Morning Qigong in the Open Air: Every Wednesday in the Burgas Sea Garden

On Wednesdays I teach qigong in the park instead of a studio. We meet in the Sea Garden (Morska Gradina in Bulgarian), on the grassy lawn to the left of the Summer Theater. We start at 8:00 a.m. and finish at 9:00. No experience needed: both longtime practitioners and complete beginners come along.

Why the morning, and why outdoors

Practicing in the park feels completely different from practicing indoors. Sea air, birds in the trees, a light morning chill that wakes the body up faster than coffee. An hour of calm movement at the start of the day helps get your circulation going after sleep, loosen up the joints and clear your head before the day’s business piles up. Natural morning light also helps the body fully wake up and keep a steady daily rhythm.

Slow doesn’t mean easy

Many people assume that if the movements are smooth and unhurried, there’s hardly any effort involved. It’s actually the opposite. In slow movement, momentum doesn’t help you, so every phase has to be held and controlled. Your weight flows gradually from one leg to the other, while the legs, core, back and shoulders all work at once. The grass underfoot is uneven, which adds an extra balance challenge: the feet and ankles keep adjusting the whole time.

After a few weeks of regular practice, coordination usually improves, stiffness fades and the body starts moving noticeably more freely. If you’d like to get a sense of what the practice is made of beforehand, take a look at basic yoga and qigong techniques.

In winter and bad weather

When it’s cold, raining or a strong wind is blowing in from the sea, we move indoors. At Tsentar Amrita (Bratya Miladinovi district, 145), classes take place on Mondays and Fridays. For the current season’s exact schedule and sign-up, see the qigong classes in Burgas page.

All you need to bring is comfortable clothing for the weather and a bottle of water. Regulars and newcomers are equally welcome.

Anatoly YasinskyPhysicist (MIPT), qigong instructor, yoga therapist. 25 years of practice, Yoga Journal contributor.About the author →