Building the conditions for our Taoist body and mind. June 9 – 15th 2025
Join me and friends for a week of movement, qi gong exercises and taiji openings at Bruna’s mill in Tuscany, an earthy rustic off-grid paradise. (No signal or wifi!)
About the location
Bruna’s mill it is an off-grid old mill which she converted into a farm house. There is no wifi or phone signal; there is a river; she grows vegetables and flowers there; in one of the bedrooms the ceiling is hand painted with golden stars… it’s pretty magic. We will eat together around a big wooden family kitchen table, walk up the hills and watch the sunset. You’ll breathe deeply here. You can see the mill’s website here.
About the course
The Taoist body practices build strength, movement and openness in the body. Power in our base, lightness in our torso. We will build this foundation to enable and support lightness, release, letting go.
We will use beginner taiji exercises and qi gong practices to harmonise body and mind, to build the mechanisms of opening, sinking, moving, listening inside. We will learn to absorb, to follow. We will also develop our seated meditation practice, which will be nourished and informed by our movements.
I’d love to have you there with us!
Practical stuff
Arrive on Monday, (I’d recommend going to Florence for the weekend before if you have time), leave on the Sunday.
The closest city is Siena. The nearest airport to Siena is Florence (FLR), and Pisa.
| Costs | Patron 6 nights | Normal guest 6 nights | Subsidised 6 nights (limited numbers) | Per extra night, food and bed |
| Camping (bring your own stuff) | £474 | £395 | £316 | £28 |
| Shared room | £540 | £450 | £360 | £35 |
| Private double one person | £632 | £527 | x | £48 |
Deposit: £100 / £75 / £50 to secure your place, due by the end of February.
Level: The course will involve active movement, long periods of standing, and long sitting meditation. You’re welcome at any point to step out, pause, take a break, or rest. The course is beginner friendly, but does require some mobility and physical health. It is also possible to practice in a chair.
Extra thoughts: Tamsin will likely drive from Dorset. If you want to send a tent in her car, that can be organised. If anyone else is able to come by car or van, we could even do a trip to the local hot springs or waterfalls one day, numbers and vehicles depending.
Timetable to be announced – to include practice sessions, philosophical talks, a games night, walks up the hill, space to share about our experience.
Tamsin Ana 