5 Elements Iron Buddha

About This Class

This approachable Qigong class with Terry Kvasnik guides students through a full-body warm-up of gentle neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle circles before settling into the Grand Ultimate Stance — a grounded, meditative posture with focus on the Dantian energy center. The heart of the class is the Five Elements Qigong sequence: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — each element featuring its own stepping, arm-sweeping, and weight-shifting pattern designed to open the joints, relax the hips and abdomen, and allow energy to drop down through the legs into the earth. Throughout, Terry emphasizes softness, continuous flowing movement ("like reeling silk"), core engagement during folds, and releasing tension held in the hips and shoulders. The class closes with the Iron Buddha sequence, a rhythmic crossing and dipping pattern described as supportive during times of low energy or illness. The overall tone is calm, inward, and restorative, inviting students to begin from a place of joy and happiness and maintain relaxed, grounded awareness throughout.