This Five Elements workshop is a wonderful Qi fusion of intention-setting,
acupuncture and yin yoga.
Yin Yoga and Acupuncture direct the smooth flow of vital energy - known as Qi - throughout the mind and body boosting overall wellness and balancing yin and yang energy levels.
This workshop, a collaboration between Mandala Yoga and Aspire Health, will set you up to 'Spring Forward' into the rest of the year with energy, direction and confidence.
Spring and the Wood Element
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, there are Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element is associated with particular organs, seasons, emotions, tastes, smells and sounds.
Spring 🌱is the season of the Wood element.
- A short introduction to Five Elements Theory
- An exploration of the Wood element including typical ailments, body type and supports.
- Spring intention-setting and journaling
- A 20 minute acupuncture session targetting Liver Qi
- A 75 minute yin yoga masterclass to alleviate deep tension
Day: Saturday 20 May
Time: 1.30 – 3.30pm
Fee: €35
Support your Liver Qi in Spring!
The stage of development associated with the Wood element is birth or new beginnings. The organs associated with the element of Wood are the liver and gallbladder.
Qi (pronounced chee) is vital energy that bring us into balance. Qi flows along energy pathways known as meridians. When there is disruption or stagnation of Qi, there is Dis Ease.
When our Liver Qi is in balance, it is in expansion mode. Our life is moving forward in the direction we want. We are expanding in life, work, relationships and everything flows easily and effortlessly.
Anger is the emotion associated with Liver and Wood. When our Liver Qi feels stagnant, we feel stuck, trapped and don’t know what direction we want our life to go in.
If our Liver Qi feels stuck, this leads to feelings of stress, frustration and anger, as well as physical symptoms like tight neck and shoulders, PMS, menstrual problems and even digestive problems.
Aspire Health is a holistic health practice dedicated to enabling people gain maximum health through integrative therapies. After taking a career break from a busy IT job, Lucia entered the world of integrative medicine and never looked back.
Today she is qualified in a range of holistic therapies including yoga, reflexology, Swedish massage as well as her degree in Acupuncture. Lucia completed her clinical studies for Acupuncture in Shanghai 6th People’s Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She spent many years working in holistic centres, hospitals, addiction centres before setting up Aspire Health in 2006.
Mandala Yoga is a welcoming community-centred yoga studio in Dublin 2, in a light-filled space off Haddington Road.
Susan has been practicing yoga for over 16 years. She completed her first yoga certification in 2009. And has completed many more since. She is qualified to teach a range of ‘Yang Yoga' styles. She has been teaching Yin Yoga since 2014 having completed a number of yin yoga and meditation trainings with international teachers. Susan is also a qualified massage therapist. She has travelled and taught extensively overseas before founding Mandala Yoga in 2018.
What is Yin Yoga?
Yin Yoga has its roots in the ancient Chinese philosophy of Daoism. At the heart of Daoism is the belief in the need for balance between the twin forces of Yin and Yang that we see everywhere: Darkness and Light; Cold and Hot; Inaction and Action. Yin and Yang complement one another to achieve a state of harmony.
In Yin Yoga by holding poses for longer periods of time (2-3 minutes) we are therapeutically ‘stressing’’ and applying pressure to the energy pathways. This stimulates the flow of vital energy (Qi) into bones, nerves, muscles and connective tissue where so much deep tension accumulates.
Yin yoga is deeply calming and meditative. It soothes the nervous system flipping it back into ‘rest and digest’ mode.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force by inserting tiny needles into specific points along the body. Acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain and disorders but increasingly, it is being used as regular practice for boosting overall wellness and stress management.
