Play Qigong?

Can you play Qigong?

The short answer is yes.

And honestly this is why I choose to favor Qigong over other internal martial/movement arts like Tai Chi Chuan or Bagua.

My professional and personal life revolve around helping people play again…play with their grandchildren, play Pickle Ball or play with their art or craft. So it’s natural for me to gravitate towards a more open and less strict system or Art.

Play is the original practice and the best educator across all disciplines.

Qigong can be very precise or very loose. It can be reverent and sacred or playful and creative. It is a way, an art of being in your body that encompasses walking down the street, hiking in the mountains, dancing, gardening or doing martial arts.

Qigong permeates your daily life. Much in the same way that I wish for play to permeate your life. You can’t go wrong if you combine both spirits. I’m here to help guide you.



The Art & Practice Qigong.

Qigong is the art & practice of crafting and shaping Life Energy with Patience, Steadiness & Skill.

This ancient practice and art harmonizes your body’s energy centers, promoting balance, vitality, and a deep sense of well-being.

Through movement you can nourish and strengthen your body. Imagine moving with your own life force, finding harmony in every movement. It’s not just exercise - it’s a journey inward, a celebration of your body’s intelligence.

Every week I get to spend 3-5 hours working with some very special students on The Art and Practice of Qigong. I’ll be offering some online classes soon.

If you’d like to join in please send me a message and I’ll keep you posted:

Message Me.

Thank You Qigong

One of my new Qigong students reported that after a few sessions she felt her body say to her "Thank you. You are back where you should be".

What did this mean?

Basically, that she was taking the time to listen, to ease the body's tissues into a state of rejuvenation and re-creation and through gentle & rhythmic flowing movement, to shift her nervous system into the parasympathetic state of 'rest and digest', to come back into a state of embodiment rather than being somewhat disconnected, and to really establish a dialogue with her body, mind and spirit about what her needs are.

Qigong can do all of this and more.

Creative Movement Workshop Pittsburgh October 14th

Creative Movement is a general term used in a broad field of physical disciplines connected to the relationship between body, mind, and the creative spirit. I borrow heavily from martial arts and their particular approach to creative movement and problem solving, as well as physical and artistic expression.

Creative Movement is a poetic, playful discipline which aims to revitalize and rejuvenate an individual's ability to deeply perceive and listen to the body and develop expressive and creative potential.

The physical body, is the source and medium of our artistic life and is considered an essential element in the creative process, despite the artistic language in which it may be realized.

I hope to see you in Pittsburgh on October 14th, you can register here: Creative Movement

The Art of Strength

When Chip Conrad and I sit down together to discuss human movement our discussion usually turns towards strength, art and utility. Here’s a quick little video of a recent sit down in my very own Strength Garden.

We’ll be moving, playing and lifting at our upcoming Art of Strength workshop but I have a feeling there will be a fair share of physical culture philosophy and nostalgia.

Flux Lab April Workshop

Rediscover the joy of movement and find ways to weave play and creativity into your strength and movement practice: and vice versa.

Empower yourself to chart your own path and find joy and exploration whether you are a beginner or seasoned professional. Chip and I have combined 50 years of experience teaching human movement and physical expression.

Designed for the fitness enthusiast and professional trainer, Flux Lab workshops will teach you how to reinvigorate , revitalize and reinvent your training.

Let’s develop real skills and find ways to create a better relationship with your body through strength and movement.

We use, we steal and repurpose ideas, tools and resources from the old ways. You can register here: Flux Lab Workshops on April 29-30th.

“We cultivate a way that is adaptive and alive to create a beautifully moving, adaptable and creative human being.”
— Jason C. Brown


Rope Flows for Creativity

As you know I’m a very avid reader and Creativity is one of my favorite genres to research and study. I thought I’d share some highlights from two of my favorite books and walking and handcraft and its relationship to creativity.

The above highlight comes from Handmade- Creative Focus in the Age of Distraction.
It’s written by Gary Rogowski, a woodworker but his thoughts on creativity reaches well beyond just woodworking.

The two highlights above come from Rick Rubin’s new book The Creative Act.

These are the ropes I use mostly:

Flow Ropes (Amazon Brand)

Octomoves Flow Ropes

I’ll be doing some rope reviews shortly.

This Rope Flow Saved my Elbow.

It's not 100% but it's moving along nicely and I doubt I'll ever need to get surgery on my elbow.

As I age I'm starting to discover that my body really loves this softer, more restorative approach to moving.

I've done all the hard stuff, U.S.M.C Machine gunner, Black Belts in Judo & Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

And I still play with those forms, but not as frequently and not nearly as intensely.

These rope flows fulfill my desire to move and work artistically and physically. I'm just starting this journey but I can see myself embracing rolling ropes for life.