Awaken the Power Within: Qigong & Tai Chi for Harmony with Nature and Self
Retreat Highlights
- Begin each morning with standing meditation at sunrise, outdoors when the weather allows.
- Learn graceful, flowing Tai Chi and Qigong forms that cultivate strength, resilience, and inner stillness.
- Work with the energies of Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood to restore natural balance.
- Deepen your connection to your vital energy (Qi) through breathwork and visualization.
- Leave with practical tools for managing stress and cultivating calm.
About this Retreat
Master Shahar has devoted over two decades to the living arts of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. His journey began at the age of eleven, under the guidance of distinguished teachers such as Grandmaster Yaron Benyamini and Tal Rejoan, whose lineage traces back to the legendary Chen Fa Ke. Through this unbroken tradition, Shahar came to understand that Tai Chi and Qi Gong are not merely practices of movement—they are living pathways into the heart of nature, resilience, and inner stillness.
With a presence both powerful and accessible, Shahar teaches not only technique but the art of embodying life itself. His classes weave together breath, movement, and meditation, creating an experience that reconnects the practitioner to their own inner vitality, balance, and natural joy. His teaching is not rigid; it flows like water—serious in depth, yet touched with lightness and ease.
Rooted in the Taoist view of nature and spirit, Shahar’s approach reflects a rare integration of profound wisdom and practical living. His understanding of resilience is not theoretical. As a former special unit soldier, Shahar has faced both the visible and invisible battles that life presents. From this deep well of experience, he teaches that true power is not born of force, but of alignment—with oneself, with others, and with the greater rhythms of life.
In every class, Shahar opens a gateway: an invitation to return to simplicity, to cultivate true inner peace, and to move through life with strength, softness, and effortless flow.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida, Michael Anthony has dedicated his career to creating safe, supportive spaces where individuals and couples can work towards healing and growth. With over seven years of experience in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and martial arts, Michael incorporates the calming principles and physical movements of these practices into his therapeutic work. Whether in individual or couples counseling, he seamlessly blends Eastern philosophy with evidence-based practices to foster mindfulness, balance, and resilience in his clients.
Michael specializes in trauma therapy and utilizes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients work through past wounds and trauma. His passion extends to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly for men, and he is deeply committed to helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength and peace.
In addition to his private practice, Michael has over a decade of experience serving diverse communities, including those with disabilities, neurodiverse needs, at-risk youth, and under-resourced individuals, often in partnership with nonprofits. His background also includes a love for live music and martial arts, two pursuits that continue to shape his personal and professional life.
Details of this retreat
Move as meditation. Breathe as prayer. Return to the rhythms of the natural world.
Step into the healing embrace of the mountains, the radiant sun, and the timeless wisdom of the internal arts. Guided by Master Shahar Kovetz and Michael Anthony, this unique retreat invites you to experience Qigong and Tai Chi as living meditations — pathways to harmony, vitality, and inner peace.
Rooted in the ancient traditions of Tai Chi, Qigong, and internal martial arts, each session helps you reconnect with the rhythms of nature and awaken the deep wellspring of energy within. Through mindful movement, standing meditation, breathwork, and the cultivation of inner stillness, you will learn to restore balance to body, mind, and spirit.
Mornings begin with the rising sun over the mountain’s edge, where soft light and earth become your companions in practice. When the weather allows, we practice outdoors near the LOTUS; on colder or wetter mornings, we move indoors and carry the same practices inside. As you move with the breath and flow with the elements, the external world dissolves and a deeper awareness is born.
During This Retreat, You Will Explore:
Standing Meditation at Sunrise — Root yourself in earth and sky, and align with the vastness of nature (outdoors, weather permitting).
Tai Chi and Qigong Forms — Learn graceful, flowing sequences that cultivate strength, resilience, and inner stillness.
Elemental Harmony Practices — Work with the energies of Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood to restore natural balance.
Breathwork and Visualization — Deepen the connection to your vital energy (Qi) through conscious breathing and inner awareness.
The Martial Roots of Peace — Discover movement as a prayer of peace, where strength is expressed through softness and clarity.
About Your Teachers:
Master Shahar Kovetz brings more than two decades of mastery in martial arts, healing, and spiritual leadership, offering profound depth and inspiration to every student.
Michael Anthony shares a grounded, heart-centered approach, weaving wisdom, humor, and clarity into each session to create an atmosphere of ease, openness, and transformation.
You Will Leave With:
A deeper connection to nature and your own inner being
Practical tools for managing stress and cultivating calm
Renewed vitality, strength, and flow in body and mind
A living understanding of the internal arts as a way of life
This is more than a workshop — it is an invitation to return to your true nature, to move with grace, and to meet each day with an open heart.
All levels are welcome.
What to Bring
Mid-March mornings in the Virginia foothills can be cold. Please bring warm layers, a hat, and comfortable shoes for outdoor practice, along with loose clothing you can move in.
What People Say
Shahar and Michael have a way of teaching that is both mind and body connected. I started with four words, earth, water, fire, air, that I had heard for years with no awareness of their connection… I can feel the flow of the energy and have started to balance it within. ~Michael
Shahar and Michael were wonderful teachers. They made learning fun and qigong accessible to a large and diverse group of newbies! ~James Phillips
I had an excellent experience learning qigong and also learning about the Ashram and the way of life there. ~James
Both Shahar and Michael were awesome! ~Program Participant, October 2026
I got the learning and initial experience I had hoped for… the practice and instructor interaction. ~Program Participant, October 2026
Shahar and Michael are engaging, interesting, knowledgeable, and have the ability to transfer their understanding and experience to you. And they have a genuine caring about you. ~Michael
View Daily Ashram Schedule →
Getting Here
Accommodation
Shared Dormitory: Bottom Bunk
Private Dormitory
LGH: Full Bed
LGH: 2 Twin beds
LGH: Queen Bed
Tent-Site
What's Included
- Accomodations
- Meals
- Meditation Sessions
- Yoga Classes
What's Not Included
- Transportation
- Airfare
Last Chance