Qigong and the Energy of the Natural World with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

This episode is a conversation with the wonderful Qigong teacher, Mimi Kuo-Deemer. We discuss this beautiful mindful movement and energy practice from China, and how it invites us to harmonize with the elements of the natural world.

You'll hear Mimi's fascinating description of Qigong's history, including her insights from analyzing the Chinese characters for Qi (energy) and Gong (work/skill). We also talk about her experiences living in the US and in China, and how she got started with Yoga and Qigong when she needed embodiment practices to remedy her burnout and health challenges.

We cover:

• Overlaps and differences between Yoga and Qigong
• How the emphasis on roundness and spherical movements within Qigong can be a great complement to Yoga
• How embodiment practices support meditation
• Why the body is more like a garden than a machine

Lastly, I asked Mimi about working with the emotional energy of anger, given the intensity of current events. You'll hear how Chinese Medicine defines "good anger" and what trees can teach us about growing through this natural (if challenging) emotion.

Enjoy this conversation!

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For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast.

To connect further with Mimi, visit her website at mkdeemer.com, or follow her on Instagram at @mimikuodeemer.

To connect further with me (Addie), check out my Class Library at  movedtomeditate.com

or sign up for information on the upcoming Mindful Movement Teacher Training that I mentioned in this episode!

And, I’m on Instagram at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, yoga, and pictures of PNW nature and my adorable kitten, Mustache).