Tai Chi Seasons of Energy

An immersive weekend Tai Chi retreat in the hills of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom exploring the Earth element, seasonal energy, and the Tai Chi form Spin the Earth / Heel Kick.

As winter approaches, the natural world begins to draw inward. The brilliance of autumn fades, leaves return to the soil, and the energies of the year descend into the earth. In this seasonal Tai Chi tradition, early winter is the time of the Earth element—the great transformer. Just as fallen leaves, dead wood, and organic matter are broken down and renewed through the hidden fires of the earth, so too can we return our own energies to the source, allowing what is worn out, stagnant, or exhausted to be transformed and replenished.

Held at Karmê Chöling, this retreat combines Tai Chi, moving meditation, and energy cultivation in a supportive environment surrounded by Vermont's winter landscape. Participants will explore how movement can reconnect us to the steady, nourishing forces that support both body and mind.

Take any one or all of the programs in this series.

Tai Chi Summer:

Tai Chi Autumn

Tai Chi Early Winter: Register on THIS page.

This retreat may be a good fit if you:

• Are curious about Tai Chi and moving meditation.

• Want practical tools for balance, resilience, and well-being.

• Feel called to slow down and reconnect with what grounds you.

• Are interested in Taoist approaches to energy cultivation.

• Wish to deepen an existing Tai Chi or contemplative practice.

• Feel drawn to the wisdom and stillness of the winter season.

At the center of the retreat is the Tai Chi form Spin the Earth / Heel Kick. This dynamic movement develops balance, coordination, rootedness, and whole-body integration while teaching how to generate power from a stable center.

In this seasonal system, Earth Chi is associated with the great process of transformation that occurs beneath the surface of life. During early winter, all the energies of the year return to the earth to be purified, renewed, and prepared for the cycle to begin again. Through the form Spin the Earth / Heel Kick, we explore these same processes within ourselves, cultivating stability, nourishment, and the capacity to transform experience into wisdom and vitality.

Rather than approaching energy as an abstract concept, we will investigate it through embodied practice and direct experience.

Throughout the weekend, participants will practice:

• Foundational Tai Chi principles and body mechanics.
• Standing Like A Tree postures to develop structure and internal awareness.

• Silk Reeling exercises to cultivate whole-body integration.

• Push Hands practices that develop balance, sensitivity, and coordination.

• The form Spin the Earth / Heel Kick.
• Energy awareness and moving meditation.
• Traditional correspondences linking season, direction, color, the senses, and the body's energetic pathways.

Together these practices reveal the relationship between the human body and the larger rhythms of the natural world.

The retreat includes a blend of:

• Tai Chi instruction and guided practice.

• Partner exercises and movement exploration.

• Teachings on seasonal energy and Taoist principles.

• Personal reflection and informal practice.

• Time to enjoy the quiet beauty of Karmê Chöling's land in winter.

The atmosphere is relaxed, supportive, and experiential, allowing participants to learn through practice rather than performance.

Participants will have:

• A working understanding of Spin the Earth / Heel Kick.

• Foundational Tai Chi skills that can be continued at home.
• Greater balance, coordination, and body awareness.
• Practical methods for cultivating stability, vitality, and resilience.
• A deeper understanding of the Earth element and its relationship to nourishment and grounding.
• A richer appreciation of the connection between human beings and the natural world.

Joseph Pascutazz is a long-time Tai Chi practitioner and teacher with more than twenty years of daily practice. His teaching emphasizes direct experience, proper body mechanics, energetic awareness, and the living relationship between Tai Chi and the natural world.

This retreat is part of an ongoing seasonal series exploring the five elemental energies and their correspondences within both nature and the human body.

Do I need previous Tai Chi experience?
No. The retreat is open to both beginners and experienced practitioners.

Is Tai Chi physically demanding?
Tai Chi is a gentle practice that can be adapted to a wide range of ages, abilities, and fitness levels.

What is Earth Chi?
In this seasonal Tai Chi tradition, Earth Chi is the transformative energy that receives and renews the forces of life. During early winter, the energies of the year return to the earth, where they are purified and regenerated through the earth's hidden fire. Through practice, we learn to participate consciously in this cycle of release, transformation, and renewal.

What should I bring?
Comfortable clothing for movement, walking shoes, a water bottle, and layers for Vermont's changing weather.

Will I be able to continue practicing after the retreat?
Yes. Participants will leave with practical exercises, principles, and movement practices that can be integrated into daily life.

Whether you are discovering Tai Chi for the first time or deepening an established practice, this retreat offers an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with the wisdom of the body, and explore how balance can arise naturally when we learn to move with the rhythms of nature.

Joseph's workshop was extremely insightful, inclusive, and well-run. Having no previous experience with Tai Chi, I found this program to be a great introduction to the power of moving meditation. After two days, I feel a real sense of Tai Chi's ability to work with the energy in both nature and myself.

This is a wonderful introduction to Tai Chi and connecting to the elements and seasons both internally and externally. Engaging and thorough, Joseph is an excellent teacher!

Joseph is an amazingly skilled, gentle and engaging teacher. This workshop helped me invoke my potential to engage with my inner energy and interact with the external, joining them together.

A great introduction to Tai Chi for me, a senior citizen with good health but limited physical meditation experience... looking forward to more.

Friday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration.
Dinner will be served at 6:30pm.
The program will officially begin at 7:30pm.

On Sunday, the program will finish by 5:00pm.

Approximately two weeks before the start date of a program we confirm that we have sufficient numbers to hold the event. On the rare occasion when enrollment is too low, we may need to cancel a program. If this happens, we will notify all registered participants as soon as possible and provide a full refund of the program and accommodation fees paid to us. The center is not responsible for airfare or other travel expenses incurred. For this reason we recommend purchasing refundable travel tickets or travel insurance whenever possible.

Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling including our Rideshare board.