Why Shedding? 

Nature is truly amazing. There are countless genera of animals, many of which shed as a way to grow and renew themselves, including human beings. When we live indoors with closed windows and doors, a significant part of house dust is composed of our dead skin cells. Shedding skin is a natural process that allows us to regrow fresh, new skin. Internally, we also constantly replace old cells with new ones. However, as people age, this shedding process slows down. Numerous health supplements on the market claim to promote anti-aging and new growth.

Unlike humans, snakes shed their entire skin from head to tail all at once, which looks dramatic and leaves a strong impression on observers. Snakes shed their skin four to twelve times a year, and this process is a sign of vitality. Younger snakes shed more frequently, and their new skin looks fresh with vibrant colors.

In many cultural mythologies, snakes represent wisdom, healing, initiation, and sometimes secret knowledge associated with transformation, death, and regeneration. For instance, the ancient Chinese viewed snakes as baby dragons that brought intelligence and drive from the celestial realms. In Hindu tradition, Kundalini is a serpent goddess lying dormant at the base of the spine, whose awakening brings intense experiences and profound spiritual understandings. Mayan mythology describes serpents as vehicles by which celestial bodies traverse the heavens, symbolizing rebirth and renewal. The Vision Serpent was seen as a link between the spirit realm and the physical world.

On January 29, 2025, according to the Chinese calendar, we will enter the year of the Yin Wood Snake. This Wood Snake is attributed with qualities of being gentle, easy-going, affectionate, loyal, friendly, and creative. In celebration, Sifu Sharon Smith has spent months scouting and locating a fabulous resort  in Palenque, Mexico to host a Qigong retreat. The seminar, featuring nine world-renowned female Qigong instructors, aims to help participants renew themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Each teacher will share their secrets on how to shed the old self and create a new self authentically and organically. Scientists have proven that the correct practice of Tai Chi/Qigong can result in significant changes at the cellular level, offering holistic health benefits for the mind and body.

The seminar is designed to avoid exhausting participants with overloaded activities. There will be daily classes totaling 2.5 to 3 hours, with the remaining time available for practice, meditation, sharing experiences, walking, reading, hiking, bird-watching, contemplating, swimming, and enjoying the resort’s tranquility. Additionally, there will be soothing morning and evening practices led by experienced teachers. The seminar includes three excursions at no extra charge: exploring the archaeological wonders of Palenque, a jungle tour of buried temples, and visiting the majestic waterfalls.

Sifu Sharon Smith has organized many important events promoting Tai Chi and Qigong. She chaired the famous Global Qigong Summit for years hosted by Shift Network and designed several Immortal Sisters workshops similar to the upcoming seminar. These previous Immortal Sisters workshops were held in the U.S., except for last year’s “Be Like Water” retreat in unspoiled Tolantango, Mexico.

I have attended many training camps as both a student and teacher, experiencing numerous amazing workshops. At a 3,000-attendee camp hosted by my teacher Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei in China, I witnessed strong emotions of excitement and joy among participants. However, it was during the “Be Like Water” seminar that I noticed individuals becoming quiet and shedding tears of joy as they rediscovered themselves. Many attendees proclaimed the experience to be magical. It is highly likely that next year’s “Shedding” retreat will bring back this magic once again.