Events
Events & Courses
Course:
Eight Treasures Qigong Part 1: for Self-Care and Cultivation

Dates | April 13th, 2025 |
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Hours | 9 AM to 5 PM, Sun |
Instructor | Barbara de la Torre, MD |
Location | Inner Works Acupuncture 811 NW 20th Ave., Suite 203 Portland, OR 97209 |
Educational Credits | NCCAOM PDA points pending |
Prerequisites |
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Price | $225 |
Description:
Ba Duan Jin, or Eight Treasures, is one of the oldest and most famous qigong forms in China, dating back to the Song dynasty in the early 12th century. Modern research and experience demonstrate that this form can improve and regulate the function of the nervous and circulatory systems, increase tendon flexibility, build strong bones, strengthen the five internal organs, and balance the seven negative emotions. It is an excellent form for beginners and for advanced qigong practitioners.
What’s Included:
8-week access to practice videos
Comprehensive course manual
Learn the philosophy and practice of the full form according to the Ling Gui lineage
Chinese medical theory, lifestyle considerations, and nutrition will be discussed
Who is the Eight Treasures Qigong workshop Part 1 for?
Part 1 workshop: for everyone, learn this form for your self-care
Prerequisite: none
What is covered in the other workshops for the Eight Treasures series?
Part 2: for health practitioners, learn the clinical applications and routine combinations for patient prescriptions
Prerequisite: Part 1, open only to licensed healthcare practitioners
Part 3: Part 1 graduates are eligible to enroll in this Teacher certification program for the Eight Treasures form
Course:
Form & Fulcrums I / FF I

Dates | April 24th to 27th, 2025 |
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Hours | 9 AM to 5 PM, Thurs to Sat 9 AM to 3 PM, Sun |
Instructor | Michael Oruch |
Location | Inner Works Acupuncture 811 NW 20th Ave., Suite 203 Portland, OR 97209 |
Educational Credits | 25 CEUs |
Prerequisites | ZB I and ZB II |
Price | $595 Super Saver (60-Day Advance) $695 Early Bird (30-Day Advance) $795 Regular Price |
Super Saver | (60-day advance): $595 |
Early | (30-day advance): $695 |
Repeat the class | $350 |
Description:
Form & Fulcrums I utilizes Chinese movement principles to help find optimal positioning while performing Zero Balancing. Michael Oruch developed this class to help you give Zero Balancing sessions more easily and with much less effort through improvement in body mechanics. You will learn to identify the when, where and why of difficulties and how to address them.
We will use simple Qigong-based ZB exercises to facilitate more body awareness and to thoroughly review each fulcrum of the protocol incorporating these concepts. You will also learn many new and extremely useful fulcrums while covering topics such as blue line, donkey, rhythm, positioning, transitions, movement, and, of course, engagement.
The working paradigm here is: “We are only able to engage our clients to the degree in which we ourselves are engaged.” The common misconception is that more structure is needed when in fact it is more engagement. When we are engaged and in proper alignment, utilizing bone energy, knowing the landmarks and the protocol, the ZB session is much easier, more effective and magical.
You will learn:
- Qigong theory to help your ZB sessions
- Partner exercises exploring energy/structure, blue line, engagement and more, to heighten sensitivity
- Movement exercises to facilitate body awareness
- To find an optimal body position for each protocol evaluation and fulcrum
- To deconstruct and reconstruct each protocol fulcrum in clear stages
- New and useful fulcrums
- To hone the skill of high level attention with a quiet mind
- The principles and skills for doing a 15-minute ZB session
Course:
Freely Movable Joints with E. Zenger, OR

Dates | October 30th - November 2nd, 2025 |
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Hours | 9 AM to 5:30 PM, Thurs to Sat 9 AM to 1 PM, Sun |
Instructor | Elizabeth Zenger, Ph.D., L.Ac.. |
Location | Inner Works Acupuncture 811 NW 20th Ave., Suite 203 Portland, OR 97209 |
Educational Credits | 25 CEUs |
Prerequisites | Zero Balancing II |
Price | $595 Super Saver (60-Day Advance) $695 Early Bird (30-Day Advance) $795 Regular Price |
Super Saver | (60-day advance): $595 |
Early | (30-day advance): $695 |
Repeat the class | $350 |
Description:
FREELY MOVABLE JOINTS is a foundational Zero Balancing course that expands our focus to include the “freely movable joints” of the body. These joints present unique therapeutic challenges because of the variety of their anatomy and their great ranges of motion. By the end of the program you will have the skills to address imbalances in joints that may or may not be symptomatic and honor frames that include concerns about these joints.
In this class we highlight ZB principles of evaluation and fulcrum construction. We clarify how the anatomy of each joint influences our options for evaluation and balancing. The focus on principles and practices in this course will build your confidence and improve your Zero Balancing sessions.
You will learn:
- Zero Balancing principles as they apply to FMJs, resulting in the ability to create your own fulcrums
- Upper extremity: shoulder girdle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers
- Lower extremity: knee, ankle, metatarsals, toes
- Accessing the sacroiliac joint via the hip
- The acetabular hip fulcrum
- Ways to work with the temporomandibular joint
- Direct bone fulcrums and bone bending
- Options for building fields of tension
- How to deepen your skills and incorporate FMJ work into the protocol
- By watching ZB demonstrations and exchanging ZB sessions
Course:
Tai Chi for Older Adults Fall Prevention

Dates | Mondays & Wednesdays |
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Hours | 10:00 AM |
Instructor | Michael Siegel |
Location | Friendly House 1737 NW 26th St. Portland, OR, 97210 |
Price | FREE |
Description:
This class was designed for active independent seniors who can walk without a cane for 15 minutes. It is a blend of slow-motion movements that improve balance, coordination, flexibility, and focus combined with physical therapy techniques of sensory awareness and integration, providing the student with the tools to navigate their environment with confidence and a feeling of empowerment. Michael Siegel has been teaching Tai Chi since 1980 with the permission of Master Kai Ying Tung and has been a physical therapist since 1963 with teaching experience in Australia, Japan, and Zambia.