prana / qi
June 3, 2026 •
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
5009 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC
Allie Labate
I came to yoga for the physical—but I stayed for the transformation.
After years of bodybuilding, I was searching for something to ease the tightness and chronic pain in my body. What began as a way to build strength and flexibility became a lifelong path of discipline, devotion, and deep inner work.
Asana is powerful. It builds resilience, sharpens focus, and teaches the mind to stay steady under pressure. These aren’t just qualities that support meditation—they are the very foundation of it. The physical practice prepares us for stillness. It lays the groundwork for inner awareness, deep states of meditation, and ultimately, samadhi.
My teachings honor the full depth of yoga—from the physical to the subtle. I blend challenging, intentional movement with breath awareness, energetic awareness, and yogic philosophy. Outside the studio, I’m immersed in daily study and practice, focusing on pranayama, meditation, and internal cultivation. I’m currently studying Nei Gong with Damo Mitchell of the Internal Arts Academy and Kriya Yoga through the Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda.
My formal training is in Ashtanga, Power Yoga, and Rocket Yoga, and I’ve had the privilege of learning from teachers who deeply understand both the physical body and the eight-limbed path. Their wisdom continues to shape my own practice and teaching, and I’m forever grateful for their guidance. I also hold a certification as a Chopra Health™ Ayurveda Teacher, trained by Dr. Deepak Chopra and his faculty, and weave Ayurvedic wisdom into how I live, move, and teach.
At the heart of it all, I teach because yoga continues to change my life—and I believe it can change yours, too. Whether you’re here to build strength or seek stillness, you’ll find that the deeper you go, the more the practice becomes not just something you do—but who you are.
Training & Certifications
- Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider
- Ongoing Nei Gong studies with Damo Mitchell of the Internal Arts Academy
- Ongoing studies with the Self-Realization Fellowship (Paramahansa Yogananda)
- 300-Hour Chopra Health™ Ayurveda Health Teacher with Dr. Deepak Chopra
- 12-Hour Handstand Seminar with Yuri Marmerstein
- 50-Hour Rocket Yoga Teacher Training with Carson Calhoun
- 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga for Special Populations) with Michelle Young
- 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Ashtanga & Rocket Yoga) with Carson Calhoun
- 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (Power Yoga) with Jennifer Eddins
20 spots available
Description
Prana and Qi (“chee”) both refer to your body’s natural life force—your energy. In this class, we work with that energy directly through the practice of Daoist Nei Gong, learning how to feel it, cultivate it, and refine it from the inside out.
This is a slow, deeply meditative practice that works beyond the muscular system into the subtler layers of the body—connective tissue, fascia, breath, nervous system, and energetic pathways (nadis or meridians). Through standing practices and sustained internal awareness, we release tension, improve circulation, and gently awaken the body’s internal energetic flow.
From there, we move into stillness—using Daoist meditation techniques to turn inward, settle the mind, and deepen awareness, clarity, and connection. Over time, this practice supports the refinement of energy from physical vitality (Jing), to life force (Qi), to more subtle states of presence and consciousness (Shen).
☯️ Morning sessions are more Yang—focused on standing practices that build energy, clarity, and grounded focus for the day ahead.
☯️ Evening sessions are more Yin—slower and more internal, with longer periods of seated practice and meditation to unwind, restore, and return to stillness.
No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to slow down and go within.
This is a slow, deeply meditative practice that works beyond the muscular system into the subtler layers of the body—connective tissue, fascia, breath, nervous system, and energetic pathways (nadis or meridians). Through standing practices and sustained internal awareness, we release tension, improve circulation, and gently awaken the body’s internal energetic flow.
From there, we move into stillness—using Daoist meditation techniques to turn inward, settle the mind, and deepen awareness, clarity, and connection. Over time, this practice supports the refinement of energy from physical vitality (Jing), to life force (Qi), to more subtle states of presence and consciousness (Shen).
☯️ Morning sessions are more Yang—focused on standing practices that build energy, clarity, and grounded focus for the day ahead.
☯️ Evening sessions are more Yin—slower and more internal, with longer periods of seated practice and meditation to unwind, restore, and return to stillness.
No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to slow down and go within.