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Join us for a weekend of naked QiGong practice & ritual as we mark the movement of time and the cosmos into Spring!

Post-Event RecapThank you to all who participated!

Within minutes of being seated together at the opening circle on Friday night, this retreat group was engaged, laughing and sharing with each other – excited about spending the weekend together learning & exploring!

They may not have been clear what they were here to learn, however….that unfolded as the workshop sessions of Taoist Movements (called QiGong) and Meridian-based Massage progressed.

During the “How-to”/”Hands-on” Saturday morning and afternoon workshop sessions, the men followed along as Adam led them in Winter and early Springtime QiGong Movements – which moves energy through the channels used in acupuncture and Tai Chi. The movement sessions gave them a feeling of how energy and breath work together in QiGong, which is often called “Taoist Yoga”.

Immediately following QiGong, the men went to the massage tables to learn how to move energy through those same meridians using touch. The massage sessions were slow and relaxed using a minimum of technique to guide the men in the process of discovery. Everyone loved the touch and felt very accomplished – having learned things so new to them through practice and exploration – not from lectures or books!

Following a hot tub and sumptuous home-cooked dinner, the balance of the evening was relaxed sitting by the fireplace getting to know one another better. The men were eager to learn and do more in the Sunday morning session which reviewed the QiGong Movements and gave them ample time to explore the power of touch in a more unstructured way – incorporating what they learned with their own intuitive powers.

As a bonus, the men watched as Adam treated Scott’s bum knee with acupuncture needles. They got to see how the same energy channels are used in healing and in moving Chi in an injured area. As many of the men were not familiar with acupuncture, this gave them a unique opportunity to witness this part of Taoist practice in action!

The first inaugural Spring Equinox/QiGong/ Meridian Massage Weekend Retreat provided participants with new material to learn, contemplate and integrate. The level of engagement was terrific and shows us that there is interest and enthusiasm for different approaches to mind-body work of this kind using ancient modalities.

Based on participant turnout, feedback & overall interest, Adam will be warming up all future Massage Retreat he facilitates at Frog Meadow with QiGong since it is such a great calming, easy-to-learn mode of movement. He will also be teaching some QiGong at the Summer Men’s Gathering at Frog Meadow in July. Most importantly, we are working with Adan to craft an expanded 3-day QiGong/Meridian Massage/Taoist Yoga workshop & retreat in the near future. Please stay tuned for full details and dates!

Program Overview: Spring is a time of new beginnings! The Vernal Equinox is the pivot in the solar calendar that makes the transition out of Winter into Spring. Day and Night are of equal length. All things being equal at this point in time – we are called to set intentions for ourselves with a blank slate. Spring can be what we choose it to be and our intentions propel us into a new season of clarity and purpose.

The Practice

QiGong (Chi Kung) is a set of ancient Taoist Practices that involve movement and breathing that stimulate the flow of Qi (energy) in the meridians or the same energy channels used in acupuncture. It has been called Taoist Yoga, so men with yoga experience will easily be able to add these movements to any existing practice.

QiGong practices are seasonal exercises that correspond to the organs and channels. For example, Spring corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. The exercises for Spring are designed to cleanse and renew and help the regenerative process that takes place in the Springtime.

QiGong movements are relatively simple to learn and not vigorous. The forms are soft, elegant and flowing – following the natural progression of energy in the body according to ancient Taoist theory. Healing vibrations and meditation are also part of this practice.

The intention of practicing QiGong is to encourage the body to find its natural balance and align body structure and energy for a healthier body/mind/spirit. Developed as longevity practices by the Taoists thousands of years ago, these exercises mimic nature’s ebb and flow. Results you can expect are increased vitality, calm and a deep sense of being centered.

Here’s a short demo (G-Rated) of the graceful, flowing movements of QiGong:

Qi Meridian Massage Exchange Sessions

A great way to learn how Qi (vital energy) flows in the body is to massage the meridians! Part of the weekend will be devoted to Qi Meridian Massage Exchange. It gives you a feel for the energy pathways in a visceral way. It compliments the QiGong practice beautifully by bringing Adam’s Heart-Centered Touch work and QiGong meridian practice together. It feels good…everybody learns more skills…and we learn how to touch each other in new ways.

The weekend program will consist of morning QiGong theory, instruction and practice, which includes some meditation. You’ll learn ways to explore energy circulation in the body both in the QiGong Practice and in touch and massage. In addition to the Meridian Massage Exchange Sessions there will also be an afternoon QiGong instruction and practice session that includes partner work as well as time to answer specific questions that arise throughout the day.

Naked QiGong for Men

Why practice naked? Because we can! And, because QiGong is sexy! The ancients understood this and it comes through in the practices. If we can accept each other in our nakedness, it helps us accept ourselves in our uniqueness. We have the chance to shed our judgments, which often inhibit our growth and evolution.


