Qigong Classes
Qigong works with the body’s natural pathways of qi, or energy. Simple movement practices are combined with directed awareness to support the clearing of these channels, awakening the body’s natural circulations of blood, oxygen and qi. Healthy circulation leads to more of all the good things: robust organs, regulation of the nervous system, greater vitality and clarity.
This practice is a wonderful somatic accompaniment for those already working with me to open the voice. But you do not need to be taking voice lessons to join this class. This practice is open all and designed to support those looking to cultivate greater vibrational health through the body.
FAll Session - Tuesdays at 10 am
We meet weekly on zoom. Sign up to join the regular weekly practice group or drop in for a single class. Please be sure to sign up by 6pm the Monday before the class you wish to join.
My Journey With Qigong
I started practicing qigong in 2010 when I realized that my yoga studio was offering a class. The night before my first class, I was so excited I had trouble falling asleep. To this day, I am grateful that I stepped into that first class and began a practice that would change my life over and over. Qigong gave me very practical tools to ground my nervous system and center my awareness within my body. This may sound simple, but in truth it is an ongoing practice of infinite refinement that I find incredibly necessary. Especially in these times we are living. I have found that my body contains an intelligence quite different than that of my mind; an intelligence that gives rise to states of aliveness, insight, pure joy and connection to source.
I am teaching this class because I want to be practicing regularly with others. And if any of these tools can be useful to others, I want them to be shared.
I have been very fortunate to study with teachers Chris Fernie at the Institute of Internal Transformation and Kristina Forester of Forester Somatics. The lineages of these qigong forms include the form Taijiwuxigong founded by Master Dr. Shen Hongxun (1939–2011) and Hua Gong founded by Master Zhixing Wang. My approach to practice has also been influenced by The Feldenkris Method and The Hakomi Method.
“Sophie’s singing lessons gave me tools to build an ongoing practice for embodying my voice. I learned to remove energy blocks through sound while also gaining practical musical knowledge I could build on. The practice we built together not only made me a better singer but also nurtured a trust in the creative process giving me the confidence to leap in other areas of my life.”
“When I recently found myself in a situation where I needed to sing publicly every week, and having almost no prior singing experience, a friend introduced me to Sophie at Voice Alchemy in Berkeley. And I’m very grateful, because the experience has been revealing and nourishing in ways I didn’t expect out of voice lessons. I think of Sophie not only as a vocal coach and but as a guide to discovering myself through the experience of singing. Working with Sophie has rekindled creativity I haven’t experienced since childhood.”
“Sophie Cooper offers a fluid and deeply therapeutic approach to voice coaching. I began working with Sophie in an effort to heal and refine my voice after neglecting it for many years. Sophie sees clearly how to draw out my strengths and where I most need encouragement and support. I would recommend Sophie Cooper to anyone: beginners, seeking to explore the healing powers of the voice; or advanced singers looking to add a level of whole-body attunement to their existing vocal practice. ”
“When I started searching for voice lessons in Berkeley, I knew that I was going to need something different. I wanted a voice coach that would help me work with my anxiety and help me to explore my voice not just walk me through a series of scales or traditional signing exercises. Sophie created a safe space for me to explore my voice with lots of support and no judgment. She guided me through signing exercises to open my voice, expand my range, learn songs, and find my natural tone. I feel so much more confident in my voice and excited about signing - just in time to sing to/with my first child.”
Photos on this page by: Jason Rosewell & Darren Miller
