Yin Summer Toolkit: Harmonize with the Fire Element
As we move into summer, nature's yang energy expands and peaks as we enter “fire” season. When the fire element heats up in our environment, we experience greater warmth and light and a desire for more external activity. Strong fire chi manifests within us as love, laughter, vitality and enthusiasm for life and allows us to be warm and generous with others. When our fire chi is weak we become bored with life, feel depressed and struggle with social relationships.
When fire energy builds and expands, we too may long for more -- more freedom, more fun, more socializing, more stimulation. However with too much fire, we run the risk of getting stuck in over-expansion. This can feel like a never-ending summer in which everything is just a little too much - .always being "on", always talking, always laughing, always restless and always reaching for more - more stimulation, noise, activity, socializing. The heart, which according to Chinese Medicine is governed by the element of fire, does not thrive when the mind is harried or overwhelmed. Keeping the mind calm and content is critical for thriving both physically and emotionally during the summer.
The Yin Summer Toolkit will show you how to balance the activity and excitement of summer’s fire element so you stay relaxed and healthy all season long.
In this workshop you will learn specific yin poses, qigong moves, acupressure points and lifestyle strategies that will prepare you for the coming energetic shift in seasons by:
Strengthening and balancing your internal fire energy.
Identifying areas of potential physical & emotional imbalance
Re-igniting your body and heart with passion & vitality.
Opening you up to more authentic feelings of joy and love
In addition, through guided meditation and self inquiry exercises you will discover how to:
Balance excessive fire energy by creating more space in your life, in your schedule, your environment and most importantly, your mind.
Recognize the addictive quality of the “wanting mind” that leads to over-stimulation, over-consumption, over-doing/efforting and the constant need for instant gratification.
Discover how to let go and relax into a deeper state of genuine contentment & gratitude
Learn to connect more deeply and authentically with others by slowing down and becoming more fully present.
Feel your own intrinsic value and affirm that you already do enough, have enough and ARE enough right now.
More details about the Yin Seasonal Toolkit
The Yin Seasonal Toolkit Series is a transformative collection of five workshops, each focusing on one of the five Chinese elements and their corresponding seasons. These 3-hour sessions, hosted by Anne Witmer, blend yin yoga poses, qigong movements, acupressure techniques, guided meditation, and self-inquiry exercises to align participants with the unique energy of each season as described in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Each workshop incorporates special features tailored to the season, such as Ayurvedic hot oil foot massages or other restorative practices, creating a deeply relaxing and healing experience. The series helps participants embrace the wisdom of the five elements—Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal—to cultivate balance, adaptability, and harmony throughout the year. By promoting the smooth flow of chi, addressing internal blockages, and aligning with nature’s cycles, these workshops enhance physical and emotional well-being, offering practical tools for integration into daily life. Open to yoga students, those interested in TCM and Taoist philosophy, and anyone seeking restoration and stress reduction, the series requires no prior yoga or meditation experience.
Why: Wouldn’t you like to struggle less and flow through life with greater ease? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, abiding by nature’s principles can help you live a long life of health and contentment. This workshop series will provide you with tangible tools and practices to balance your internal energy and harmonize with nature’s energetic cycles so you are able to thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a priceless practice because there are so few opportunities in our hectic days to have a protected container for relaxation, which is the number one key to health and healing.
How: Integrating practices from both the Yogic tradition and Chinese Medicine, Anne curates a movement and meditative experience to remove internal energy blockages and promote the smooth flow of chi resulting in a profound state of relaxation that promotes physical and emotional healing. Each session explores the unique energy, themes, and needs of the current season and provides practical tools to harmonize with the prevailing energy. Students can use these tools and strategies throughout the season to take charge of their own well-being and create more internal balance and greater feelings of ease.
Specific tools include yin yoga poses, acupressure points & qigong moves that target the meridians(energy channels) and organs governed by the season’s dominant element (water, wood,fire,earth or metal). Additionally, Anne employs guided meditation, visualization and self inquiry practices to uncover and heal emotional blocks that affect one’s health and energy.
Who: This workshop is designed for anyone seeking a restorative and enriching experience. It is ideal for yoga students, especially those who enjoy Yin Yoga, as well as individuals interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist philosophy. Beginners and experienced practitioners alike are welcome, as no prior yoga or meditation experience is required. This workshop is also perfect for those looking to reduce stress, find deep relaxation, and gain tools for restoration and balance. Participants should bring a journal for reflection and an extra pair of socks for comfort after the foot massage.
When: The Yin Summer Toolkit will take place on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:45 PM in the Mat Room at The Practice Space. Early registration is encouraged to secure a spot, as space is limited. Please note that the workshop is subject to the studio’s low enrollment cancellation policy, meaning workshops with fewer than 10% of maximum capacity registered by May 20th may be canceled. This is a special opportunity to reconnect with the flow of life this winter and take the first step toward a year of balance, ease, and harmony.
Cost: This workshops costs $48. Autopay and Annual Members receive 25% off.