My Personal QiGong Story by Adam Brown:

In 1994, I was volunteering at an AIDS Services Organization in New York. I wanted to contribute something to people confronting so many uncertainties, health challenges and suffering, not to mention so many friends dying. I helped out doing whatever was asked of me there. Courses in Miracles, Louise Hayrides, Weekly Healing Circles – we did anything we could to make sense of what was happening in our community. I came across a flyer for a research study to determine the effects of QiGong on HIV-Positive individuals. I wanted to learn more and I asked if I could be part of the class which was taught by 2 students of Master Sat Chuen Hon, who would become my Taoist Master for the next 15 years.

The QiGong (Chi Kung) study involved attending class 3 mornings 3X per week starting at 7AM and practicing at least 2 more times per week on our own.  After the first class, I was hooked! This felt like the kind of practice that fit my body, lifestyle and temperament. The exercises are slow, soft and fluid and involve simple movements and breathing. All of the movements stimulate the meridians used in acupuncture and are geared to help the immune system.

QiGong has been frequently called "Taoist Yoga", so men with yoga experience will easily be able to add these movements to any existing practice

QiGong has been frequently called “Taoist Yoga”, so men with yoga experience will easily be able to add these movements to their existing practice

As soon as the research study ended, I set up an appointment to sit in on one of Master Hon’s classes and was accepted into his “family of students” where I remained an active QiGong and TaiChi student until 2008. Studying QiGong with Master Hon changed my life! Not only did I feel tremendous health benefits from practicing every day, but I began a life-long journey of discovery of Taoism and the nature of energy in life. I practice every day for at least one hour and often more. It has been and remains a tremendously clarifying and cleansing practice for me. I feel alert, awake and in a wonderfully curious state of mind when I practice – My body feels unburdened, light and pain-free. I feel anchored in my Taoist Practice as in nothing else I’ve ever done!

I decided to go back to school to learn Acupuncture in 1999 as a result of years of studying TaiChi & QiGong. Since acupuncture works with the same energy channels as in QiGong, it seemed like a logical next step for me in my new path of healing and helping others. I received my Master of Science in Acupuncture in 2001 and now practice acupuncture and teach QiGong. Amazingly, my QiGong practice informs my acupuncture practice and visa versa! QiGong has allowed me to develop a great sensitivity to the energy in my body, and, therefore, to the energy of my patients and students.

My study of Tantra and work with men in Heart-Centered Touch has built on my Taoist Practices informing me energetically. When I lead workshops for men, the energy-teachings come from Taoism mixed with a contemporary application of Tantra.

The benefits of QiGong have been many including: a curious attitude; solid health and vitality; sexual stamina; a healthy prostate and good sleep. My QiGong practice fuels my lust to continue on the path of learning and evolving. I feel blessed to call my QiGong Practice ‘Home’ and am excited about sharing it with you!

As with all of Adam’s workshops, the individual and group experience is intertwined – using personal sharing and paired exercises to anchor the teachings and make them relevant to your current life. Everyone in the group will have opportunities to create a relevant practice for themselves. The bonding expands as we co-create practices that can be easily integrated into your personal practice/life. As we all learn and grow together, we form a tribe of souls – Committed to each others’ growth and to a higher purpose.

So, come join us for a weekend of naked practice and ritual as we mark the movement of time and the cosmos into Spring!

We’ll begin the weekend with a Friday Night Opening Circle that marks the full moon coincident with the spring equinox! Space is limited to 12 men who, for the first time at Frog Meadow, will participate in an ancient practice at an auspicious time of year. No prior experience is necessary, and the retreat is open to both singles and couples. See below for complete details, rates and to register!

About the Retreat Facilitator

AB Headshot_optimizedAdam Brown is a bodyworker and acupuncturist in New York City. His 20 years of private client work and his Taoist training have created a practice that merges his personal and his professional practice into his life’s work. For the last five years, Adam has been leading a weekly massage group for men in New York City called Heart Centered Touch for Men. He leads workshops and retreats all over the country focused on empowering men by helping them to be more fully embodied. 

Adam facilitates semi-annual men’s massage retreats as well as a summer men’s gathering at Frog Meadow. We are pleased to have Adam back this winter which marks his 8th Retreat at Frog Meadow! Adam is wonderful & talented guy as well as a warm & engaging facilitator. Many of his retreat participants have returned multiple times to freshen and enhance what they have initially learned and to share it with others! 

