Flowing Stillness
Tai Chi and Qigong are the arts of moving with life and allowing life to move through you—a living practice of internal alchemy that transforms effort into ease and tension into flow. By aligning movement with the natural rhythm of the Tao, we rediscover a power that is soft, a strength that is quiet, and a presence that is absolute.With over two decades of experience, Vivien shares these practices with a global community through YouTube, reaching millions worldwide. Her teaching is a refined synthesis of ancient tradition and modern somatic wisdom, guiding practitioners to reclaim vitality, restore balance, and move through life with greater clarity and ease.
1-Day Qigong Workshop
May 17, 2026
Step into a sanctuary where ancient wisdom entwines with the quiet pulse of the living forest. On May 17th, as Valaterra’s woods glow at the height of their spring greening, we gather for a concentrated immersion—one that weaves timeless somatic practice with the subtle science of restoration.Our journey opens with the Eight Pieces of Brocade, a silken sequence offered by antiquity to harmonize the Five Elements and recalibrate the body’s inner tides. Guided by breath and intention, these movements gently dissolve stagnation and awaken a quiet, resilient vitality. From there, we release the walls of the studio and step into 100 acres of protected forest for Animal Walking Meditations. Moving with instinct and reverence, we mirror the grounded grace of the wild—listening with our bodies as the forest breathes us back into rhythm.The day closes in deep vibrational repose, bathing in the resonant medicine of 432Hz crystal singing bowls, followed by a Sacred Tea Circle to seal and settle the experience.Light refreshments will be provided throughout the day to sustain our energy. We invite you to bring a simple, picnic-style lunch to enjoy during our midday forest break, as well as your favorite mug to join our tea circle—an intimate gesture as we anchor our internal peace together.To support your comfort and ease, please bring a water bottle and wear comfortable, layered clothing suitable for gentle movement and time outdoors, allowing you to adapt to changing temperatures as the day unfolds.Return not merely rested, but rooted—quietly luminous and newly attuned to the living world.
What to Bring
• A water bottle
• Comfortable, layered clothing suitable for gentle movement and time outdoors
• A simple picnic-style lunch
• Your favorite mug for the Sacred Tea Circle
• A journal and pen for reflection and writing
Gentle Preparation (Optional):
For those who enjoy arriving with a bit of familiarity, you may wish to preview this short video offering an overview of the Eight Pieces of Brocade we’ll be practicing:
Cost: $125
3-Day Residential Retreat
October 30 – November 1, 2026
Valaterra Sanctuary, La Grange, KY, USA
Enter a Modern Monastery at the precise moment the world slows down. As we meet the threshold of the winter descent, we gather for a deep-immersion journey into the heart of transformation. Guided by the metaphor of the Monarch’s Metamorphosis, we will practice the sacred art of Emptying the Cup—shedding the year’s stagnancy through the architectural power of Yi Jin Jing (The Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic) and the fluid grace of the 18 Form (Shi Ba Shi).As the clocks fall back, we will step into the Thirteenth Hour—a rare temporal gift utilized for extended silent meditation and profound internal cultivation. Within the safety of our golden chrysalis, we dissolve the old forms of the doing self, refining our internal energy and preparing the spirit to emerge with new wings, rooted and ready for the winter’s rest.
The “Modern Monastery” Experience
Small Group Focus: Vivien’s teaching is rooted in the belief that the subtle details of Tai Chi and Qigong cannot be caught in a crowd. She deliberately keeps her in-person immersions intimate, allowing her to bridge ancient lineage with modern somatic science through direct, personal attention to every student’s path.Lodging & The Shared Journey: To foster a sense of collective stillness and shared journey, tuition includes a two-night stay at the Valaterra Sanctuary House. Following the “Modern Monastery” tradition, lodging is communal-style with shared sleeping quarters and common spaces.We recognize that deep internal work requires personal comfort. If you prefer more privacy, you are welcome to:Pitch a personal tent on the sanctuary grounds for a closer connection to nature.Stay locally at a nearby Airbnb or your own home if you live in the area.Please note: The tuition remains the same regardless of lodging choice, as it covers the prepared meals, sanctuary access, and the depth of the 3-day master instruction.
