The 15th annual Conference of the National Qigong Association (NQA) will take place Friday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska, MN. The event will feature more than 25 workshops presented by national and international leaders in the world of qigong and tai chi (taiji).
In addition to the workshops and seminars, a wide array of activities will be taking place during the three-day weekend including: pre- and post-conference sessions, a distinctive array of vendors and products, silent auction, Friday evening demonstrations, and Saturday evening entertainment featuring Gina Citoli’s production, “Step Into The Dance.”
This year’s conference will also feature two internationally known keynote speakers:
- Friday evening – “Luminous Being: The Nature of the Luminosity Which Pervades our Universe” by James O’Dea, a Fellow and past president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. He directed the Washington, D.C., office of Amnesty International, and spent five years as Executive Director of the Seva Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to international health & development issues in Latin America, Asia, and on American Indian reservations. James founded and co-led with Dr. Judith Thompson an international series of “Compassion and Social Healing” dialogues funded by The Fetzer Institute. Since 2008, James has been a member of the Evolutionary Leaders, a group convened by Deepak Chopra and Diane Williams to unify efforts in support of evolutionary changes in political, economic, ecological, scientific and health and healing arenas.
- Saturday evening – “Integrating Universal Energy” by Mark Johnson, a Qigong (Chi Kung) healer and Tai Chi instructor and one of the founders of the National Qigong Association. In the 1970s, he began his Taoist training and enhanced his natural healing abilities. In 1982, Mark taught Tai Chi to Francis Ford Coppola and the cast and crew of the movie The Outsiders. While with them, his Qigong healing abilities were recognized so he was asked to return to do healing for the cast and crew of Rumble Fish. Mark’s students included: Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, Mickey Rourke and many others. Since 1983, Mark has founded Integral Qigong Centers in Tulsa (OK), Taos (NM), New York, Vancouver, Canada and in Cuba. He now resides and teaches in the San Francisco bay area. He has produced three videos: Tai Chi for Healing, Tai Chi for Women, and Tai Chi for Seniors (the highest selling Tai Chi video in the country). His recently published book, Life Is Divine Play, is an inspiring, informative and very funny account of Mark’s unique Qigong training.
The National Qigong Association is the premier membership organization for qigong. It does not support any one person or qigong/tai chi style, but is an umbrella for all groups, schools, and enthusiasts – Eastern or Western, ancient or modern. The NQA provides opportunities for networking and coordinating students, teachers, supporters and professionals, in addition to supporting research and documentation on the benefits of qigong and tai chi.
Everyone from the mildly curious to the advanced practitioner is welcome to share in this unique event. For complete conference information, including full events schedule, keynote and presenter bios, and much more, visit www.nqa.org, call 1.888.815.1893 or email info@nqa.org.
