Rubbo Internal Arts Summer Retreats provide intensive Qigong and Tai Chi training designed to increase strength, enhance health and deepen spiritual awareness." This is not the same as just going on a nature hike," says Master Donald Rubbo. "There is much more involved than seeing trees, and flowers and breathing fresh air. We assist you in becoming more aware of the underlying rhythm of your mind, body and spirit."

(PRWEB) May 19, 2004 -- Rubbo Internal Arts (www.CultivateChi.com), announces its program of summer retreats for 2004, which will take place from June 18-27 and July 16-18 at a series of outdoor settings: from mountains and lakes to beaches and old growth redwood groves, in beautiful Marin County, California.

Designed to help participants increase vitality and cultivate inner power, these unique, powerful retreats are held in natural settings to help people reconnect their own spirits with nature. The Rubbos have selected special areas of Marin with unparalleled beauty: mountaintops with sweeping vistas; deep, cool forests; sunny beaches; and tranquil lakes.

"This is not the same as just going on a nature hike," says Master Donald Rubbo. "There is much more involved than seeing trees, and flowers and breathing fresh air. You'll learn to experience and appreciate the subtleties of color and texture in a red flower; and the subtle layers of breathing, muscle control, and natural energies of your own body. We assist you in becoming more aware of the underlying rhythm of your mind, body and spirit, and teach you how to become more relaxed, more focused and connected to the energies of the natural world."

"Donald and Cheryl Lynne guided me through a series of experiences which created a memorable impression of a new state of being," says designer Leigh Rosser about a previous retreat. "I left feeling relaxed and grounded but light, and full of joy."

Each day's activities and exercises will be based on the location and the group of participants. "Teaching these retreats is an organic process for me, I assess the needs of the group and of every individual, and the qualities of each of the locations. I find great joy in balancing all of these elements, and bringing out the best in all of my students," says Donald Rubbo.

Daily practice will include:

• Long Life Exercises (warming up the body and calming the mind)
• Meditation exercises while sitting beside trees, lakes or the ocean
• Cardiovascular workouts with Shao Lin Chuan
• Strength and flexibility exercises with Tai Chi
• Moving through obstacles with Hsing Yi Chuan
• Tendon and Sinew strengthening exercises

"We show you exercises that invigorate all the primary body fluids: blood, synovial, lymphatics, and the cerebral and spinal fluids, every time you exercise," says Cheryl Lynne Rubbo.

"It's the equivalent of a daily oil change and tune up," jokes Donald Rubbo.

"Regular practice of the Life Long Exercises prolongs and enhances life," adds Rubbo in a more serious vein. "It really is very simple: Moving water does not stagnate, and moving hinges do not rust. Doing Qigong everyday will help you live a long, healthy life."

Students are taught to have a felt sense of the energy channels of their bodies, and how to open up these channels, drawing in "Chi" from the earth, the world around them, and the heavens. They are also taught to become sensitive to what is going on around them, and to extend their awareness into the world at large in order to anticipate and avoid potential dangers.

There is a gentle but persistent progression over the length of the retreat, according to Rubbo. "We start out slowly and build it up over the 10 days until students have developed incredible stamina, endurance, concentration, and control over the subtle aspects of their lives on physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic states. We find that no one wants to leave when the 10 days are up!"

Part of every day is spent practicing movements from the many forms of Qigong and Tai Chi taught by the Rubbos, including:

Qigong systems:

• Primordial Qigong (precursor to T’ai Chi Chuan, lengthens life)
• Five Elements Balancing Qigong (balances emotions, strengthens organs)
• Healing Hands Qigong (chi cultivation system for developing healing chi)
• Turtle Snake Qigong (strengthens spine and internal organs, lengthens life)
• Spiraling Spinal Qigong (heals and strengthens the spine)
• Spiraling Energy-Body Qigong (enhances all martial arts forms and all sports activities)
• Yin Style Bagua Qigong (8 Chi Developing & Sensitivity Exercises)

T'ai Chi Chuan:

• The powerful and rare Guang Ping Yang style
• Tai Chi Broadsword
• Tai Chi Staff

Northern Shao Lin Chuan:

• Tan Tui
• Cha Chuan
• Broadsword

Other internal arts forms:

• Bagua
• Hsing Yi
• I Chuan

For more information on the retreats visit www.cultivatechi.com or contact Cheryl Lynne Rubbo at 415.456.9095

About Donald & Cheryl Lynne Rubbo:
The Rubbos were among the first to bring Qigong into hospitals on the West Coast. They developed innovative Qigong health programs for Marin General Hospital and Novato Kaiser Hospital, and have taught Qigong seminars to doctors and nurses at the San Francisco V.A. Medical Center. They co-founded a Teacher-Training program to spread these powerful healing techniques throughout the world. The Rubbos are also the co-founders of Five Tigers Martial Arts Summer Day Camp for kids 6 to 15, which featured traditional Shao Lin Chuan stances, formwork and application. The summer camp program also featured meditation, conflict resolution, self-defense, and arts and crafts. The Rubbos lead classes and workshops, locally in Marin County, nationally and internationally. Their popular summer retreats are held at a series of sacred sites and power spots on Mount Tamalpais and among the old-growth redwood groves in beautiful Marin County, California. The Rubbos are devoted Vajrayana Buddhist practitioners, under the guidance of Lama Lodu Rinpoche.

About Qigong:
Qigong, the hottest trend in stress relief, is a self-healing art combining guided intention, movement, meditation and visualization to enhance the mind/body/spirit connection. Find out how these powerful, effective practices have helped millions of people around the world return to optimal health and bring balance back into their lives.

Exciting, groundbreaking research with state-of-the-art methods in the cognitive and brain sciences are being used by neuroscientists on highly experienced meditation practitioners. Early findings are showing significant and highly positive changes in brain function from prolonged meditation practice. For anyone who has an ongoing daily meditation practice, this research confirms that the time spent meditating has great benefits at the brain level, producing lasting changes: more positive emotions and fewer upsets, increased immune function, and highly enhanced sensitivity. Studies also show that people who meditate can quickly achieve such health benefits as slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduced oxygen consumption and lower lactic acid levels.

Qigong, an ancient system of health from China, translates as "cultivating one's internal energy" (Qi = energy, Gong = effort put into developing a skill).

When you practice Qigong:

• You breathe deeply without tension
• You move with mindfulness
• You calm your thoughts and emotions
• You express your energy joyfully
• You become aware of your internal and external environment
• You use your imagination and intention to strengthen and heal your physical, mental, and emotional states