TaijiNature.

This is our Story

Discover the Harmony of the Internal Arts: Intentional Movement as a Path to Balance and Vitality

TaijiNature was born from a simple, enduring truth: our inner rhythms are connected to the rhythms of nature. Through the intentional movements of Taiji, Qigong, and the Internal Arts, we reconnect with life—not only through the body, but through awareness, breath, and our relationship with the world around us. These practices are more than exercises. They teach us to listen deeply—to the body, to the breath, and to the natural world. Through practice, movement becomes a way of returning to ourselves, reconnecting with nature, and cultivating greater harmony in the way we live.

Meeting Richard

It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. … Chaos Theory.

Sometimes events happen in the most unexpected ways. This was one of those times.

One warm evening in Hilo, Hawai’i, trade wind breeze drifting through the room, reading the Qi Journal, I came upon an article about silk reeling. It was so well written. The name and email address of the author, who was located in Cape Town, South Africa, was included with the article. I decided to send an email and let him know how much I loved the article. Little did I know the door that was about to open.

I received a reply back almost immediately as it was the next morning already in Cape Town, the perfect opposite with a 12-hour time difference. Richard was teaching classes then in Cape Town. One note led to another until one day Richard asked me about Water Style and if I would teach it to him over Skype. It was 2008 and I had never been on Skype before. It was both exciting and intimidating and I said yes. It would be the very first time I taught online.

That was the beginning of our collaboration. I taught Richard Water Style. He shared some of his material with me. One day he asked if I would like to write an article on “What is Taiji?” and he would do the same. When we put the two writings together we realized that there was an undeniable similarity in how we saw it. We then merged the two articles into one and our first writing was complete.

One of our similarities was that we were both nature-based taiji teachers. It was then that I shared my dream of holding retreats in beauitul places in nature with Richard. As we talked, we got an idea  ... and TaijiNature was born.

 ~

TaijiNature aims to develop our ability to utilize Taiji, Qigong, and the Internal Arts to connect more strongly with the nature that is around us and within us.

TaijiNature is a collaboration between Faith LeLievre and Richard Jordi. Faith and Richard lived halfway across the world from each other, so their collaboration allowed them to enjoy the magic of opposites in time and space.

From the volcanic shores of Hawai'i to the meeting point of two oceans in South Africa, Faith and Richard's partnership celebrated the elemental forces that unite us all. Both Faith and Richard infused their teachings with the spirit of nature, honoring the origins of Taiji and Qigong.

As we accompany movements in nature through physical and meditative practice, we develop a sensitivity to our own internal patterns. Through the regular practice of these internal arts, we nourish and enhance our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. We enter a space of quiet observation in which we explore our co-emergence with nature. When we practice with this approach, we build our capacity for connection, communication, movement and change. We develop the Qi (energy) that we need in order to live sensitively and significantly in the world.

With the creation of TaijiNature and the WaterWays Method™, we engage with these ancient practices as a path toward kindness and respect—a place where we can come together as a worldwide community.These arts are tools to harmonize our internal energy, to build strength and vitality, to develop balance and graceful movement, and to bring a sense of calm, peace and joy to our heart and mind.