Qigong is offered at the Gunnison Library every Third Thursday of the month. See a description of the practice and instructor below.

About Qigong:

Qigong is an ancient practice that integrates movement, stillness, and deep breathing. The purpose of qigong is to relax and release tension so that the elements that give us energy and health (breath, blood, lymph, etc) can flow freely throughout the body. Movements in qigong are slow, circular, graceful, and flowing. These movements lubricate the joints, strengthen the muscles, improve circulation, and relax the nervous system. Qigong is a moving meditation that brings awareness to our breath and expands our range of motion. Qigong creates space for health, balance, and calm which can maximize our body’s natural healing processes. Qigong is an easy practice that can be done standing, sitting, or lying down. People of all ages can practice and enjoy this gentle ancient art.

About the instructor:

Heidi Magnus has taught qigong for five years and has practiced since 2015. Heidi’s first career was as an environmental scientist and she still enjoys applying the scientific method and observation skills to all aspects of life. Heidi enjoys making connections between ancient wisdoms, like Qigong, and current research in neuroscience, psychology, and wellbeing. For the last 26 years, Heidi has owned a deli with her sister Kate and finds that qigong helps her to thrive in a busy work environment. Qigong is a vital part of her self-care and she enjoys sharing the tools she has learned for navigating life and its ever-changing challenges. Currently she studies qigong with four teachers (Dr. Roger Jahnke, Mimi Kuo Deemer, Marisa Cranfil, Anthony Korahais). The teachings of Josh Korda and Sharon Salzberg also inspire Heidi in her practice. Heidi enjoys teaching Qigong, and finds sharing the practice with others rewarding. Heidi is offering classes through Gunnison Public Library. These classes are for beginners or advanced students who want to practice in a fun and casual community atmosphere.

This group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm at the Gunnison Library. We will discuss a title we’ve read the month leading up to the event over light refreshments. A virtual option is also available. See contact information below to receive the virtual meeting link.

A current list of book titles is available on: https://www.gunnisoncountylibraries.org/book-clubs/

** May is 4th Thursday instead of Wednesday**

Email taylor@gunnisoncountylibraries.org for meeting information or any questions.

Join us on Saturday, August 27 from 4-6 pm at the Crested Butte Library as we host author Brianna Madia, “Nowhere for Very Long: The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life.” 

Refreshments provided. Reception starts at 4 pm to mingle with the author, talk begins at 5 pm.

Book purchasing opportunities from Townie Books, signing from the author.

About the author:

Brianna Madia has lived a life of relentless intention, traveling the deserts of the American West in an old Ford van. She made a name for herself on social media with her inspiring captions-cum-essays about bravery, identity, nature, and subverting expectations. She lives in Utah with her four dogs. Nowhere for Very Long is her first book. (from the book jacket)

About the book:

In this beautifully written, vividly detailed memoir, a young woman chronicles her adventures traveling across the deserts of the American West in an orange van named Bertha and reflects on an unconventional approach to life.

A woman defined by motion, Brianna Madia bought a beat-up bright orange van, filled it with her two dogs Bucket and Dagwood, and headed into the canyons of Utah with her husband. Nowhere for Very Long is her story of exploration—of the world outside and the spirit within.

However, pursuing a life of intention isn’t always what it seems. In fact, at times it was downright boring, exhausting, and even desperate—when the van overheated and she was forced to pull over on a lonely stretch of Wyoming highway; when the weather was bitterly cold and the water jugs froze beneath her as she slept in the parking lot of her office; when she worried about money, her marriage, and the looming question mark of her future. But she was living a life true to herself, come what may, and that made all the difference. 

Nowhere for Very Long is the chronicle of a woman learning and unlearning, from backroads to breakdowns, from married to solo, and finally, from lost to found to lost again…this time, on purpose.

Author’s website: https://www.briannamadia.com/ 

Author’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannamadia/