Practicing Since 2017
Good Morning. I’m Eileen.
For most of my life, I thought I would always be anxious and on edge. As the eldest of four in a first-generation Filipino American family, I carried the weight of expectations and overthought everything. That stress manifested in my body in ways doctors couldn’t explain. I longed to feel at home in myself—to move through life with ease instead of tension. I caught glimpses of that peace while hiking, reading, or biking, but I didn’t know how to hold onto it.
Then, in 2017, I met my mentor, who introduced me to Wudang holistic wellness arts. Through those teachings, I found balance, grace, and a sense of belonging I hadn’t felt before. Now, I share this practice with others—so they too can experience calm, connection, and a return to themselves.
Our Roots: A Living Legacy at Lake Merritt
The morning Qigong practice at Lake Merritt began with Shifu David Wei, founder of Wudang West, who brought the temple habits of sunrise training to Oakland after returning from years of Martial Arts and Daoist study in China. What started around 2010 as a personal morning ritual slowly grew — from quiet, solo sessions on the lakeside to a vibrant, intergenerational community of students, elders, massage therapists, and passersby.
Through rain and shine, Shifu David built a humble, powerful gathering based on breath, stillness, and mutual care. Grandmothers practiced beside kung fu students. Tea was shared. Stories were told. Tailored instruction, healing touch, and even push-hands challenges carried on long after formal practice ended.
By 2020, when COVID-19 shut the world down, Lake Merritt’s morning Qigong group was regularly drawing 30–45 people a day. That sacred rhythm was abruptly paused — but not lost.
Eileen, a regular student at the time, quietly kept the flame lit. While others moved on, she kept showing up. Day after day. Her consistency, care, and grounded presence helped nurture the return of the practice post-lockdown. In the words of Shifu David:
“Shifu means consistent. Eileen is the one that stuck it out. She’s just always there. So she’s the right one to carry it forward.”
Today, under Eileen’s gentle leadership, Good Morning Qigong continues as a quiet offering for those seeking balance, healing, and connection in community — just as it always has.
Wudang West is a community-rooted wellness ministry founded by Shifu David Wei, a 16th-generation Daoist lineage holder who trained for years in the Wudang Mountains of China. Now based in Oakland, they offer Qigong, Tai Chi, and healing arts grounded in ancient tradition and shared through a lens of compassion and service. If you're curious about the roots of Good Morning Qigong or want to explore more about Daoist wellness, check out Wudang West and dive into their beautiful, grounded work.