Subtle Practice Workshop: A somatic improvisation approach inspired by Daoist philosophy

Subtle Practice is a five-session workshop that invites participants to slow down, tune in, and rediscover improvisation as a natural, embodied way of being. Rooted in Daoist philosophy and traditional Chinese qigong, this approach has been developed through I-Ying Wu’s doctoral and postdoctoral artistic research. It is open to people from all backgrounds and disciplines.

Rather than focusing on technique, choreography, or decision-making, Subtle Practice explores improvisation through subtle awareness—listening to sensation, energy, and relationships as they emerge in the moment. Participants are guided to attend gently to inner and surrounding spaces, allowing movement, sound, or stillness to arise organically, without force or expectation.

Each session includes guided movement exploration, open improvisation, and time for reflective writing or drawing. These practices help release habitual control, cultivate embodied presence, and deepen connection with self, others, and the environment. The workshop unfolds as a progressive journey, with each session building on the previous one. To fully experience the continuity and depth of the practice, participants are encouraged to attend the entire series, though attending individual sessions is also welcome.

This workshop offers:

· A welcoming, non-judgmental space to explore subtle awareness, embodied presence, and intuitive responsiveness

· A Daoist-informed alternative to anatomy-based somatic training and goal-oriented improvisation methods

· An opportunity to experience creativity and gallery space through the whole body, not only through sight

· An open, exploratory environment where participants can apply the practice within their own artistic or personal fields

Who is this for?

· Adults of all ages, genders, abilities, and disciplines

· No prior dance or movement experience required

· Open to artists and community members interested in body-based practice, improvisation, mindfulness, and intuitive creativity

What to bring:

· Comfortable clothing for movement

· A notebook and pen for reflection

· Water or another drink (the gallery café is closed on weekends)

· Optional: a small, portable object related to your own practice (such as a musical instrument, sketchbook, or drawing tools)

· Curiosity and openness for exploration

The Subtle Practice Workshop also serves as a community-engagement and contextual component of the ensemble improvisation performance An End Is Another Beginning, taking place in May. Offered alongside the performance, the workshop invites participants into a deeper, embodied understanding of the Daoist-inspired improvisational approach—either as preparation for encountering the work or as a parallel experience within the gallery setting.

Instructor

I-Ying Wu is a somatic and improvisation practitioner, artist, and researcher whose work is deeply rooted in the Daoist philosophy of qi (Chinese internal energy). She earned an MA from the National Taiwan University of the Arts in 2006 and a PhD in Performing Arts from the University of Northampton, UK, in 2014. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Improvisation Studies Centre in the Faculty of Media, Art, and Performance, University of Regina, Canada. 

I-Ying’s research and artistic practice reconceptualize improvisation as a spontaneous phenomenon emerging from a state of heightened consciousness in the present moment, guided by a Daoist understanding of qi-energy. Rather than perceiving improvisation as an art form, she approaches it as an inherent state of being, arising through subtle awareness that transcends the boundaries of specific artistic forms. Her practice integrates movement, mindful states, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, fostering deeper, holistic connections between the self, others, and the environment. 

Her work has been presented internationally in Taiwan, the UK, and Canada, engaging with diverse cultural contexts. Based in Regina, she teaches, performs, and collaborates with artists across various disciplines while continuing to share Subtle Practice, a training approach she developed for interdisciplinary improvisation.