Taiji Tao & Qigong Retreat
Ireland
10-19 August 2022
Taiji, Qigong, and Sitting Meditation
Join us in a beautiful light-filled octagonal practice space with wooden floors and underfloor heating, set within a nature reserve, at An Sanctóir, in West Cork, Ireland. Sessions led by Sarah Tulivu (Fong Yi).
ABOUT:
Taiji (Taichi) 太極 and Qigong 氣功 have been practiced in China and surrounding areas for thousands of years, and are a moving meditation for good health, peaceful, centered mind, reconnection to one’s deeper nature, and an investigation into the Self.
Sarah Tulivu, or Fong Yi has trained in meditation for the past 11 years. Six of those years were passed as a monk in a Tao Temple, in the Taichi Tao System (also called Temple Style), by Master Waysun Liao, her main teacher.
You can read more about what we’ll cover in the retreat by clicking here, and more about Sarah here.
How much, where, when
Cost:
There is a sliding scale to suit different budgets of €485 (For people with economical issues), €500 (Regular price), €550 (Supporting price) –
if staying in tent, or camper.
Plus €15/night for a bed in a dorm (x6 beds available at Dan’s). We also have one single room available for €25/night. (TAKEN)
(And there are a couple of discounted tickets in exchange for helping hands)
The price includes 3 vegetarian meals per day, over 5 hours of practice per day, etc.
Where:
in An Sanctóir, West Cork, Ireland.
The center is situated in 30 acres of beautiful nature reserve, with many paths for nice walks.
When:
ARRIVAL: 10th August – starting at 16:30, opening, small practice, dinner
DEPARTURE: 19th August – with morning practice, breakfast, and closing circle
(camping there a night before, for 5 euro, is also possible)
Participating for fewer days is a possibility.
Schedule
7:00 Waking up bell – with 10 minutes Sitting Meditation
08:00-09:00 Sitting Meditation /Openings
09:15-10:45 Breakfast
10:45-12:45 Taiji&Qigong with some Sitting
12:45-13:15 Self practice
14:30-15:30 Lunch (Silence ends)
16:30-18:30 Taiji & Qigong
20:00 Dinner
23:00 Silence begins
We will also do a 15-minute sitting meditation before sleeping, together or each on their own, to fall asleep in style 😉.
(Schedule may be adjusted as the days go by)
Silence
Except for during weekends, we will be in silence till lunch each day.
Friday will be silent all day, till Saturday lunch.
Nature Walks
In the nature reserve surrounding the center, there are plenty of nice paths for walks.
Sharing
We will have times for talking in a circle together, where who feels can share about their process and experience, we found these very helpful in past retreats, bringing us all closer.
FAQ
Can I participate for less days?
If you cannot attend the full retreat it is also possible to join for €75 per day. We do ask that you attend from the first day, so we can go through a process together from the start.
What's the accommodation like?
There are beds in a shared room next door for 15 euro extra a night, one private room for 25 a night, and possibilities for camping, bringing your campervan – that won’t cost you anything extra.
Unless you are staying in the room, bring your own bedding, tent, and whatever else you need to make yourself comfortable.
If coming from outside, Ireland is generally fresher than you think.
If you have transport, renting accommodation or Airbnb nearby is possible. If this option appeals to you we recommend you book soon as it is a busy time of the year.
Are meals vegetarian?
What shall I bring?
• Flat indoor shoes for practice if you have them
• Euro in cash if you’d like to receive an acupuncture treatment from Freya
Any Questions?
To book:
+353 860621471
ronopotamus@gmail.com
An Sanctóir, West Cork, Ireland
Less is more
(Except for the scrolling bar below)
Sessions are for all levels, and we will be focusing mostly on foundations. I have found that working with foundations is actually a very advanced practice.
Foundations are what hold up everything, it’s where we can work with the core causes of our current condition.
Learning how to listen
The quality of one’s attention is what we’ll be training on the most. While applying that work on the forms, body openings etc.
Through the practice, we will accompany ourselves into a quieter more aware space, learning how to pay attention, how to feel ourselves, and gradually learning how to gently stay open and present in and with what arises. To ourselves, our hearts, the other, and life around us.
Taiji Tao System, or "Temple Style Taiji"
For the first 10 years or so, I trained solely with the Taichi Tao System, from Master Waysun Liao, also called “Temple Style Taichi”.
Master Liao studied from an old wandering Taoist monk in a Tao Temple and monastery in his native Taiwan, since he was a child. So the method is highly focused on meditation.
Retreat with:
Sarah Tulivu
Sarah Tulivu / Fong Yi will be leading the sessions. She has been training in Taiji & Qigong and sitting meditation on a daily basis for over 11 years. During that time about 6 years were passed in a Tao Temple and monastery, where she trained as a monk.
She was then advised by her main teacher, Master Waysun Laio and Master Chang to leave the Tao Temple and carry the practice into life in the world – as her Temple, sharing the practice with those interested who cross her path.
Rónan McLoughlin
Rónan McLoughlin (Hao Tong), is our main organizer. He will also be available if in need of an inspirational quote, unusual sense of humor, or practical and unpractical questions.
Ronan is originally from Ireland, he is a movement artist and fire performer, and began his journey into Taiji 9 years ago, also studying in the tradition of Master Waysun Liao.
“In my experience of Taiji, we explore the most basic foundations of ourselves, not through concepts but through our direct experience.
We learn how to engage with that base structure from which we experience and through which we live.
By making adjustments to the foundations we find that things naturally change. We don’t have to force change but we put certain causes into effect and we find that our experience naturally changes.
So rather than getting lost in inner conflict and resistance to how things are, we go towards the root and we “tweak” the underlying structure. These changes ripple through our system and we find that our experience of life is different.”
The cooks
Eadaoin and Richard will be our chefs, second time cooking delicious nourishing food for a Taiji retreat together!
They are hilarious, insightful and loving beings, and they will be also participating in the retreat’s Taiji, Qigong and meditation sessions. : )
Check out Taiji Tao retreats and events for 2023
More info will be updated here as the year goes on!