The Carver Memorial Library in Searsport invites the public to join Five Animal Qigong, a movement series similar to tai chi.

This series is a fun and friendly introduction to Turtle, Snake, Crane, Tiger, and Dragon, led by Dean Anderson. Qigong offers gentle movement, stress relief, and a bit of social contact while out in the fresh air. All ages are welcome, children to seniors. 

The series is ongoing on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. In case of rain then class will be held upstairs at the Town Office, 1 Union Street. If there is enough interest, the program will continue into the summer and beyond.

Donations are appreciated but the library encourages everyone who would like to attend. Sponsors wanted! If you are able, become a sponsor for $20 (or more) per month. Your contribution makes this program available to everyone regardless of financial status. Thanks to funds from Aging Well in Waldo County, the library is able to fund the first few months of the series as we get started. 

The Five Animal Qigong Form is a traditional Qigong form used throughout China with regional variations; this is the Wudang Mountain form.  The animals come from Chinese legends and observations of animals in the wild, Turtle, Crane, Snake, Tiger, and Dragon. Dean learned the form from Master Zhong Xue Chao when he visited our area in the last five years. Most of the time Dean Anderson practices the Yang Family Style Taiji forms taught by his teacher, Mike Shunney, who practices and teaches out of his studio in Rockland. Dean has been practicing Taiji and Qigong for 14 years and hopes to continue for the rest of his life. They have a weekly drop-in class on Saturday in Belfast and Dean co-teaches a class on Tuesday and Friday mornings in Stockton Springs.

For more information about Tai Chi/Qigong at Carver, please contact Carver Memorial Library at 548-2303, on their website at www.carverlibrary.org or visit in person at 12 Union Street in Searsport.

1) To educate the world about the profound health & healing benefits of Tai Chi & Qigong for individuals, communities, and nations.

2) To thank Chinese culture for creating and sharing these profoundly valuable gifts with the world.

3) To bring together people across racial, economic, religious, and geo-political boundaries, to join together for the purpose of health and healing, providing an example to the world.”