Insight Meditation Modesto will be offering an Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation with Qi Gong daylong on Saturday, Feb. 12th from 9am to 4pm at Doctors Medical Center, Conference Center, room 1 (the building between the parking structure and the emergency department):

An introduction to mindfulness meditation will be taught by Lori Wong, including basic instructions, experiential sessions and guided meditations with alternating sitting and Qi Gong movement periods, about 35 minutes or so in length through the day.  Qi Gong has at its very foundation the necessity of complete physical relaxation and the idea that the intent leads and controls the motion of the body.  It has many benefits that can improve energy, health, balance, calmness, and illness.  Sifu Neil Thomas will offer Qi Gong as a complement for sitting practice, to energize the body and also to develop body awareness in movement.  If you come for a partial day and arrive during a sitting period, please enter quietly and sit in the rear until the sitting period is over.  Most of the day will be held in silence in order to cultivate a still and quiet mind; opportunities for questions and discussion will be provided.

Lori Wong has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 2003 and is a Community Dharma Leader in training through Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA.  Her mentor teachers in the program are Gil Fronsdal of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City and Eugene Cash of SF Insight in San Francisco. She has been on the board of the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City and is currently on the board of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.  She leads two Insight Meditation sitting groups in Modesto.

Sifu Neil Thomas has trained over 35 years in Yang and Chen Style Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Wu Tang and Shaolin martial arts as well as Tibetan Pranic Healing. He is a student and disciple of Master Jason Tsou, who was a disciple of the late Grand Master Liu Yun Chiao, founder of the famous Wu Tang Chinese Martial Arts Association.  Sifu Thomas teaches Tai Chi, Qi Gong and martial arts classes in Modesto.

This day is freely offered. Donations for the teachers and Insight Meditation Modesto are gladly accepted.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch.  Feel free to bring a meat dish for yourself if you require additional protein in your diet.  Dress in loose and comfortable clothing.  If you have a meditation cushion, please bring it.  Chairs will be available.  Suitable for beginning and experienced practitioners.