Ba Gua Special edition:
Walking, static postures, palm changes
July 9th-13th 2025
programme on special demand
prices: 495€ per person for a shared room to 650€ for a single room with en suite bathroom
Ba Gua retreat at Tourné July 2025
An intensive retreat covering all aspects of ba gua walking, static postures, dedicated nei gung/qigong and palm changes. From the first steps of the beginner to the spinning of the experienced practitioner.
All participants will study 7 basic standing postures, and up to 11 static arm walking postures and at least one basic palm change.
Emphasis for both experienced and beginners will be on all aspects of walking - all the different ways in which benefit can accrue to body and mind through the different types of walking. This can be straight line walking, walking with posture stance, walking to develop different types of power or energy in the body, walking to develop flexibility in tendons and ultimately circle walking. How the straight line develops into the circle - how a straight line includes a circle and how the circle defines the straight line.
Direct investigation of such matters, beyond intellect and reason, begin to open awareness to its essential nature - one that is not constrained by thought, fear of future or worry based on the past.
Advanced practitioners will learn 8 palm changes according to ease of assimilation. Emphasis will be on how walking the circle allows the palm changes to develop by themselves [tzu jan] and how this allows a glimpse into the nature of the trigram / palm change.
We’ll walk individual and group circles, outside, inside, in small and large spaces. Finally and perhaps at the heart of all ba gua retreats at Tourné it the meditation application. We’ll introduce a meditation practice that will stand alone or which can be used with ba gua practice.
Above all, this retreat offers practical guidance on how to incorporate ba gua moving and sitting practices into daily life without risk of becoming encumbered by excessive details. Efficiency is the key!
All levels: First step
Learn the basics of body alignment, how to stand, how to walk, how to be at ease under effort.
ba gua supports nervous system function: step 2
learn familiarity with change at all speeds, calm in all situations through circle walking and palm change practice
Learn ba gua, experience change with clarity. Step 3
direct insight into the energy of change-heaven palm change and simple water palm as means to investigate and deepen practice
ancient taoist longevity practices. Step 4
the inevitability of change need not be feared! Letting go of habit patterns of mind-body, glimpses of all the first eight palm changes
mind is still while body moves. Step 5
constancy is heaven - I ching. Movement and stillness as an expression of the source of all phenomena, heaven as the means to perceive with direct insight.
Hard and soft: Step 6
How change and perception nourishes and is nourished by tao
Maturing, accumulating. Step 7
Ensuring accumulated energy does not transform into impetuousness or excitation-tao and compassion
Mental Clarity. Step 8, the end at the beginning
Living in reality
Enjoy a summer Tao meditation retreat
Book your place or inquire now-places are quickly claimed! Be sure to mention ba gua retreat in your message-we will get back to you within a few hours to let you know if places are still available. Subscribe to our occasional newsletter to receive details of seasonal retreat programme.
summer ba gua retreat 2021
Traditionally referred to as the nine palaces, this collective practice is an example of temple dance.