I was preparing ceramic sculptures to represent the 8 Brocades Qigong. When I opened the lid of the kiln I got quite a surprise. The perfect figures I had labored to make had exploded. Staring at them I thought it was a complete disaster. I was tempted to throw it all away. The more I looked at the broken figures, the more excited I became. I began rearranging the pieces like a puzzle into something new. Something striking and meaningful emerged. I discovered beauty and wholeness in the re-creation of my wounded figures. We all have some imperfections, many have experienced traumas, and we survived. We do the best we can. We focus on our abilities, trying not to let our disabilities rule our lives. The 8 Brocades figures have transformed into a valuable teaching tool, more powerful and useful than an art piece hanging on my wall. I believe most everyone can benefit from this gentle healing Qigong practice. Each person can modify accordingly, taking into consideration their own limitations. This practice can be done standing or seated. I hope you enjoy learning, practicing and benefiting with the 8 Brocades Qigong. 8 Brocade Qigong Practice – Each Brocade Practiced 7 Times. 1) Carrying the Heavens with both Hands 2) Supporting Sky and Pushing Earth 3) The Archer’s Bow 4) Looking behind to cure Fatique and Stress 5) Bending over, Wagging tail to calm Heart Fire 6) Reaching down to dissipate Disease 7) Punch with Angry Gaze to increase Qi 8) Shake back 7 times to eliminate Disease. Click Here OR On the Picture For More Detail Click Here to Watch a Video of the 8 Brocades Qigong Practice
In our Qigong for Health classes I will be reintroducing a favorite traditional practice, The 8 Brocades Qigong. I have studied it several times with different teachers including a Shaolin monk. My favorite Qigong teacher for this practice is Mimi Kuo-Deemer. We will learn the 8 Brocades in class and I am sharing Mimi’s delightful video so you can practice whenever you wish. In our winter classes we will also practice Qigong with GRACE Chakra Balancing. This video is easy to follow and is a wonderful way to start your day. Wishing all of us a Happy and Healthy New Year. Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Dear Friends, Students and love ones, I am participating in a Holiday Boutique, showing and selling my ceramic art work for holiday gifts. The other artists have jewelry, scarves, and other fun items all at reasonable prices. The dates are Nov 30 and Dec 1 and I will be there from 2-5pm both days. At a beautiful home in Terra Linda, 1106 Via Horqueta, off Las Pavadas in Terra Linda, San Rafael. Please mark your calendars, It will be fun, Hope to see you there. With gratitude Dove Here is a preview of some of the items:
I want to invite you to the wonderful 6th Annual Fall Art Show &Wine Tasting this Saturday October 27th, from 3:00-7:00pm, at the Marinwood Community Center, 775 Miller Rd., in San Rafael. I will be showing “Yoga Delight” A sequel to the “Me Too” Exhibit which is showing at Falkirk in San Rafael thru Thursday October 25 from 1:00-4:00. Hope to see you on Saturday. Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Summer has arrived. Time to go to the beach and practice Qigong To warm up, energize the body, for greater strengthen, flexibility , And balanced wellbeing. You are welcome to follow along and enjoy. Chi blessings with gratitude Dove
Come join us and bring a friend or significant other Saturday May 26 from 3:30-5:00. We will practice Qigong on land then take it into warm healing waters, relaxing and energizing the body, mind and spirit. We will learn some partner trust support exercises experiencing Swimming Dragon. Space is limited so RSVP soon. See Contact Page Cost $45 per couple, or $25 Single.
