08/04/2023
Delighted to say that I just returned from a wonderful Ba Gua retreat in Italy where I was promoted to a Senior instructor. Thank you Tom Bisio and Valerie Ghent.
Just back from our first Internal Arts International Ba Gua Zhang Retreat in Tuscany, Italy. What an amazing week! Everyone trained hard from just after dawn until dusk with a little siesta and a lot of fantastic meals in between.
12 people completed instructor training. We are proud to announce that we now have six new Foundational Level Instructors and six new Senior Instructors. Congratulations!
Foundational Ba Gua Zhang Instructors:
Skye Cooley (Oklahoma, USA)
Joe Giacoio (New Jersey, USA)
Hayden Hennigson (Arkansas, USA)
Kathy Taromina (Seattle, USA)
Dobrin Vassilev (Sofia, Bulgaria)
Carroll Whitelaw (Toronto, Canada)
Senior Ba Gua Zhang Instructors:
Jonathan Breshin (New York, USA)
Mark Greenfield (New York, USA)
Pascal Jauffret (Le Beausset, France)
Kelly McDonald (New York, USA)
Craig Mitchell (Seattle, USA)
Svilen Pronev (Toronto, Canada)
Our focus for the retreat was on the key elements necessary for mastery of Ba Gua Zhang - Old Eight Palms (Lao Ba Zhang) and Foundational Exercises. Mornings began with Ji Ben Gong, Qi Cultivation Exercises, Eight Fixed Palms (Ding Shi), 12 Standing Postures, and Tian Gan – all before breakfast. Then we worked extensively on the Lao Ba Zhang form and its many applications, which include linear movements, kicking, elbow strikes, Qin Na joint locks, and throws. Chief instructors Tom Bisio and Valerie Ghent also introduced participants to the 12 Postures of the Waterwheel – a unique form of Daoist Ba Gua Circle Walking Meditation that opens and activates the Microcosmic Orbit.
The location, hospitality and food could not have been better – a big thank you to Daniela and Ivan - our hosts at Agriturismo Terenzana!
Look for our follow-up post coming soon with images from the retreat!
