Leaves of Change

Online February 11- May 6th 2026

We get sick with each seasonal transition, surprised every time, searching online for answers that feel disconnected from experience. We long for community but find surface connection. We care about ecological crisis but don't know how our daily rhythms relate to healing.

There is another way: to remember! To recognize that the spring fatigue you feel isn't random, but predictable. That your body is tracking the same shifts as the plants outside your window. Personal wellness and planetary health aren't separate pursuits but different expressions of the same living system.

Leaves of Change creates this possibility through the integrated framework of Chinese Medicine and phenology—distinct sciences of observing and responding to change. This 12-week program creates space for philosophically curious people to develop embodied practices of seasonal attunement while building community rooted in dialogue, reciprocity, and shared learning.

What Are Microseasons?

While most of us think of four seasons, the Chinese Solar Calendar recognizes 24 solar terms—each lasting approximately two weeks which invites us into finer attention with the world. They teach us that seasons are not one homogeneous energy, but a series of distinct passages—each with its own quality and gifts.

When we learn to track microseasons in our bioregion, we begin to notice patterns we've walked past for years. We see how our own energy, digestion, and emotional states shift in concert with these changes. We develop the capacity to prepare rather than simply react.

Whats Included:

1- Online Sessions

Eight live virtual sessions (90 minutes each)
February through May 2026
All sessions recorded for on-demand access

• Introduction to Chinese Medicine principles and seasonal theory

• Deep study of spring’s microseasons and their internal/external expressions

• Phenology practices for tracking your bioregion

• Community dialogue via group pods

• Seasonal recipes, self-care protocols, and lifestyle practices

• Quiet sitting practices including: Daoyin & Spinal Stillness designed for each micorseason

2- Community Practice (Only 12 spots available!)

• Small group practice with 3-4 to share your tracking experiences

• Getting to know like minded people

• Building relationships rooted in reciprocity

3- Tea Subscription

• Two caringly selected seasonal teas sent straight to your door – chosen for their flavors, energies, and seasonal harmony. Expect a green and oolong teas.

• A journal and booklet to learn seasonal tea experimentation (Valued at $110)

• Developing your “sit spot” for quiet sitting and tea practice

What does this program focus on?

1. Embodied awareness of Chinese Medicine’s microseasons and how to map your lifestyle onto the unique season we’re in

2. Phenological observation skills to read your bioregion and understand local patterns of weather, migration, and plants

3. Tea as connection with our senses

4. Exploring the connection between personal wellness and collective ecological health

5. Mutual support and resource-sharing within our small community

Facilitator: Alexandria Gianakos, LMT

I am a licensed Chinese Medicine practitioner who has been studying and practicing these teachings since 2015. For the past 10 years, I have lived by the microseasons—watching, tracking, refining my understanding. For 8 years in the Hudson Valley, I have gotten to know my bioregion intimately, observing how the same patterns repeat in my clinical practice: patients arriving with the same complaints at the same times, year after year.

I created this program because I needed it. Because I wanted to share practices in community vs. in isolation AND acknowledge we are living through ecological crisis. I believe that learning to care for our bodies and learning to care for the earth are the same practice—just different scales of attention.

Online Sessions Over 12 weeks:

Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30pm Eastern

February 11

February 25

March 11

March 25

April 8

April 22

May 6

Program at a Glance:

Core Program:

• 7 live virtual sessions with lifetime recording access

• 12 weeks of guided seasonal practice

• Lifestyle suggestions for each microseason

• Community dialogue space and ongoing support

Embodiment Practices:

• 12-week tea subscription from

  Via Tiempo

• A stillness and movement practice

  for each microseason

• Journal and tea practice materials

Investment: $1,275 (regularly $1,550)
Early enrollment ends November 15, 2025

Spring Bonus

Enroll by November 15 and receive 20% off two Via Tiempo tea subscriptions (a $60 value).

FAQ

I've never studied Chinese Medicine. Will I be lost?

This program is designed for beginners! You don't need prior knowledge—only curiosity and willingness to pay attention. Beginner's mind is actually the most fertile place to begin, especially as we enter spring together.

What if I can't attend the live sessions?

Unexpectedly need to put the kids to bed? No worries, all sessions are recorded with lifetime access at no extra cost. While we encourage live participation for the community experience, you can learn at your own pace and still engage with the cohort. The small groups are a good place to check in and catch up if you miss anything.

What are the time commitments?

Expect 90 minutes twice a month for live sessions, plus 15-30 minutes daily for tea practice, tracking, and integration. Most participants find they “gain” more time and energy than they invest, as they learn to work with their natural rhythms.

I don't live in the Hudson Valley. Will this still work for me?

Yes. While I use Hudson Valley examples, you'll learn to track your own bioregion. Chinese Medicine principles and phenology practices apply everywhere! You'll simply be noticing different plants, weather patterns, and seasonal markers to your specific place.

Who is this NOT for?

This program isn't for those seeking quick fixes, passive learning, or another course to collect. It's for self-directed learners who want frameworks, embodied practice, and real community—not prescriptions or easy answers.

I’m keeping this group small at 12 participants. Join today before it fills up with wonderful like-minded people.

all photos courtesy of Dawn Iler 💚