Discover Flow Through Silk Reeling

This yoga workshop in silk reeling and Yang-style tai chi takes place over a weekend at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. It is led by senior teachers Vince Sauter and Charlessa Thatcher, and it suits anyone curious about tai chi who has worried it might be too difficult to learn, as well as people who have tried it before and struggled to connect with the practice or see how the movements flow together. Silk reeling is a gentle standing practice, offered as a moving meditation that builds calm, balance and body awareness through mindful movement and breath.

What to Expect

The workshop starts from the foundational principles of tai chi and qigong, so the movements make sense from the beginning. You work through each tai chi form one step at a time and discover how its principles come alive in your own body as the movements are repeated and refined. Alongside the forms you practice tai chi walking, breathwork, qigong and balance exercises.

As the days go on, Vince Sauter and Charlessa Thatcher gradually introduce new challenges. You explore smooth transitions from one form to the next, keeping breath and movement continuously connected, and you learn to move the whole body as one integrated unit. The aim is a sustainable practice you can carry into everyday life: noticing your body's responses, observing changes in stability, focus and relaxation, and learning to pause, listen and respond with presence.

The schedule runs across three days:

- Friday: check-in from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. (rooms available after 5:00 p.m.), with the first session from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
- Saturday: sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 to 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: a session from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with check-out at 1:00 p.m.

The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the faculty.

About Vince Sauter

Vince Sauter is a senior teacher of Tai Chi Easy™ and a certified Tai Chi Qigong Shibashi instructor. He introduces silk reeling as a way to forge a greater mind-body connection.

About Charlessa Thatcher

Charlessa Thatcher is a senior teacher of Tai Chi Easy™, a Reiki master and a qigong healer.

The Setting

The workshop is held on the campus of the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. Accommodation is booked separately and ranges from cabin rooms with heat, ceiling fan and air-conditioning, to a dorm single with a hall bath shared by 5 to 10 guests, to tent cabins with a nearby bathhouse and no heat or air-conditioning, to pre-assigned campsites with limited availability. Double rooms and double tent cabins are for guests who register with a companion. People who live nearby or prefer to stay elsewhere can register as commuters.

On-campus housing and commuter registration both include all meals and use of campus facilities, such as optional classes, recreation, walking trails and parking. Accessible rooms are available on request through the registration team.

Before You Go

The level is beginner to intermediate. No prior experience is needed, and people with experience in tai chi can use the weekend to deepen their understanding and refine their form. The workshop is taught in English.

Loose-fitting clothing is recommended so you can move freely and comfortably. If you stay in a dorm or tent cabin, bring your own sheets and towels; tent cabin guests should also bring a sleeping bag or rent bedding from Omega for a small fee. Campers bring their own tent and gear, and stoves, campfires and recreational vehicles are not allowed on campus.

Tuition covers the three days of instruction in tai chi and qigong fundamentals, and Omega members receive a reduced rate.