January/February 2025
Qigong & Mindfulness Newsletter
May I Have a Word?
I’ve never been a huge fan of New Year’s Resolutions and have more recently followed the lead of my friend, Lesta, in choosing just ONE WORD of INTENTION for the year. In years past I’ve gone with 'Lightness', 'Making Room' (two words, I know!), 'Spaciousness', 'Agility' and, the winner for 2024, 'Nature-Inspired'.
The idea is to become clear about what you want your life to be like in the coming months, and then sense into what is needed to make that a reality. This moves your energy toward what you desire. It’s said, “Where the mind goes, the energy flows.”
What I love about this process is not just the simplicity of being able to recall and focus upon just one word, but the various meanings that each word can hold for us. Each year I type up the word and then list all the possible meanings for my life in the year ahead and post this by my desk as a gentle reminder.
And that’s the other reason I love this approach of setting intentions over traditional resolutions – it feels more gentle, more alluring, more forgiving. It allows a person to let their intentions flow around boulders and over challenges throughout the year while still moving forward in the right direction.
After several days of internal debate, I have settled upon my ONE WORD of INTENTION for 2025: INSIGHT.
And here is a partial list of what it means for me in the year ahead:
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To seek the Light within by turning my gaze around
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To *'turn the light around' and search inward (body, mind, spirit) for answers and direction; for wisdom.
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To look within for root causes of old habits and triggers to disentangle myself from conditioned behaviors that no longer serve me.
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To be mindful of what is right in sight, including ordinary and extraordinary blessings, opportunities and resources.
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To trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance by listening daily in silence and solitude.
In Thomas Cleary's translation of The Golden Flower, he states, "Now when you turn the light around to shine inward (the mind) is not aroused by things; negative energy then stops, and the flower of light radiates a concentrated glow, which is pure positive energy."
I am aware that I don't fully understand the meaning of this for my life, but I am setting the intention to explore it more deeply each day.
Please drop me a note once you decide upon your WORD – I’d love to hear about why your WORD is speaking to you at this point in your life.
Sending you blessings of love, connection and joy for 2025,
Sandy Salvo
Scroll to find details about:
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Mindfulness Book Study beginning Monday evening, Jan 13th.
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Monday Qigong via Zoom has a NEW LINK for 2025!
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Registration required for a Conversation with Author and Grief Support Specialist, Kathleen Paris on Jan7th at 1 pm.
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Registration now open for "Transitions and New Beginnings" Retreat - two weekend options!
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Registration for Qigong Workshop on February 11th (all proceeds go to support the mission of Holy Wisdom Monastery).
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Monthly Meditation Pop-Ups at Harbor Wellness.
*Turning the light around, also translated as “tracing back the radiance,” or “counter-illumination,” is a Zen Buddhist expression referring to turning attention from outward phenomena to awareness itself. In Mahayana Buddhism, the true nature of awareness is related to concepts such as luminous mind, Buddha-nature, and emptiness (śūnyatā)." Wikipedia
In his sermons, Mazu Daoyi (709–788) says, "When within a single thought one reflects and illuminates within, then everything is the Holy Mind."
Mindfulness Meditation
Book Study
6-week Book Study and Meditation Practice
Begins January 13th
Mondays, 6:30-7:45pm via Zoom with two meetings in-person
Book: “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema Chodron
“Life is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if we could only realize it. Nothing ever sums itself up in the way we like to dream about. The offcenter, in-between state is an ideal situation, a situation in which we don’t get caught and we can open our hearts and minds beyond limits.”
~Pema Chodron
All are invited to join the Cross Plains Mindfulness Meditation Group for a 6-week book study and meditation practice on, “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times” by Pema Chodron.
Meetings will be held weekly via zoom except for the 3rd Monday of each month (Jan 20, Feb 17) when we will meet at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 2427 Church St, Cross Plains, WI. . Facilitation will be rotated by several members of the group.
If interested, please email Sandy Salvo by January 10th to receive reading assignments and the Zoom link.
No prior meditation experience is necessary. Feel free to invite friends or family members who might benefit from joining a contemplative, compassionate group on this tender topic of discussion.
Questions?
Contact Sandy
The Grief Transition:
Caring for Self and Others
Please join me, Barb Bickford and Kathleen Paris, Author and Grief Support Specialist, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 1:00 p.m. for this complimentary virtual event. Sign up here.
Workshop at Holy Wisdom Monastery
Mindful Movement: Intro to Qigong Practice
Tuesday, February 11th, 2025
1:30-3:30 pm
Qigong (Chee-gong) is an ancient form of moving meditation that uses flowing movements, breath exercises, meditation and tapping to boost energy, relieve stress, and balance your emotions. As a holistic health or “whole being” practice, it addresses all of who you are: mind, body, and spirit.
“Qi” means energy and “Gong” means skill or cultivation; thus Qigong is the skill of cultivating your life-force energy. Qigong recognizes our interconnectedness and draws wisdom from our natural surroundings.
This introductory workshop will give you a taste of how this simple yet powerful practice can help you activate ‘the healer within’ by cultivating your ability to stay grounded, centered and as calm as a glacial lake. You will leave feeling relaxed yet focused for whatever lies ahead.
All ability levels welcome. Can be performed standing or seated in casual attire. Please bring a journal/notebook and come prepared to do a short portion of the workshop outdoors, weather permitting.
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
Registration is Now Open!
Transitions and
New Beginnings Retreat
February 7-9 Moon Beach Camp, St. Germain
APRIL 4-6 St. Anthony's Spiritual Retreat Center, Wausau
For Details and to Register click HERE
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.
Invest in yourself!
Weekly Qigong Classes:
Monday 9-9:45am CT: Qigong via Zoom
Click Here for:
Monday 9am Qigong with Sandy 2025
Meeting ID : 856 5881 8904
Wednesday 8:30-9:15am: Qigong at the Lake
Meet near the Boathouse, Marshall Park, Middleton
Outdoor classes will resume in March 2025!
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*
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.
Payment Options:
Or mail check to:
Sandy Salvo :: 7521 Oak Circle Dr, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562
Venmo option available by request.
Mark Your Calendars:
Mindfulness Meditation
Pop-Up Sessions
Harbor Wellness Center , Middleton, WI
January 29, 11am: Clarity of Intention
February 26, 11am: Tonglen Meditation Practice
