Shifu Yan Tuo — The Spiritual Path of Shaolin (Live Zoom Course)

🗓 Tuesdays at 6 PM PST
📅 October 7 – October 28, 2025
💻 Live on Zoom + Lifetime Replay Access

Notice: Enrollment for "4 - Week Series" is closed 
Week 3 & 4 "Single Classes" are still open to join!

📅 Week-by-Week Breakdown

Week 1 — October 7, 2025 (Closed)
Origins of Shaolin & Foundational Movements

The Shaolin Temple’s story is more than legend - it’s a practical system for shaping body and mind. This session situates your practice inside that living tradition and introduces the core mechanics that make Shaolin training safe, powerful, and sustainable.

• Pain points we address: inconsistent practice, poor posture, tight hips/hamstrings, knee stress from incorrect stances, feeling “lost” on where to start.
• What you’ll learn: the Shaolin timeline & values; how Chan (Zen) informs training; neutral spine, rooted feet, and breath; key stances (mǎ bù, gōng bù) and a short traditional form to connect upper/lower body.
• Takeaway: a simple daily warm-up + stance routine that builds alignment, strength, and confidence.

Week 2 — October 14, 2025 (Closed)
The Power of Qi Gong

Qi Gong is Shaolin’s engine room - breath, structure, and attention working together to build internal power. You’ll learn accessible patterns that improve circulation, calm the nervous system, and enhance recovery from training and work stress.

• Pain points we address: stress & anxiety, shallow breathing, low energy, tight shoulders/neck from screens, poor sleep.
• What you’ll learn: how breath drives movement; standing alignment for energy flow; a guided sequence of Ba Duan Jin (Eight Brocades) with pacing, reps, and modifications.
• Takeaway: a 10–15 minute daily Qi Gong set that boosts clarity, mood, and resilience.

Week 3 — October 21, 2025 (Open)
Tea Ceremony & Meditative Rituals

In Shaolin culture, tea is a bridge to stillness. The Gong Fu Cha method turns making tea into a mindful ritual: precise hands, patient breath, quiet attention. You’ll learn a simple home setup and how to use tea to reset your day in 5–10 minutes.

• Pain points we address: mid-day crashes, constant multitasking, emotional overwhelm, difficulty winding down.
• What you’ll learn: choosing tea & water, warming the vessels, steeping times, mindful tasting; using ritual to anchor presence between tasks.
• Takeaway: a step-by-step tea ritual you can repeat for focus, connection, or evening calm.

Week 4 — October 28, 2025 (Open)
Meditation: The Heart of Shaolin Practice

Shaolin meditation is practical: posture, breath, and awareness that you can apply in training and daily life. We’ll demystify how to sit, what to do with thoughts, and how to build a routine that actually sticks.

• Pain points we address: racing thoughts, inconsistency with meditation apps, tension while sitting, difficulty focusing.
• What you’ll learn: comfortable seated setup, hand positions, breath counting, gentle attention, and short “micro-sits” for busy days.
• Takeaway: a sustainable 5–15 minute daily practice + ways to integrate meditation with Kung Fu and Qi Gong.