Dear substack community:
I am currently in Qixi Village 旗溪 in south China. After 30 years living as a Chinese diaspora in North America, I am rematriating myself to the motherland while cultivating a living connection with people living in this ancient/new ecovillage. I will be here for three months. This is a qigong series that I will be teaching from Qixi Village
- Spring Cheng
In this series, you will learn qigong practices that awaken vitality and fluidity along the spine, including the ancient practice of Swimming Dragon.
In Chinese medicine and Taoist traditions, two of the most vital energy pathways are the Du Mai 督脉 (Governing Vessel), which ascends along the spine, and the Ren Mai 任脉 (Conception Vessel), which flows along the front of the body. Together, they form a continuous circuit connecting our embodied vitality with our spiritual awareness.
As qi flows freely through these two vessels, we awaken a deeper alignment between the instinctual wisdom of our animal body and the unfolding destiny of our spirit. This dynamic union is embodied in the ancient symbol of the dragon—a creature of both earthly power and celestial mystery.
To awaken the dragon within is to cultivate a way of moving through the world with grace and dignity, rooted in our sovereignty yet fluid and responsive to the ever-changing currents of life.
In modern life, many forces disrupt the natural alignment between our animal instincts and spiritual purpose. Cultural conditioning often imprints fear, shame, and inhibition upon our instinctual nature, teaching us to suppress rather than trust the wisdom of our bodies. Sedentary lifestyles, excessive mental activity, and unhealthy diets can further contribute to stagnation, especially in the lower body, diminishing our sense of vitality and embodied connection.
This qigong series draws from the ancient practice of 游龙功 (Swimming Dragon), weaving its fluid, spiraling movements with contemporary movement practices and improvisational play. Through these explorations, we invite the body to release habitual restrictions, rediscover its innate creative expression, and rematriate our animal wisdom—restoring our connection to the primordial, life-giving intelligence of the body and its deep belonging within the living Earth.
First 45 minutes – movement and meditation practice
Next 25 minutes – discussion: the cultural and metaphysical context of the movement, and how to integrate the practice into daily life.
Video recording is available after each session. Offline discussion is available through Signal thread.
8 zoom sessions, Tuesday 5 - 6:10 pm, 12/1/26 - 1/20/26.
Sliding scale: $96 - $144. Pay what feels right.
Visit page here for more information about Spring Cheng, the facilitator.