qigong?
This class is completely free and open to the public and requires no experience whatsoever. Beginner's are encouraged, all the movements can be standing or sitting, and are easily modified for all levels and abilities. Come join us and find out how this amazing exercise can help you! Numerous studies have shown qigong to have an amazing impact on our bodies and our health. It's been shown to help with pain management, insomnia, stress and anxiety, dementia, and even blood sugar control just to name a few. This qigong class is a great way to relax and rejuvenate your body, while doing a practice that will boost your vitality and build community!
But what exactly is Qigong (pronounced chee-gong)? It is an ancient Chinese mind body practice used to cultivate energy, or qi (chee). Based on exercises that involve meditation, controlled breathing, and movements that are straightforward and easy to do. Its primary focus is to help support health and longevity by boosting the immune system and reducing stress by increasing the parasympathetic response and balancing hormones. Physically, slow gentle qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; nourish the vital organs and connective tissue; and promote circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial, lymph). Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.
You do not need any special clothes or tools for qigong. No mat, no blocks, no fuss. Just show up and see how this easy and accessible practice can change the way you feel!
Meet the Instructor: Bret specializes in holistic pain manage and sports injury, and their impact on mental health. When people can't be physically active, it creates so many problems in their bodies, manifesting in anything from pain to depression. Because of this, Bret's main clinical focus is to help get people moving, whether it's a fitness class, a triathlon, or just being able to take a walk in the park. His sincere desire to help people get better and feel better, and his commitment to mastering his practice makes him one of San Antonio's most trusted practitioners for orthopedic acupuncture.
He came to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) through his practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong. The deliberate movements, the focus on qi, resonated with him and he quickly dove into the practice which led him to decide to learn Chinese Medicine and become an Acupuncturist. After graduation from The AOMA School of Integrative Medicine he stayed in Austin for many years to continue to hone his practice and his love of teaching. He worked as Faculty at AOMA for three years working for the Biomedical Department and Acupuncture Techniques Department. He also taught qigong in the Austin area since 2010, working with at risk groups. He is currently in private practice in downtown San Antonio and working with a number of community groups to bring healing and wellness to this beautiful city.
But what exactly is Qigong (pronounced chee-gong)? It is an ancient Chinese mind body practice used to cultivate energy, or qi (chee). Based on exercises that involve meditation, controlled breathing, and movements that are straightforward and easy to do. Its primary focus is to help support health and longevity by boosting the immune system and reducing stress by increasing the parasympathetic response and balancing hormones. Physically, slow gentle qigong movements warm tendons, ligaments, and muscles; nourish the vital organs and connective tissue; and promote circulation of body fluids (blood, synovial, lymph). Qigong opens the flow of energy in meridians used in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It enhances our ability to feel the Life Force underlying the physical world and to deepen our communication with it.
You do not need any special clothes or tools for qigong. No mat, no blocks, no fuss. Just show up and see how this easy and accessible practice can change the way you feel!
Meet the Instructor: Bret specializes in holistic pain manage and sports injury, and their impact on mental health. When people can't be physically active, it creates so many problems in their bodies, manifesting in anything from pain to depression. Because of this, Bret's main clinical focus is to help get people moving, whether it's a fitness class, a triathlon, or just being able to take a walk in the park. His sincere desire to help people get better and feel better, and his commitment to mastering his practice makes him one of San Antonio's most trusted practitioners for orthopedic acupuncture.
He came to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) through his practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong. The deliberate movements, the focus on qi, resonated with him and he quickly dove into the practice which led him to decide to learn Chinese Medicine and become an Acupuncturist. After graduation from The AOMA School of Integrative Medicine he stayed in Austin for many years to continue to hone his practice and his love of teaching. He worked as Faculty at AOMA for three years working for the Biomedical Department and Acupuncture Techniques Department. He also taught qigong in the Austin area since 2010, working with at risk groups. He is currently in private practice in downtown San Antonio and working with a number of community groups to bring healing and wellness to this beautiful city.
