A Qigong Practice Series · 2027
The Five Seasons
Five seasons. Five elements. Begin with any one.
Movement, breath, sound, self massage, and stillness at the pace of the natural world. Five Saturday morning intensives in Lancaster, PA, led by Jason Jacobs, at $85 each.
A different kind of practice.
In a world that keeps asking us to do more, The Five Seasons offers something slower.
Rooted in the seasonal framework of traditional Chinese medicine and Qigong, this series invites you to explore five different qualities of experience: the stillness of winter, the movement of spring, the intensity of summer, the grounding of late summer, and the letting go of autumn.
Each 2.5 hour intensive combines gentle movement, breathing practices, traditional healing sounds, self massage, and time for quiet reflection. Along the way, we'll explore the ideas behind each season, including what contemporary research supports, what remains part of traditional understanding, and what you may discover through your own experience.
There is nothing you need to achieve here. You don't need prior experience or a particular level of flexibility. You're welcome to adapt the movements, rest when you need to, and take part in the ways that feel right for you.
Each season is booked on its own, so you can start with whichever one speaks to you and come back for the next whenever you're ready.
Five Seasons, Five Invitations
Saturdays, 9:00 to 11:30 AM
Winter
Saturday, January 16, 2027
Winter invites us to slow down, conserve our energy, and make room for what may be taking shape beneath the surface. In the traditional Water element framework, winter is associated with our reserves, fear, and the wisdom of conserving rather than continually spending. We'll explore gentle movement for the back, hips, and legs, the Water sound, self massage, and an extended standing and seated practice.
A morning to pause, settle, and consider what it might mean to let this season be enough.
Spring
Saturday, March 20, 2027
Spring brings movement after stillness. Sometimes that movement feels like possibility; sometimes it feels like restlessness, frustration, or being ready to move forward without quite knowing how. We'll work with side body movements, gentle twists, expressive Qigong forms, the Wood sound, and breathing practices that include the natural rhythm of a sigh.
An invitation to notice what feels stuck, what wants room to move, and what becomes possible when you approach it differently.
Summer
Saturday, June 19, 2027
Summer brings longer days, more activity, and often more invitations than we know what to do with. In the Fire element framework, this season is associated with joy, connection, and finding balance when life feels full. Through open, flowing movement, gentle breathing, the Fire sound, self massage, and seated practice, we'll explore settling attention and making space for real connection.
A morning to notice where your energy is going and what helps you return to a more comfortable rhythm.
Late Summer
Saturday, August 28, 2027
Late summer holds a distinctive place in this tradition: a season of transition, gathering, and finding the center. We'll explore grounding, nourishment, and the difference between thoughtful reflection and getting caught in the same thoughts, through slow, centered movement, the Earth sound, gentle abdominal self massage, and a seated exercise in noticing when the mind returns to familiar loops.
A morning to find steadier ground and practice setting something down without needing to solve it first.
Autumn
Saturday, September 25, 2027
Autumn invites us to consider what we carry, what we cherish, and what we may be ready to release. In the Metal element framework, this season is associated with breath, grief, and letting go. We'll practice gentle chest opening movements, unhurried breathing, the Metal sound, self massage, and quiet attention to the natural pause at the end of an exhale. You will never be asked to share something personal, and you're welcome to rest or step outside whenever you need space.
A gentle close to the year's five seasons.
$85 per season
Each intensive is booked separately and stands on its own. Begin with any season, and join the next one whenever you're ready.
What to Expect
A familiar shape, tailored to each season.
You can take part without prior Qigong experience. Chairs and cushions are available, and there's no expectation to perform a movement in any particular way.
- An introduction to the tradition: the seasonal framework, its symbolism, and what contemporary research does and doesn't tell us
- Breath and movement: accessible Qigong, with options to adapt or rest
- Seasonal sound: a traditional vocal breathing practice linked to the element
- Self massage: simple techniques to use at home
- Quiet practice: room for stillness and reflection
- A take home practice card: a short sequence for your daily life
Your Guide
Jason Jacobs
Jason teaches Qigong at Embodied Wisdom Institute and is a certified Medical and Integral Qigong instructor through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi. He brings respect for the depth and history of traditional practices together with real curiosity about what research and direct experience can teach us. You're welcome to explore with an open, questioning mind and keep whatever proves meaningful for you.
Meet JasonA note about the practice
The Five Seasons is a nonclinical movement and meditation series offered through Embodied Wisdom Institute. It isn't medical care, diagnosis, or treatment, and it isn't a substitute for appropriate medical or mental health support. Traditional associations between elements, organs, and emotions come from a historical framework; they aren't established anatomical connections or evidence that a practice treats an organ or health condition.
Please work within your comfort level, adapt or skip movements as needed, and talk with your healthcare professional if you have questions about whether a practice is right for you.