Drawing from the rich traditions of Daoism and Buddhism, this course introduces five powerful guardian archetypes—the Green Dragon, Vermillion Bird, Yellow Snake, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise—each embodying essential qualities such as resilience, joy, transformation, courage, and protection.

The Five Sacred Guardians are not just mythical beings—they are living forces within you, waiting to be awakened. Today you’ll get acquainted with two Green Dragon forms from the Five Sacred Guardians series—Green Dragon Breathes Clouds (Qīng Lóng Tǔ Yún 青龍吐雲) and a classic Dragon Form (Lóng Shì 龍勢)—movements that embody confidence, adaptability, and the flowing strength of the dragon. 

Today includes an 11-minute qigong class that invites you to embody the dragon’s playful resilience, feeling the harmony of movement and breath as you align with the natural cycles of transformation.

The Five Sacred Guardians are not only celestial beings but also protectors of the Dharma—the natural law, truth, and unfolding energy that supports all of existence. 

Today, we explore the deeper meaning of Dharma as a force of impermanence, change, and liberation, guiding us toward a life of greater awareness, love, and acceptance. We also introduce the second guardian, the Vermilion Bird of Peace (Hépíng Zhūquè 和平朱雀), a being of everlasting fire that symbolizes joy, peace, and the radiant heart. Through these teachings, we uncover how the Sacred Guardians help us embrace both transformation and the boundless potential for inner harmony and enduring love.

Today includes a 17-minute qigong class to support you in embracing a radiant heart, peace, and inner harmony.

Today, we explore the Yellow Snake, particularly the form Yellow Snake Breaks Out of Its Shell (Huáng Shé Chū Ké 黃蛇出殼)—the sacred guardian of Earth, seasonal transitions, late summer,and deep sensitivity. Through embodied movement and breath, we cultivate greater receptivity to our body’s wisdom, learning to balance the mind’s dominance with the body’s intuitive knowing. Inspired by the snake’s fluidity, adaptability, and heightened sensory awareness, this practice helps us reconnect with our environment, embrace change, and honor our natural rhythms. By shedding what no longer serves us, we move toward a state of harmony, presence, and transformation.

Today includes a 17-minute qigong class that, through guided forms and breathwork, allows you to deepen your connection to your body's innate wisdom, enhancing flexibility, awareness, and centered presence.

The White Tiger is a sacred guardian that represents courage, dignity, and strength—qualities essential for letting go of negativity, protecting ourselves from harmful influences, and fostering resilience. 

Through intentional movement, you will explore the balance of strength and grace, allowing the white tiger’s wisdom to guide your practice. Today you’ll learn two new qigong forms: White Tiger Seizes its Prey (Bái Hǔ Zhuō Shí /白虎捉食) and White Tiger Breathing Qi (Bái Hǔ Tǔ Nà 白虎吐纳).

Today includes a 13-minute qigong class that encourages you to embrace the power of the tiger—moving with precision, cultivating skillful energy, and embodying the confidence needed to navigate life’s challenges. 

We’ll work with two scared turtle forms today—Spirit Turtle Emerges from the Water (Shénguī chū shuǐ 神龜出水) and Spirit Turtle Enters Its Shell (Shénguī rù ké 玄龜入殼). These forms help build patience, persistence, and a deep connection to your own protective shields. Like the tortoise, you will move with grace through adversity, developing a steady presence and an unshakable foundation in the face of life's challenges.

Today includes a 14-minute qigong class. Through slow, deliberate movements that mimic the tortoise’s sturdy shell and steady pace, you can build strength in your back, core, and legs while developing an inner sanctuary of peace and stability.

In our human bubble, we can so easily forget that our ancestors and relations include birds, tigers, dragons, snakes and tortoises. Instead of seeing humans as dominating these creatures, or killing them because we can, we humble ourselves to them and learn from them. 

Embracing the qualities of the sacred guardians allows us to navigate change skillfully, guard our energy, and cultivate a state of deep presence and well-being.

Today includes a 40-minute qigong class. In this culminating session, we bring together the movements and teachings of the Five Sacred Guardians—Dragon, Bird, Snake, Tiger, and Tortoise—into a unified practice of embodiment, protection, and harmony. Through breath, movement, and awareness, we attune to the qualities of resilience, adaptability, joy, transformation, and strength that these sacred beings offer. As we honor their wisdom, we deepen our connection to the cycles of nature and the universe, allowing their energy to infuse our own lives with balance and peace.