March/April 2025
Qigong & Mindfulness Newsletter
The Spring Crane Migration has Begun!
From Kearney Crane Visitor Center
Infuse Yourself with a Breath of Spring Air!
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Nothing helps me clear my head and release stress like a full breath of spring air! Nature reminds us that transformation is always possible.
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So as you wander outdoors, be on the lookout for signs of hope and renewal and ways to make something amazing out of things that appear to be crumbling.
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I hope you will join us for some of the opportunities to cultivate your Bird Energy this spring - and purposefully infuse yourself with a sense of lightness and joy!
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With Hope and Peace,
Sandy Salvo
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by Walter Calvin
Whistling Swans
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Do you bow your head when you pray or do you look up into that blue space?
Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions. And don't worry about what language you use, God no doubt understands them all.
Even when the swans are flying north and making such a ruckus of noise, God is surely listening and understanding.
Rumi said, There is no proof of the soul. But isn't the return of spring and how it springs up in our hearts a pretty good hint? Yes, I know, God's silence never breaks, but is that really a problem?
There are thousands of voices, after all.
And furthermore, don't you imagine (I just suggest it) that the swans know about as much as we do about the whole business?
So listen to them and watch them, singing as they fly.
Take from it what you can.
by Mary Oliver
Scroll to find details about:
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Early-Bird Registration now open for "Transitions and New Beginnings" Retreat, April 4-6.
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"A Crane Walk Qigong Workshop" on March 20 - ALMOST FULL.
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Is it YOUR time to become trained as a Qigong Instructor? See details for an Online Level 1 Qigong Training!​
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​Research: Guolin's Breath (Physiological Sigh)
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World Tai Chi & Qigong Day: April 26, 10 am
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Outdoor Qigong at Marshall Park resumes on March 19th!
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Monday Qigong via Zoom continues at 9am.
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Monthly Meditation Pop-Ups at Harbor Wellness.
I LOVE THIS ANALOGY:
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Because someone bumped into me!!!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves... “what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratitude, peace and humility?
Anger, bitterness, victim mentality and quitting tendencies?
Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness and love for others.
-Source Unknown
Only a few weeks away!
Transitions and New Beginnings Retreat
APRIL 4-6
St. Anthony's Spiritual Retreat Center, Wausau
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For Details and to Register click HERE
I hope you will consider joining us for our 3rd Annual Retreat!
Whether you are navigating a new job, a changing family or life situation, a loss, or a health challenge, you are going through a transition, and it is worth paying attention to what is unfolding next for and through you.
During this in-person retreat, we will explore transitions by using art, gentle movement, intuitive writing, conversation and more.
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Invest in yourself!
Invite a friend to join you!
Workshop at Holy Wisdom Monastery
Crane Walk: A Lightness and Longevity Qigong Practice
Thursday, March 20th, 2025, 1:30-3:30 pm
Come celebrate the Spring Equinox and the return of our local sandhill cranes! Instructor Sandy Salvo will lead us in a beautiful Qigong Crane Form that cultivates a sense of lightness, freedom and longevity while enhancing our balance, inside and out.
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Seasonal transitions are the perfect time to practice Qigong and reset our equilibrium by releasing that which no longer serves us and making room for the new!
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All ability levels welcome. Can be performed standing or seated in casual attire. Please bring a journal/notebook and come prepared to do a significant portion of the workshop outdoors, weather permitting.
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Instructor: Sandy Salvo, certified through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi
*All Proceeds go to support the mission of Holy Wisdom Monastery
To Register click HERE
​Check out the research that backs up the benefits of Guolin's Breath Qigong Technique!
Guolin's Breath shown here after Pulling Silk...
Click the Note Icon to Unmute
A Simple, Science-Backed Way to Lower Stress
From Sean Fargo, Mindfulness Exercises:
I recently came across a modern take on the same practice my Taoist teacher had shown me years ago. It’s called the physiological sigh, and it’s one of the fastest ways to reduce stress immediately.
I walk you through it in this 1-minute video:
Watch it here: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/lfsCrFPGgSU
Here’s how it works:
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Take a deep inhale through your nose.
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Just before you finish, take a second, short inhale to fully expand your lungs.
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Slowly exhale through your mouth until your lungs are completely empty.
This technique activates your body’s natural ability to release stress. It’s fast, simple, and always available to you—whether you’re in a difficult conversation, about to give a talk, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life’s pressures.
Join people from around the world for...
World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
"One World, One Breath"
Saturday, April 26th, 10-11am
Free and open to all!
Marshall Park, Middleton (weather permitting)
Back-up location: Harbor Wellness Studios
Registration Opens Soon -
Watch for Email Updates:
Online Level 1 Qigong Instructor Training
Join me, Sandy Salvo, and an incredible faculty to become certified by the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi!
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Training Dates: May 1-June 19, 2025 via Zoom
Early registration through April 8, 2025 with 3 month pay plans.
*No travel or lodging expenses. Plenty of time to practice between modules.
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Make a difference in the world! Is this YOUR TIME to step up?
Weekly Qigong Classes:
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Monday 9-9:45am CT: Qigong via Zoom
Click Here for:
​Monday 9am Qigong with Sandy 2025
​Meeting ID : 856 5881 8904
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Wednesday 8:30-9:15am: Qigong at the Lake
Meet near the Boathouse, Marshall Park, Middleton
Outdoor classes will resume on March 19th, 2025!
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Refer a Friend, Get a Free Class Yourself!
Any time you refer a friend who tries a free Qigong class, you will receive a free class yourself! It’s that simple - you keep track on your own. Let’s keep spreading the word about this amazing form of self-care!😊
Suggested Qigong Class Fees for 2025*
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One-time drop in: $12/class
Class-Pass Bundle of 6: $60 ($10/class)
Class-Pass Bundle of 10: $85 ($8.50/class)
Class-Pass Bundle of 15: $105 ($7/class)
*These rates apply to weekly online Zoom classes (Mondays, 9am) and weekly outdoor classes April-October (Wednesdays, 8:30am). Feel free to mix ‘n match as your schedule allows.
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Payment Options:
Or mail check to:
Sandy Salvo :: 7521 Oak Circle Dr, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
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Venmo option available by request.
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Mark Your Calendars:
Mindfulness Meditation
Pop-Up Sessions
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Harbor Wellness Center , Middleton, WI
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March 26, 11am: Harnessing Spring Equinox Energy
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April 30, 11am: Wise Teacher Meditation​
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