Cris blends her joy of dance, movement, research and teaching with the practice of Qigong, in an on-going quest to explore the mysteries of whole-person health.
Originally a classically trained dancer, she attended Purchase College as a dance major. In 1978 she joined the Continuing Education faculty there, teaching jazz dance for the next 11 years. During this time, she also taught at 92nd St. Y and performed and choreographed in NYC.
In 1989 Cris received an MA in Dance and Dance Education from Columbia University. She studied dance therapy at the famed Laban Institute in London, then returned to CA to create and run dance/movement therapy programs at two psychiatric hospitals in Sacramento and teach dance at the Davis Art Center, Davis, CA. Upon returning to NYC in 1991, she began her private practice as an exercise/movement therapist and teacher, which continued for close to 30 years.
In 2013 Cris refocused her work. She became certified to teach Qigong through Lee Holden and the Santa Cruz Qigong Center, and continues to study him as well as with Mimi Kuo-Deemer, Daisy Lee, Robert Peng, and Kenneth Cohen.
Cris has taught at Kripalu, Stockbridge, MA, and created and implemented exercise/movement programs for the MHA Recovery Center, Dutchess County, NY. She currently offers Qigong workshops and classes throughout the Northeast, including at Vassar College, the Millbrook, NY and Sharon, CT libraries and Innisfree Gardens, as well as weekly classes online through her website criscaivano.com.
Cris is the author of the commissioned book Strength Training, Staying Fit and Fabulous (Dover, 2018), which has been published twice in more than six languages.
A note from Cris :
My journey to Qigong began in some ways when, as a child, I spent my free time in the woods and fields around my house in Tarrytown, NY---climbing trees, exploring, scrutinizing the wild flowers and animals. I think I’ve always been a Taoist at heart.
At age nine, I was taken to see the “Nutcracker Suite” and, completely entranced by the world of ballet, began to channel my tomboy enthusiasm for movement into dance. About 30 years ago, I attended my first Qigong class. I expected to be bored, but was instantly smitten! Qigong’s movements and philosophy returned me to my childhood love of nature, and rekindled my joy of moving with the free, flowing, expressiveness of dance.
When COVID drove everyone online and into Zoom in 2020, my students and I discovered how simple, effective, enjoyable, and convenient it is to study with others from all over the world in the comfort of one’s home. It was a real gift to be able to practice Qigong together during shut-down. Now, the online classes continue to support us all as we make our way through the complicated, ever-changing circumstances of life. I stay apprised of new research about Qigong as it is published, and share what I learn in my classes and through my weekly newsletters on criscaivano.com.
I am delighted that our community of “Qigong-ers”, both online as well as in-person, has grown to become so friendly, supportive, and mutually encouraging. I am grateful for the growing sponsorship of libraries and not-for-profits, who recognize Qigong’s unique value to their communities. Most of all, I am inspired by my students’ curiosity and enthusiasm. We learn and grow together. We also have fun, and that’s important, too!
