Greetings, Reader!

In the Ayurvedic tradition, late fall and early winter are governed by wind and space. Their cold, dry, rough, subtle qualities perfectly describe the austerity of stick season.

But in the Chinese tradition, winter belongs to the water element. Water is able to shape-shift and adapt to its environment. It doesn't waste energy trying to push through the frozen ground. Instead, it too freezes, storing energy in stillness; energy that is waiting patiently to thaw and flow again in spring.

While I resonate with Ayurveda's wisdom, winter has always felt still and quiet to me, not turbulent and windy. I love the hushed silence of snowfall, and the instinct to curl up by the fire with a good book, like a bear hibernating in its den.

This year, I'm leaning fully into the wisdom of water; exploring the power of slowing down and trusting that winter's contraction is in service of the expansion of spring.

Water represents our potential, and it's energy is patient. Its wisdom is non-striving, or effortless effort. Over time, water smooth pebbles and reshape landscapes through consistency and presence, but it is slow medicine best received when we soften and allow its energy to flow through us, rather than when we try to push.

Water teaches us how to:

• Work with fear to build inner confidence and courage.
• Stay the course and trust our capacity to move through obstacles.
• Lean into the power of the pause, trusting that power accumulates during rest.
• Accept support and feel safe enough to be authentic.

This is the spirit behind my Winter Yoga & Qigong Series, where we'll work with the kidneys and the bladder, which are the organs associated with water and winter.

The bladder is the yang partner to the kidneys, governing our skillful use of resources and our ability to know when to hold and when to let go.

The kidneys hold the depth of of our energetic vitality. Like a battery pack, kidney energy can be depleted, and winter's pause is the perfect time to plug-in and recharge.

The more deeply we rest in the winter, the more potent our energy will be in the spring.

If you’re feeling called to slow down…
to tend your roots and rebuild your strength…
to trust that rest is doing important work…

I would love to practice with you.

✨ Registration for the Winter Yoga & Qigong Series is now open, and I'm excited to share these water practices with you. I love their fluidity, grace, and effortlessness. Every time I practice these beautiful qigong forms, I can feel rejuvenating energy flowing through my body, bringing me back into harmony.

The Details:

The 8-Week Winter Yoga & Qigong series includes:

• Two live classes a week: Saturdays from 7:45 - 9 am and Mondays from 7 - 8 am
• A Full Moon Kidney-Balancing Yin & Qigong practice on Sunday, February 1st from 7 - 8 pm
• Two community gatherings rooted in ritual and communion to integrate the wisdom of these teachings into daily life: Sunday, January 4th and Sunday, February 22nd from 3 - 5 pm
• A personalized healing session to support your nervous system and help you recharge

All group sessions are offered live online, with in person options available for weekly Saturday morning classes and the two Sunday satsangs. Recordings of all group sessions will be available only to full series members.

If you can't make the full series, you are welcome to drop-in to any of the weekly classes or the full moon yin workshop.

The Intention

I teach seasonal series because the energy shifts each season, and what we need to stay balanced shifts in response.

These series are designed to explore the wisdom of the elements through embodiment and collective energy. Practicing with a consistent group of people enables us to build trust, share our experiences, and build a collective resonance. You can feel the energy shift, individually and collectively, through each practice, and over the arc of the series, and members consistently share that their favorite part of the series is the community satsangs that we have at the beginning and end of each session.

What people are saying about the community:

What is Qigong?

If you haven't tried qigong yet, you are in for a real treat. Qigong is a slow, flowing, moving meditation in which each movement has a specific healing purpose. I leave every practice feeling a profound energetic shift.

If you love the flowing, dance-like qualities of vinyasa yoga, but your body is craving something gentler, qigong may be your jam. The practices are simple and subtle, yet in my experience, they are even more powerful than yoga.

Movements are designed to restore balance in the organs, nervous system, and connective tissue, rather than pushing range of motion or holding challenging postures. This makes qigong especially effective for reducing stress, supporting immune function, and rebuilding vitality when energy is low.

Qigong is often more accessible and sustainable than yoga because it works with the body’s energy system directly, rather than emphasizing physical shapes or flexibility.

The movements are typically simple, slow, and adaptable, making qigong suitable for people of all ages, abilities, and energy levels, including those who feel intimidated by yoga or limited by injury, fatigue, or chronic stress. By opening energy channels, the body opens and heals naturally over time.

Qigong also integrates seamlessly into daily life. Because it doesn’t require a mat, special clothing, or a long class, it’s easier to practice consistently, and consistency is where real transformation happens. Qigong trains awareness, posture, breath, and intention in a way that carries into how you stand, walk, rest, and respond to challenges. Rather than being something you do for an hour, qigong becomes something you live, quietly reshaping your relationship to effort, energy, and well-being over time.

The Invitation

If something in you is tired of pushing…
If your nervous system is asking for gentleness, not another thing to “work on”…
If you sense that this season is inviting you to slow down, replenish, and trust what’s quietly unfolding...

This series is for you.

The Winter Yoga & Qigong Series is not about fixing yourself or becoming more flexible or productive. It’s about creating the conditions for your energy to return naturally, steadily, and without force. Together, we’ll tune into the wisdom of the water element, restoring what’s been depleted, and letting winter do the work it’s meant to do.

✨ Registration is now open, and I would be honored to practice with you. Tend your roots now, so when spring returns, you can rise with strength and clarity.

In love and solidarity,

Rachel Doctor of Physical Therapy & Integrative Pain Specialist Build a resilient nervous system to help you flow through the seasons of your life with courage, wisdom, and compassion.

PS: CranioSacral Therapy is nourishing anytime of year, but it is especially healing in the winter. Recharge your batteries, boost kidney energy, and restore your vitality with this gentle healing practice. Give yourself this gift, or share this gift of healing with a loved one.