Retreat Rates & Registration 

The rate for the 3-day QiGong Retreat is $510 per-person (plus $45.90 VT rooms & meals tax) and includes program tuition, Friday & Saturday lodging, Friday & Saturday dinners, Saturday & Sunday breakfast, lunches & snacks, as well as full use of the amenities at Frog Meadow including 63-acre nature trail network, gym, swimming pond & wood-fired hot tub. In addition, all participants will receive 10% off the purchase of products in the Frog Meadow Store. Retreat Rates are per-person, double-occupancy (2 per room except for Deluxe Barn Suite which is Quad occupancy). Single occupancy may be available, based on availability; rates charged will be double occupancy rate plus an additional $220 for the weekend

Choose from five different room options: Room allocation will be made in the order of registration (first come, first-served), so be sure to register early to ensure your room preference! Click here for specific room descriptions, amenities and images

Room Options Occupancy Bed Size Bathroom
Frog Meadow Suite Double King private
Deluxe Barn Suite Quad Queen (2) private
North Room Double King shared
South Room Double King shared
Brook Cottage Double Queen shared

 

Retreat Start/End Times

  • Friday March 20: Arrive anytime after 4PM; Welcome Reception, full moon Opening Circle & Dinner begin at 6PM
  • Sunday March 22: Closing Circle & Lunch conclude at 2PM

Two ways to register:

  1. Book by Phone: Refer to the table above for room amenities and availability. Call 877.365.7242 and we will gladly book your reservation by phone and answer any questions you may have.
  2. Book Online: Refer to the table above for room availability and amenities. Using our Online Availability Calendar, select the available room of your choice for the nights of May 1-3, 2015. You will then be guided through the registration process for the QiGong Retreat. Choose from and select the appropriate package for either one or two persons.

Important Information:

  1. At the time of your registration, your credit/debit card (mastercard or visa) will be charged $277.95 (50% of the Program Rate plus VT tax); the remaining balance will be charged to the card on file 4 weeks prior to the scheduled retreat date.
  2. Rates are per-person, double occupancy (2 per room except for Deluxe Barn Suite which is Quad occupancy), and do not include 9% VT lodging tax. For single occupancy accommodations add $220.
  3. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants and room allocation will be made in the order of registration (first come, first-served), so be sure to register early to ensure your room preference. Click here for specific room descriptions, amenities and images.
  4. Arrive anytime after 3.00 PM on Friday 3/20; the retreat will begin at 6.00 PM with a welcome reception, opening circle and dinner buffet
  5. The retreat will end at approximately 3.00 PM on Sunday 3/22, following a closing circle and lunch.
  6. Please let us know at time of registration if you have any special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) and we will do our best to accommodate you.
  7. Frog Meadow does not have a liquor license. Please feel free to bring an adult beverage of your choice to enjoy with your evening meal, or we will coordinate pickup nearby on your behalf.
  8. Cancellations: For cancellations more than four weeks prior to the retreat, all fees will be refunded, less a 15% administration charge. For cancellations after that time, no fees will be refunded unless a replacement participant is found (and will be subject to a 15% administration charge).

If you have any questions about the QiGong Retreat  program click here to contact Adam or click here to visit his web site.

If you have any questions about Frog Meadow click here.

Travelling to Frog Meadow

  • Frog Meadow is located off Interstate 91 in southeast Vermont, approximately 10 miles north of Brattleboro VT. At the time of your registration we will provide detailed directions do reach us.
  • We are approximately 2.5 hours from Boston and 4 hours from New York City.
  • The closest airports are Hartford (Bradley) and Boston (Logan).
  • There is daily Amtrak train service to nearby Brattleboro from NYC Penn Station, Newark NY, Philadelphia and Washington DC. If you arrive via Amtrak we will gladly coordinate your transfers to/from Frog Meadow.  Some of the many 200 year old stone walls at Frog Meadow!

 

About UsFrog Meadow Farm Bed & Breakfast and Massage Oasis for Men is a welcoming, non-judgmental place for men of all colors and backgrounds to unwind and shed the trappings of busy modern life.Situated on 63 beautiful & private acres, Frog Meadow frequently hosts men’s gatherings, workshops and retreats. Hosts Dave & Scott are committed to providing a welcoming environment to re-connect with nature and yourself.

The South RoomFrog Meadow is only 4 miles from the popular Rock River swimming hole, 10 miles from Brattleboro, VT and 30 minutes Mount Snow & Stratton Mountain ski resorts.

Relax in our spring-fed swimming pond, soak in our wood-fired hot tub, or enjoy our 4-season recreation trails and extensive perennial gardens and orchard!

Be sure to check out our special events calendarphoto galleriesrooms/lodging pages & lodging specials and discover all that gay-friendly Southern Vermont has to offer!

Frog Meadow Hot Tub

 

Click here to learn why Edge Boston calls Frog Meadow “Vermont’s Gay Oasis”

 
 
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