Lunar New Year 2023
Year of the Rabbit
Each year many Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, based on the Chinese lunar calendar, with festivities lasting over 2 weeks. It is also known as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. Marking a time of birth and renewal, it is also a time to honor one's ancestors. Each year features a different animal of the Chinese zodiac of 12 animals. Sunday, January 22 marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit (to learn more about traditions of the Lunar New Year, join us at our open house on Saturday, January 28- registration is below). Each year Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
hosts events over the course of a month to help usher in the Lunar New Year.
Events are mostly in-person this year; but we still continue to offer some online and hybrid options.
The events are designed for the general public and do not require any previous
experience. These events are popular, so be sure to register before all spots are taken.
We recommend that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes
early to in-person events to settle in and about 5 minutes before online events so that you can check your computer settings before the presentation.
*We will have a small silent auction that you can view in person. Proceeds will go to the Alzheimer's Association.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Charity Challenges in 2022. Winners of $500 each were Companion Bridge and our local Alzheimer's Association. We held a special tai chi class for the Life of Joy Foundation and raised over $100. The winner of our December silent auction was Good Neighbors Group, and over $4,000 was raised. Through these events and other donations, we are grateful that over $10,000 was raised by Jing Ying in 2022!
Saturday, January 21
Annual Cleaning Celebration (noon to 2pm) Before the Lunar New Year starts, it is important to clean your home in preparation for the new year. You symbolically clean away any bad luck left over from the previous year and make room for good luck coming in for the new year. We do the same at our Jing Ying facility, which is like home to us. We will dust off the trophies, sweep & mop the floors, clean the mirrors....and while cleaning look for the little rabbit plush that Shimu Nancy has hidden away for the lucky cleaner to find (they get to keep the rabbit and win a prize too). Afterwards there will be a pizza party (provided by Jing Ying). This event is for students, their family, and friends of Jing Ying. Come help your school get ready for the new year. Registration is on the MyStudio app or at Jing Ying.
Wednesday, January 25
FREE Introductory Family Kung Fu Class from 4:45 to 5:30 pm. Suitable for children ages 5 to 10, this class is an
introductory lesson in Kung Fu. A parent/guardian and older siblings are welcome to join the class. Please arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to check in. Pre-registration is required so we can control class size.
Register here.
Saturday, January 28
Free Open House with treats and entertainment from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the fun. The entertainment, crafts, and treats are all FREE. There will be several giveaways and contests to add to the fun.
Lion Dance Performance at 1:30 pm, followed by
demonstrations of Tai Chi, Kung Fu forms and weapons. The Chinese Lion Dance is often confused with the Dragon Dance. Both are a part of Chinese New Year and other traditional Chinese festivities. The Chinese Lion Dance is performed by two people, wearing a Lion Dance costume, and the Dragon Dance is performed by many more people.
Bring some optional cash if you'd like to "feed" the lion during its ceremonial dance. Jing Ying will provide the hong bao (red envelope) in which to place the money. This is supposed to bring good luck to the giver, and the more given, the better the luck! The money will be donated to the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, which provides support and advocacy for individuals with Alzheimer's and their families, as well as funds for research to find a cure for Alzheimer's.
Year of the Rabbit Craft Activities - have fun with theme-related crafts and learn more about the traditions of the Lunar New Year!
Lunar New Year Storytelling - listen to the Lunar New Year story about the origins of the Chinese Lion Dance.
Traditions of the Lunar New Year - Learn about the many traditions of the Chinese New Year.
Silent Auction for the Alzheimer's Association - We are hosting a small silent auction that will run until the end of February. The funds raised will kick off our annual fundraising for the local chapter. The owners of Jing Ying Institute, the Greers, have been involved with the Alzheimer's Association since 2017 (the year their beloved mother/mother-in-law passed away from Alzheimer's complications). Over the years, Jing Ying's team has raised $41,000 for the Alzheimer's Association (over $129,000 for charity overall).
Register here.
Sunday, January 29
Tea Tasting from 2:00 to 3:30pm - Looking for something fun and interesting to do? Join us for an informative workshop presented by Lynayn Mielke, owner of The Well Infused Life of Annapolis. Lynayn is a tea professional with Level IV Certification from the Specialty Tea Institute. You'll try several teas, learn about their proper preparation, and gain knowledge about their health benefits.There will be tea available to purchase after the in-person workshop. You can also order online any of the sampled teas in larger sizes afterwards as well as any other teas Lynayn has available. For the online orders, she can package them up so you can pick them up at Jing Ying in Arnold or at The Well Infused Life in Eastport (Annapolis).
