Breath, Body, Spine

In nearly thirty years of clinical work, I've found that when the spine is struggling, the breath is usually involved—and when the breath is restricted, the spine is often involved.

That is Isaac's observation from his own clinical practice, not a medical rule, and it holds whether you've worked with him or never met him. The breath and the spine are one system. Many people have never consciously felt how breathing moves the ribs, belly, back and pelvis together—or noticed what changes when those areas stop moving as one.

This class connects the breath to the spine and the spine to the rest of you. That's the whole job. We slow down and look for that whole-body breath, piece by piece, until you can find it on your own.

If you've done clinical work with Isaac

You've heard the breath-and-spine observation before. This is where you learn to do it yourself: breath, structure and movement as one thing, at your own pace, with no one's hands on you.

It's what continues the work when the sessions are done, and it belongs to you.

If you're new to this

You sit all day.

Your back and hips are tight.

You tried the gym. You tried yoga. You stopped.

Most people who come to this class start right there.

Stretching can provide temporary relief. This class takes a different approach: slowly coordinating the joints, breath and whole body rather than holding one area at its end range. The movements are deliberate, progressive and designed to help you sense how the different parts of your body work together.

What a class looks like

Sixty minutes, start to finish.

Arrive

Find the group under the oaks, away from the main field. Say hello. Put your water down.

Breath

Standing still and breathing. Isaac shows you where the movement created by breathing can be felt and how it affects the trunk.

Body

Slow, easy movement through the joints, matched to the breath, so the whole body is prepared before we ask more of it.

Spine

The form, one piece at a time. Isaac shows a piece. You follow. We repeat it until it feels familiar.

Close

A few quiet breaths, standing still. Then you go.

Before your first class

Wear shoes. The ground under the oaks is dirt.

Wear something you can move in, with a layer for the morning.

Bring water.

Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early the first time. Park in the Canon Drive lot; the group is in the oak grove, not on the field across the creek.

What you'll take with you

This is not just an hour of movement in the park. The purpose is to give you a practice you can understand, remember and eventually use on your own.

A repeatable practice you can do on your own

A clearer sense of how breathing moves the ribs, back, abdomen and pelvis

Slow movements you can use between classes

A way to explore mobility without forcing flexibility

Enough familiarity with the form to begin practicing independently

From the class

Having never tried Qi Gong before I found Isaac’s teaching style to be at a perfect pace for a beginner and easy to follow. His delivery is smooth and thoughtful so I never felt confused or unattended to or rushed or misunderstood.

However what I liked most was the vibration that Isaac carries not just during the lesson but all of the time. It is very soothing, calming and welcoming. It is clear that he is undistracted and completely present with his students in the moment.

— John Birchim

Isaac explains and demonstrates the connection between breathing and movement in a way that is clear and immediately understandable. He was able to simplify moves I initially found physically challenging. I left class feeling grounded and in alignment with my body—and with a simple practice I could continue using on my own.

— Chris S.

About Isaac

Isaac Osborne

Certified Advanced Rolfer® (DIRI), LMT, NASM-CPT, NASM-CES, XPT Coach, FRC Mobility Specialist

Licensed Professional, White Tiger Qigong

Certified in Dragon Meridian Qigong

5 Force Fit Yang Flow and Yin Flow Specialist

Isaac has nearly thirty years and more than 30,000 clinical hours of experience in movement and bodywork. He teaches in parks, in yoga and fitness studios, and online, from his home base in Santa Barbara.

He is a Certified Advanced Rolfer® (DIRI), a licensed massage therapist, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, an XPT Coach, an FRC Mobility Specialist, and a lifelong martial artist. He taught beginning and advanced structural integration practitioner trainings for over a decade and serves as visiting anatomy faculty for yoga teacher training programs. He is the author of Body of Water, a book on the body as a pressurized fluid system. His clinical work is in how the fascia, the joints and the breath organize pressure through the body. That is what he explains as you move through the form.

He trained under the White Tiger Qigong lineage founded by Tevia Feng, and he teaches Dragon Meridian Qigong as it is taught within that lineage.

Rolfing® and Rolfer® are registered service marks of the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute®. Isaac Osborne is a Certified Advanced Rolfer®.

Questions

Where in Stevens Park do we meet?

Stevens Park, 258 Canon Drive. Park in the Canon Drive lot. We meet under the oaks, away from the main field, not on the field across the creek.

Do I need experience?

No. Most people in the class started with none. Isaac shows every move and you follow at your own pace.

What do I wear?

Anything you can move in, plus shoes: the ground under the oaks is dirt, not grass. Mornings in the canyon start cool, so bring a layer you can take off.

Is this exercise or meditation?

Both, in one practice. The body works: joints, fascia, balance and strength. The attention stays on the breath and the movement. That is the meditation. You never sit still.

Can I drop in, or do I need to attend every week?

It's a six-week series, and you sign up for all six. The form is learned in pieces, and each week builds on the last, so the people who get it are the ones who come every Saturday. If you miss a week, you'll still be able to follow the next one, and the at-home reference is there to catch up with.

What happens if it rains?

Class still happens, on Zoom, at 8:00. If it's raining at 6:30 a.m. you'll get a text and an email saying so. The link is the same every week and is in your welcome email, so you never have to look for it.

What if I have an injury or cannot stand for the entire hour?

Contact Isaac before attending if you have an injury, a recent surgery, significant balance limitations or difficulty standing. This is a standing group movement class, not an individualized treatment session. Isaac can help you decide whether the class format is appropriate for you.

Can this treat my condition?

No. We do not treat or diagnose anything. If you have a diagnosed condition, check with your doctor first. What we do is teach the practice, and tell you plainly who it suits.

Motion Unlimited — A White Tiger Qigong School

© 2026 Motion Unlimited, Santa Barbara, California.

White Tiger Qigong certification is a private, curriculum-specific credential issued by White Tiger Qigong. 'WTQ Licensed' means contractually authorized to use specified WTQ curriculum and brand assets. It is not a government-issued license and does not authorize medical diagnosis or treatment.