Gentle Preparation (Optional):
For those who enjoy arriving with a bit of familiarity, you may wish to preview this video:
Cost: $1250
(All-inclusive: Monastery-style Lodging, Simple Meals, and Master Instruction)
The Mission
True empowerment begins with a gentle return to the body. Over more than twenty years of practicing and teaching these healing arts, I have witnessed this truth again and again: when we move with intention, we do more than nourish the body—we initiate a transformation that unfolds from within.My deepest calling is to bring ancient wisdom into meaningful dialogue with modern life. Through the disciplined arts of Tai Chi and Qigong, and the gatherings I carefully shape, I facilitate a sacred return to the body—bridging time‑honored lineages with modern somatic science. Within this meeting point, practice becomes a sanctuary: a place to dissolve energetic and emotional blockages and rediscover your innate Flowing Stillness.This path is not about striving or doing more; it is about softening into awareness and trust. In my virtual practice spaces and in‑person immersions, I create environments where you can release what you’ve been carrying, return to your natural center, and cultivate calm, vitality, and clarity that extend well beyond the practice itself—supporting a grounded, resilient, and quietly empowered way of living.
Venue
Valaterra is a living sanctuary nestled on over 100 acres of protected forest in Oldham County, Kentucky, just outside Louisville. Designed with intention and eco‑conscious care, its thoughtfully crafted spaces—sunlit gathering rooms, quiet trails, a meandering creek, and open meadows—invite deep rest, reflection, and reconnection with the natural world. Valaterra offers a peaceful container where the noise of daily life softens, and healing, presence, and community can naturally unfold.www.valaterra.org
7101 Shrader Lane, LaGrange, KY 40031, USA
Traveling to Valaterra Sanctuary
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
The nearest major airport is SDF, located approximately 25 to 30 minutes from the sanctuary. It is a friendly, easy-to-navigate airport served by all major domestic airlines.Ground Transportation:Rideshare: Both Uber and Lyft operate reliably from SDF. A one-way trip typically ranges from $35–$50 depending on the time of day.Car Rentals: All major rental agencies are available at the airport. We recommend this if you plan to explore the rolling hills of Kentucky’s horse country before or after the retreat.
About Your Instructor
Somatic Movement Educator | Energy Healing Practitioner
For over 20 years, Vivien Chao has devoted her life to the practice and teaching of Tai Chi, Qigong, and somatic movement—both as a lifelong student and as a guide for others seeking balance, healing, and embodied ease.Her path began beside a Buddhist temple near her childhood home in Taiwan. There, the early morning chime of temple bells and the quiet breath of nature shaped her earliest experiences of stillness and awareness. What began as simple play—sitting quietly, listening inward—gradually unfolded into a deep and sustained commitment to the internal arts.A defining chapter of her training was spent living off‑grid as a residential practitioner under the guidance of Dr. Yang, Jwing‑Ming. This year of traditional apprenticeship distilled her understanding of the Taoist principle of being soft yet powerful, where sensitivity becomes a source of strength and movement arises from attentive listening rather than force.Through her YouTube channel (@VivienChaoTaichiQigong), Vivien now shares these time-honored practices with a global community of over 50,000 subscribers and millions of viewers. From the Tai Chi Qigong 18 Form to animal-inspired walking meditations, her teachings support calm, vitality, improved energy flow, and a deeper sense of peace—one breath and one movement at a time.In addition to her online work, Vivien brings her nurturing, integrative approach into in‑person spaces. She has led immersive retreats in landscapes such as Sedona’s red rocks and Oregon’s lush forests, blending traditional lineages with modern somatic understanding to help people reconnect with their natural strength and inner harmony.She explores the world in a quiet Taoist way, honoring each breath as internal alchemy and each movement as a return to original stillness—where presence precedes effort, and vitality arises without force.