Lynayn is a fun and engaging speaker, and you will walk away from the event knowing more about tea than you ever thought possible. Did you know that it is the most widely consumed beverage in the world? That there are more than 3,000 varieties of the tea bush (cameillia sinensis) and that herbal "teas" aren't actually tea? Lynayn will also be doing a mini tea meditation and discussing its importance for wellbeing on a body and spirit level. Join us to find out so much more during this fun event. We've designated @90 minutes, but Lynayn is willing to stay longer to ask questions.
Everyone will also receive a purple Yixing clay tasting cup!
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
Cost: only $25 (includes tea AND Yixing clay tasting cup)
Register here
Friday, February 3 (5:00-6:30pm)
Chinese Calligraphy workshop - Learn basic brush strokes and characters from Chinese Calligraphy. We will focus on auspicious characters for the Chinese New Year, so you can create something to display at home. We supply paper, ink and brushes for use during class.
Presented by Wendy Ng. Fee: $5 to cover cost of supplies. You must pre-pay to hold your spot.
Register here.
Wednesday, February 8
Tai Chi Longevity Lecture from noon to 1pm. Learn how tai chi can help you live a longer, healthier life. This special lecture will be at the Severna Park Community Center (623 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park). All other Lunar New Year events are at Jing Ying Institute's main location in Arnold.
Register here.
Saturday, February 11
Self-defense Workshop for Women & Teen Girls from
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Learn basic skills for
avoiding trouble and protecting yourself. The workshop will
start with a discussion on safety to help you avoid trouble.
That will be followed with a lesson on escape techniques for
situations you may not be able to avoid. Finally, self-defense
techniques will be covered for fighting back when you aren't
able to escape easily.
During the Lunar New Year, we offer this self-defense
workshop at a reduced price as a service to our local community.
100% of the proceeds go to
The Bernie House, an organization that provides long-term transitional housing to a family made homeless by domestic violence. Learn more about this wonderful organization at The Bernie House.
Register here.
Class size is limited, so we recommend that you register as
soon as possible. Last year the workshop was full about a week beforehand, and
we could no longer accept new registrations. You must pre-pay to hold your spot.
If this date does not work for you, you can schedule a workshop for your group (examples: scouts, moms groups,
church groups). We will also hold our annual Self-Defense Workshop for College
Students in July or August based on interest.
Here's what one mom had to say about Jing Ying's self-defense workshop:
"My teenage daughter attended one of your self-defense
workshops for women, and I believe it helped prevent her
abduction. Two men tried to drag her into a truck, and she
was able to escape using your techniques."
Tuesday, February 14 (two events/one daytime & one evening)
Free
Valentine's Day Tai Chi Class from 10:00am to 10:45am -
Start your day with a free tai chi class that has a special sweet twist. We will celebrate Valentine's Day with tai chi movement and also information on how tai chi helps your cardiovascular health in celebration of Heart Health month. Show someone you love and care for them by bringing them with you to class! It is suitable for all levels of fitness.
Wear clothing that allows for movement, such as a t-shirt and sweatpants.
Register here.
Free Valentine's Day Pushing with Partners from 7:15pm to 8:00pm - End your day with a free "push hands" tai chi class that has a special sweet twist. We will celebrate Valentine's Day with some fun partner tai chi exercises and a bit of healthy chocolate afterwards. Bringing a partner is not required, though it is fun to bring someone along.
Wear clothing that allows for movement, such as a t-shirt and sweatpants.
Register here.
Monday, February 20
Monday, February 27
The Empowered Patient: Making the Most of Your Doctor’s Appointment (Before, During, After)” - from noon to 1:00pm. As a patient or caregiver have you ever wondered “What do I need to do to finally get answers to my burning health questions?” If so, this workshop, presented by Carrie Baquie, is for you as it takes you through what to do before, during and after a doctor's appointment to get the best results possible.
The workshop is about helping patients and caregivers reclaim their power, own their voice, take responsibility for what they can control and release the rest. It begins with briefly touching on Carrie Baquie’s personal journey to becoming an Empowered Advocate during her struggle with Brain Injury, Lyme Disease and Mold Illness. Then Carrie will break down how to approach a doctor’s appointment before, during and after by getting prepared, showing up (for the doctor and themselves) and following through. At the heart is the need to have Clarity, Confidence and an attitude of Collaboration.
Carrie Baquie is a spunky mom of three teens and survivor of simultaneous Brain Injury, Lyme Disease, and Mold Illness. She transformed the despair, chaos and overwhelm of medical crisis into thriving through an unstoppable mindset grounded in soul-centered strategy. Now, as Chronic Illness Coach she is empowering others with long term health challenges, like Brain Injury, to get unstuck and reclaim a life they love.
Register here.