Dear Friends You are invited to an exciting Interfaith Art Exhibit where I will be showing 3 pieces of collaborative work on Peace. I would enjoy seeing you at our Art Opening on December 3 from 1-4pm. Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Shalom, Salaam and Peace with gratitude Dove “Collaboration and Connection” is the fourth interfaith art exhibition hosted by the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC) and brings together artists from many faiths to express their commitment to interfaith understanding, coexistence, peace, and cultural dialogue. The impetus for this powerful exhibition is the desire to build bridges and create friendships through artistic collaboration. Thirty teams of artists have risen to the challenge of creating collaborative artwork with unique and stunning creations in a wide variety of mediums including painting, clay, fabric, metalwork, glass, found materials, photography, origami and much more. This art exhibition is sponsored by the Faith Trio, a 16 year alliance of the ICCNC with two other congregations in the Oakland area: Kehilla Community Synagogue and Montclair Presbyterian Church. Local non-profits, foundations, and community partners are also sponsors of the exhibition. The opening reception will take place at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison Street, Oakland, on Sunday, December 3, 1 – 4 pm. Free event. Light refreshments, speakers, live music by the Qirvah ensemble, and the opportunity to view artwork and meet artists. The exhibition runs through February 24, 2018 and is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 – 4 pm. For more information, please contact Lea Delson at (510) 528-6725 or lea@lmi.net View the website of the interfaith art exhibitions here www.interfaithart.org
I had a golden opportunity to travel to China for 3 weeks with my husband’s easy going siblings and spouses. 3 weeks of marvel and spectacular sites covering thousands of years of history, ancient monuments, temples, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. We covered vast areas from Beijing, to Xian warriors, to Hunan, to Tibetan Plateau, to Guilin to Shanghai. Everyday was a new adventure filled with awe and wonder. I began each morning with my Qigong practice in a public park or quiet garden, Sometimes joining in with the local people. I will share some of these delights from my travels and the daily practices. Chi Blessings with gratitude Dove China Pratices Video 1 China Practices Video 2
AQUA QIGONG Relax and revitalize with Dove. Come and experience the Ancient Art of Qigong, and its healing transformation as we do our practice in a warm natural pool. Feel your body and mind become balanced as you engage and connect with the Universal Life Energy through Wisdom Healing and Healing Dragon Qigong practices. Imagine the dragon inside of you: powerful, wise and protective, helping you transform negative energy into positive. Aqua Qigong will be held: Saturdays July 22-August 19, 2017 from 3:30-5:00pm At Dove’s home in San Rafael ( address given after RSVP) Cost per class is $25. 3 Classes for $65. Please RSVP as Space is limited. Call 415-484-5344 or email dove@dragonartsstudio.com Dove Govrin MA. ADTR. Certified Qigong Instructor Testimonials from Dove’s Aqua Chi Students: “Aqua chi with Dove strengthens and relaxes at the same time. Dove’s teaching and beautiful backyard brings serenity to your mind, body and soul.” P. Harris, San Rafael “Aqua chi is amazingly relaxing, yet energizing. Qigong forms that are difficult to do on land are effortless in the water. We exercise, we meditate, and we swim, in a warm pool surrounded by peaceful hillside. Splish, splash, I love it!” C. Chapman, San Rafael.
DANCING TREES OF LIFE Art Exhibit for Tu Bshvat by Dove Govrin Kol Shafar Gallery 215 Blackfield Dr. Tiburon, CA. Exhibit from February 12th -March 21, 2017 Dancing Trees of Life Art Exhibit Sponsored by Center of Jewish Spirituality By Ilene Serlin For Tu Bshvat We, at the Center for Jewish Spirituality, believe that spirituality can take many forms in the Jewish tradition. For Tu Bshvat, we were honored to host local artist and dance therapist, Dove Govrin, to offer an opening movement celebration of trees, followed by her ceramic tree exhibit in the Kol Shofar art gallery. Over 40 people participated in the opening Qigong demonstration of the Five Element Trees, that balances body, mind and spirit. The Dancing Trees of life exhibition features 18 ceramic dancing trees, celebrating life and the birthday of the trees. The artist, Dove Govrin, created dancing trees as self portraits, a path to inner reflections, searching for deeper spirituality, connection to Mother Earth and a prayer for peace in the Middle East. This work has been inspired by her roots in Judaism and her teaching of Qigong from Chinese Medicine. The exhibit has been well received by all ages. Children from Kol Shofar have been spellbound when entering into the gallery. Mark Dubois, the activist who spoke on Tu Bshvat, was deeply moved by the exhibit. Dubois, whose wife started TreeSisters.org, gave a compassionate talk about the urgent need for restoration and reforestation, planting a Million Trees. As we celebrate the birthday of the Trees, we are reminded how trees provide us with basic needs for food, shelter and oxygen. We are depend on them and they are dependent on us for survival. Let the dancing trees inspire you. Please enjoy the exhibit in the Kol Shofar gallery, extended until March 21. Tree of Life Reflections “Early in March 2017 a dear friend passed away. Her relatives gathered, two in particular who came over from England were deeply grief stricken. Many family members staying in a very small home helped create a pressure cooker atmosphere. For a break I took my friends over to Kol Shofar synagogue in Tiburon to see Dove Govrin’s Dancing Trees of Life art exhibit. Dove had made a series of ceramic trees based on the tree of life, threaded with themes of love, peace, healing and adding motifs of healing and regeneration from her own knowledge of Chinese Medicine and the art of Qigong. I was not sure how these Unfamiliar themes would resonate with my London friends but as we stood before the ceramic pieces it was obvious that they touched deeply providing healing and consolation. The symbol of the trees, the dance of Life and regeneration, the restorative power in nature transcend culture and language. My friends were able to pass from great distress to having moments of peace, relief and love. The staff and Rabbi at Kol Shofar supported this consolation even more by their kindness and by the gift of a beautiful seven day remembrance candle. I felt I witnessed the healing power of art and human kindness. Thank you Dove and Kol Shofar.” Teresa Colton — A student who visited the Dancing Trees of Life exhibit