Yoga and Qigong: The Dance of Heaven and Earth

Yoga and Qigong: The Dance of Heaven and Earth is a weekend yoga retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It pairs yoga with qigong, the Chinese practice of breath, movement and energy cultivation, and is open to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The program is led by Daniel Orlansky, founder of Yoga of Energy Flow.

The premise is that yoga and qigong are paths up the same mountain. Together they build strength and flexibility alongside suppleness, balancing yin and yang, heaven and earth, sun and moon, masculine and feminine.

What to Expect

Daniel Orlansky teaches the Taoist idea of "effortless flow" in qigong, then shows how to bring the same ease of motion into yoga flow sequences. The movements in both forms are graceful and gentle. You will learn:

- Breathing exercises to enhance life energy
- Golden Lotus, Swimming Dragon and other qigong practices to open the meridians
- Meditative flow in yoga sequences
- Tapping to open the 14 meridians, six energy gates and three energy centers
- Concentration techniques for mental clarity

The retreat runs from an opening afternoon to a closing midday over a weekend. On the opening day, check-in begins at 2:00 pm, followed by a Kripalu Yoga class from 4:45 to 6:00, dinner, and a first program session from 7:30 to 9:00 in the evening.

The full day begins with Kripalu Yoga from 6:30 to 7:45 am and a silent breakfast. Program sessions run from 9:00 to 11:30 am and again from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, with lunch between them. Another Kripalu Yoga class follows at 4:45, then dinner.

On the closing day there is yoga in the morning, a silent breakfast, a final session from 9:00 to 11:00, and lunch before departure. Times may shift, and the schedule given at check-in has the details and room locations.

About Daniel Orlansky

Daniel Orlansky is the founder of Yoga of Energy Flow and a former director of yoga teacher training at Boston University. His teaching here draws the two traditions into one unified practice.

The Setting

Kripalu is a residential yoga and health center in Stockbridge, in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Its accommodations are intentionally simple, meant to help you unplug and feel grounded. You can choose a single-occupancy private room for solitude, or a shared community-style dormitory room if you would like connection with fellow guests. Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm, and a luggage room is available if you arrive earlier. Check-out on the last day is at 10:00 am, though you may stay on campus and take part in workshops until 2:00 pm.

Three meals are served each day, with breakfast taken in silence. Guests also have access to the Kripalu grounds.

Before You Go

No prior experience in yoga or qigong is needed, and instruction adapts to the people in the room. The program is taught in English.

Tuition includes all program sessions with Daniel Orlansky, more than ten yoga classes over the stay, three meals a day, and use of the grounds and facilities. Accommodation is selected separately. Healing Arts sessions, items from the Kripalu Shop and Cafe, and private instruction are not included.