Mindfulness on the Mountain - Program

From Earth to Heaven: Rooting the Body and Raising the Spirit

Check in begins at 3pm central. Program concludes by 11am on the last day. Cultivate deep stability, inner clarity, and an uplifted spirit in this immersive tai chi and meditation retreat.

From Earth to Heaven is a contemplative journey through the body’s energetic architecture—beginning with the root, refining movement through the waist, and culminating in gentle two-person practices that awaken connection and elevate the spirit. Designed for sincere beginners and continuing practitioners alike, this retreat weaves precise skill development with seated meditation throughout the day.

You will learn not only how to move, but how to inhabit your movement—rooted below, open above, and unified within. Through guided instruction, mindful repetition, and quiet sitting, you will leave with a felt understanding of structure, softness, and presence—grounded in the earth, yet rising toward heaven.

Skills and Concepts We Will Explore: • How to establish a stable, relaxed root through stance training and foundational tai chi principles • Lifting out of anxiety and depression by what the tai chi masters call, “Raising the Spirit” • The role of the waist as the commander of movement—linking lower and upper body with fluid power • Seated meditation practices to quiet the mind and deepen somatic awareness • Gentle two-person drills to cultivate listening energy, sensitivity, and spirited connection • Methods for integrating rooting and raising the spirit into your solo practice and daily life

Participants should be comfortable engaging in respectful, light two-person exercises involving touch during the afternoon session. Come prepared to stand firmly, move softly, sit quietly—and discover the pathway from Earth to Heaven within your own body.