Winter Season + Water Element Series

Sundays, November 16, 2025 – January 18, 2026
6:30–8:00 PM Pacific Time
Online via Zoom | By Donation

Shifts: NO CLASS 12/14

12/21 Winter Solstice Practice 3:30-5pm Pacific Time (different time than previous classes)

Registration through ZOOM HERE.

If you're new to our practice circle, please introduce yourself when you register—just share your name and what's calling you to join. We're a small, intimate group that practices with cameras on so we can truly be present together. Thank you for helping create a safe container.

About the 5 Element Series

My 5 Element Movement and Meditation classes are guided practices that align your body with the natural cycles of the season according to Chinese Medicine and Taoist traditions. We move through 5 seasonal themes: Spring + Wood, Summer + Fire, Late Summer + Earth, Autumn + Metal, and Winter + Water.

Through simple somatic meditations and healing movements, you'll learn to relax and use the power of your attention to give yourself a healing treatment.

Winter + Water: The Season of Restoration

In mid-November, we begin preparing our bodies for Winter by allowing time to simplify, rest, and relax the vigilant mind. Control takes effort. Water Element teaches us "Wu Wei"—The Water Way, The Dao: flowing, effortless action, listening, non-resistance, patience, and depth.

Water Element Inquiries

  • Is rest easy for me, or does my "rest" have a collapse-and-distract quality?

  • How do I achieve mental rest?

  • What is the honest read on my inner battery? Do I reserve and store my life force (Jing), or do I spend it all, or even overdraw?

If rest is difficult—especially mental rest—Winter is an opportunity to study rest. Why do we need rest? Because the body will heal itself if we rest well.

Excessive mental stimulation is a form of addiction that perpetuates stress chemistry by ignoring the deep needs of the body and soul. With our culture of technology and instant gratification, most are struggling with excessive mental stimulation. How to S L O W down the mind? Somatic meditation and simple healing movements help train our precious attention to be in our bodies in the present moment. I find this to be a very effective way to slow down the mind and relax the body.

Practices Include:

  • Somatic Meditation (Fang Song Gong, abdominal breathing, organ breathing,)

  • Unwinding tension and self massage

  • Restorative Postures / Yin Yoga

  • Qi Gong and Nei Gong

  • Kin Hin (Walking Meditation)

  • Spinal Openers

  • Bonding with the Earth and resting practices

  • Feldenkrais

  • and more! I gleen from so many methods and traditions and am admittedly not a certified teacher of anything! just sharing my own practice which is known for unusual and effective sequencing of things that aren’t usually practiced together.

How to Prepare

This evening class is designed for deep restorative sleep. For best results:

  • Finish dinner at least an hour before class

  • Complete your day's tasks so you can go directly from practice to bed or stay in meditation

  • Turn your phone off or to airplane mode

  • Create a warm, quiet space with low lighting or candlelight

  • You'll need: open wall space (3-4 feet), floor padding (yoga mat, blanket, or rug), and a chair or cushion for extended sitting practice (up to 30 mins)

I look forward to practicing with you!

Bowing,
Mali