About
Who
As a Tai Chi master instructor, when I first visited the Golden Isles of GA and Beaches Area of FL, I knew this was the perfect place to play Tai Chi and Qigong. With its wide rivers, beaches, and lush marshes, this is a amazing "Nature-all" playground.
In 2018, recognizing the importance of a healthy Natural world and its connection to Tai Chi, I obtained my certification as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. As a result, I can guide you in the practice of Tai Chi principles (slow down, relax, be/become mindful) while "bathing" in the atmosphere of the Forests and/or Nature - allowing these environments to become your therapist.
Where
The St. Marys River is the eastern border between Georgia and Florida. St. Marys, GA, is the gateway to Cumberland National Seashore Park and the home of Crooked River State Park. Go a bit further south to Florida's First Coast passing Amelia Island, Big Talbot and Little Talbot Island State Parks, and Fort George Island before crossing the St. Johns River to the Jacksonville Beaches. This area, with its many rivers, pine forests, beaches, and lush marshes, provides a perfect background for learning, teaching, and playing the arts of Tai Chi/Qigong and bathing in Nature.
This website, thus, will provide you with information to not only my classes, events, and workshops, but also those of my fellow Tai Chi Instructors in the Jacksonville, FL./Beaches area.
Why
Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion, but it might well be called medication in motion (as) there is growing evidence that this mind-body practice has value in treating or preventing many health problems.
(Harvard Medical Health Publication, 05/09)
Nature/Forest Bathing works best as a form of prevention and a way to retain a healthy mind and body. It is not a replacement for medical advice or counselling for those who are seriously ill. However under a trained therapist, Forest therapy can be an important part of their treatment as well as recovery. Many people keep coming back after one time “exposure” (Iwasaki, 2019).