The seminal text of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, was written during a period of immense intellectual fertility. This time period of ancient China is known as the time of the 100 Schools due to the myriad of complimentary and competing schools of thought that were bubbling up - each trying to lay out the pathway for how to act in the world.

The Taoist’s proposed following “the Way” as a solution to living a contented life. This meant learning to observe nature and then following its principles; ie, that things happen for a reason and in their own time. Therefore we should always look to observe the circumstances around us before acting.

This was an almost anarchistic or rebellious idea at the time, for in opposition to this we had the popular Confucianist view that one should always choose to act in relation to one’s societal and familial obligations and responsibilities.

This tension is observed in Taoist writings which are often expressed as irreverent anecdotal short stories - the Confucianists often being the butt of jokes, falling into intellectual traps of their own making.

Reading Taoist works, one cannot help but laugh out loud as the sages poke fun at the absurd rigidity of Confucianism. But they don’t do this simply to mock. They do it to illustrate that no matter how hard you try to fix yourself and society to hard and rigid rules, nature will flow on regardless, making a joke of all your plans.

In Tao & Yin we pick up this central idea of the futility of fighting against nature and show, through key Taoist concepts such as “action-less action”, “the un-carved block”, and more, how we can flow with nature rather than fight against it.

Acting this way, our lives will be so much simpler and contented.

The concepts of Yin and Yang are often associated with Taoism; and whilst they are related, they are not really central themes in Taoist thought.

Nevertheless the concepts of Yin-Yang theory are a great guide to getting at the heart of Taoism; for Taoism is difficult to grasp.

During our three days we will introduce you to the School of Yin Yang; what the terms “yin” and “yang” mean, and from where they originated. No doubt you will be familiar with the typical pictorial representation of yin and yang - ☯️

This simple illustration quite literally explains the workings of the whole universe if you know how to interpret it; and so we will unpack this for you to show how knowledge of this
”map” can lead to a more contented life.

A third ingredient of Yin-Yang philosophy - Qi - will also be investigated so that we can turn theory into practical action for living well.

Our third area of exploration is the School of The 5 Elements. This school of thought also sets out a map for how to find balance and harmony; and was a key influence on early Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

The 5 Elements model is a very useful tool for applying the ideas of Yin-Yang to our everyday health and wellbeing.

Put simply, this model further breaks down the basic complementary duality of yin and yang into further stages within the overall cycle of all things. For this reason it is a more useful map for learning about how our bodies function, how our emotions ebb and flow, and how we can learn to see what might be holding us back in a particular situation - whatever that situation might be.

In other words, the 5 Elements give us a guide for how to interpret what is happening in any moment, so that we can choose how to act, or whether to act at all.

Students of Tao & Yin really love this part of the course for its fascinating viewpoint on our health and harmony; as well as for its easy to adopt principles on how to live a contented and relaxed life.

The real purpose of our time together is to discover a way of looking at the world and our selves, and how the two actually interrelate and interact in harmony.

Yes, the universe IS actually designed for us to live a happy and contended existence. But! First we need to understand how the universe works, and how we work. Once we grasp this we will see how it isn’t too difficult to employ strategies to ensure that everything works FOR us and not against us, so that obstacles and frustrations simply disappear.

This deep understanding is what really leads to the Heart of Living Well. Intrigued? We will see you there. ;)

Our courses encompass various elements to maximise your enjoyment, engagement and learning… because we all learn in different ways.

Our key pillars include:

✅ Face to face engagement. In our opinion there is nothing to rival face to face learning. So all our courses are conducted this way, in small groups, to optimise your experience. Face to face courses offer many benefits compared with online learning, including:

• Enriched communication. Communication is more than just verbal. It’s also gestural and “energetic.” The best communication also happens in real time.

• Direct feedback. This applies to our conversations as well as to our yoga practices. It’s not optimal to give meaningful corrections or assistance through a screen.

• Spontaneous moments of insight. Sometimes our little breakthroughs come not in the main lectures and discussions but in small moments during breaks, i.e. asking a question as we meet each other coming or going, or passing in the hall.

✅ Daily yoga practices. Our practices are designed to suit the nature and content of each course, so will vary in type, techniques shared, as well as level of intensity. For more introspective courses the techniques are gentler and more contemplative; whilst other courses offer more vigorous and energetic practices. Refer to each Course Features section to get a feel for what is on offer. Daily practices also provide the opportunity to be introduced to new techniques whilst absorbing and embodying the learnings.

✅ Analysis and reflection. We always allow time for discussion and reflection of the practices so that you can share your experience, get direct feedback from our trainer/s, and hear the experiences of your fellow students. These rich discussions offer so much insight, as well as ensuring that you understand the techniques being taught.

✅ Lectures and conversation. Each course is rich in theory and methods, but with ample opportunity for group conversation. Students are encouraged to share their points of view in a supported learning environment. Through this method each course evolves its own unique insights as our students flavour the learnings with what they bring from their own life experience. It’s why no two courses are ever the same. Students can also approach the trainer/s one-on-one at appropriate moments during the course if they wish.

✅ Immersive learning. Our courses are designed as immersive experiences, usually running over several consecutive days or longer.

When attending a course we encourage you to treat it as a retreat away from your usual routine and activities. Freedom from distractions allows you the mental space to absorb what you learn. Of course we all have different life situations, so we run each day on time to allow you the structure to get things done outside of course hours. An example course timetable is presented for you in the section below this one.

A further feature of our courses are the amazing books and manuals we create for you - that are available nowhere else. These range from 100-200+ pages, depending on the course length and its nature. The course books include a summary of all we learn, instructions for any techniques taught; and many are rich with images and photos to inspire and guide you.

Knowing you have a resource that you can always refer back to really allows you to engage with the trainer/s and group in real time, without the distraction of constant note taking - leading to a truly immersive learning experience.