Move Heal Awaken Newsletter Gabriel Shaw

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”
— Chinese Proverb

Hello friends,

As many of you know, I spent most of February exploring Costa Rica. It was an adventure - though not always a relaxing one. The challenges we faced actually became the doorway for us to bond as a new family. What a blessing to find that connection in the thick of it.
I also had space to reflect. That inner growth is helping me live a more integrated life, and I’ll have more to share on that soon. Many of you have mentioned how much you appreciate the poetry I’ve shared. I hope the piece below inspires your own path to integration and offers a bit of healing today.

As they say in CR, Pura Vida!

Gabriel

Beyond the Pacific​
​
Yesterday, we took a long trip
From the city to the coast
And beyond the pacific
Where directions are lost
Yet something feels strangely familiar
Between here, and the place we call home
Living at the edge of the world
A secret is being revealed
Like a foreign land speaking a language
Your heart already knows
But your mind is only beginning to understand
Your wits cannot carry you
Only trust, right when the fear is stuck in your throat
Combined with the kindness of strangers
Will help see you through
There is truth in your vulnerability
Like a new-born baby
Being ferried across the waters
To a new world
Is this little family your only protection?
Or is there an underlying friendliness?
A hidden, universal force
That only responds to tenderness
Like the weathered face of a grandmother
Who can’t keep her hands to herself
Exclaiming
“Que Lindo!”
​

Upcoming Events

Solo Form Refinements Workshop

March 21 (12-4pm)
Victoria, Canada

We'd like to invite you to come together for a Tai Chi training opportunity. Master Sam Masich will be in town leading a 4-hour workshop on Yang family barehand form refinements, with an emphasis on qi and martial applications.
​Solo Form Refinements Workshop
​Victoria, BC - The location is on Gorge Rd.-
March 21st, 12pm-4pm$100 (etransfer sammasicharts@gmail.com)
Please confirm your attendance via e-transfer and email me so I can keep you in the loop.
For those who don't know Sam, he is an internationally-recognized Yang Tai Chi master with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Learn more at: https://www.masichinternalarts.com/​
I hope to see you there!

New! Tai Chi Series Starting Soon!

9:30am Tuesdays starting March 3.
NEW LOCATION - Eastern Star Hall.
To register for this class, or Thursday 5:30pm classes,
​Purchase a Trial Package here.

9:30am Wednesdays starting April 1.
Oak Bay Recreation. Register here.​
(Find “Tai Chi Fusion” under Health & Wellness)

Join kinesiologist Gabriel Shaw to learn traditional Yang Style Tai Chi and Qigong combined with breathing, posture and exercise therapy to help you improve balance, enhance mobility, and connect the mind-body-spirit.

When the Body Speaks

Virtual charity workshop March 16th
6:30-7:30pm

​Tribalance has graciously offered to host us next month. You’re warmly invited to “When the Body Speaks,” a gentle, powerful workshop with Gabriel Shaw designed to help you release stress, ease pain, and reconnect with your body’s natural wisdom.

This is a supportive, experiential space where you’ll learn simple tools you can use right away to feel calmer, lighter, and more grounded. If you’ve been carrying too much for too long, this is your invitation to pause, breathe, and come back home to yourself.

Tickets are $10 and all proceeds go to the Swim Tayka charity.
​
​

Healing pages

• ​The End of Everything; an ironic black comedy (novel I read on vacation)
  This very intellectual work is by a friend of mine. It may seem dark at first, but by the time it ended, I had a surprising sense of optimism. It explores so many topics, but ultimately it’s an insight into the mind.
• ​Can a Skeptic Believe in God? (77-min podcast)
  ​The most interesting podcast I listened to while I was away. It explores what it really means to be a skeptic as it unravels the history of philosophy.
• ​5-Section Tai Chi (Taijiquan) form and curriculum (article and website)
  ​This one is for the Tai Chi nerds out there. The article explains Sam Masich’s “5-section form” and its origins. The website includes tons of videos and resources to help you explore the entire curriculum.

Find this helpful? Consider forwarding to a friend who needs it.

Did a friend forward this to you? Get my free mini-course plus expertly curated tools to help you find freedom from pain and emotional stress. [Subscribe Free]​

​​​​​