Embryological Formation of the Lower Dan Tien, Upper Dan Tien, and Breathing

Pre-Recorded Online Course

Six 80 minute classes - No embryology
or qigong experience needed!

We will consider our early embodiment of space. During our formative embryological process, we created our endoderm, yolk sac and external sea of qi. The yolk sac, once outside of our body, invaginates to become our gut tube; the external sea of qi becomes our internal sea of qi. The yolk sac forms not only our gut tube but also related structures, lungs, liver, and pancreas. Our lower dan tien is located in the area of our small intestine, formed from the yolk sac. Our embryonic ectoderm gives rise to our spinal cord, and brain. Our upper dan tien is located in the area of our brain.

Our lower dan tien is the center of our physical health and vitality. Our upper dan tien is the center of our sense of time, space, spirit and beyond. Taken together, the upper and lower dan tiens can align and balance the longitudinal axis of our central channel. One intention of qigong is to come into relationship with and cultivate the physical, emotional, and energetic aspects of our being. With practice, we develop our relationship with these distinct centers.
We will consider three methods of embryological breathing. Each one is simple in nature and varies with our intention; we can intend breathing in our belly, breathing into our omental bursa (derived from the yolk sac), and breathing to connect the lower and upper dan tiens. The latter provides energetic stability and orientation of our central channel. Embryonic breathing practice will be included in some simple-to-do qigong movement forms.


Your Instructor


Bob Lehnberg
Bob Lehnberg

In 1990, Bob Lehnberg received his certification as Practitioner of Body-Mind Centering® (BMCsm) and in 2002 Teacher of Body-Mind Centering. Since then Bob has received teacher certifications for BMC Yoga, Integral Yoga and Supreme Science of Qigong. He has been teaching in schools of massage therapy and programs of somatic training since 1990 and has had the good fortune to teach BMC and somatic practices throughout the US and internationally in Europe, Canada, China, and Taiwan.

Bob is a co-founder of Kinesthetic Learning Center in Durham, NC and has been on faculty teaching and coordinating the BMC Somatic Movement Educator (SME) and Practitioner certification programs since 2007. He is coordinator of SME courses for Esprit en Mouvement in Montreal, Canada and is Co-director of the SME program in Taitung, Taiwan.


Course Curriculum


  Welcome and Links
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Course Content
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.

Get started now!