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My workshops range from single classes to multi-day programs, and can contain a variety of topics within
the realm of the energy arts, bodywork, and Chinese medicine. Please see the training page for my educational background.
I will outline here some of the workshops I have given in the past. These are available "as
is", and can also serve as starting points for customized trainings, according to your needs and situation.
I am particularly interested in Qi development for bodyworkers and healers whether or not the therapist uses
any energy or qi healing methods in their practice or not. When any kind of therapy work is done the practitioner and client enter into a relationship together and healing takes place in both parties. This healing expends energy on
the part of the therapist, even if you are acting as a "conduit" for an external energy field. This really has to be the case if you believe that all phenomena are inter-related and connected. If you are practicing
structural massage therapy with no energetic intention, you are at the very least burning calories and using your muscles. Ideally the therapist should be stronger and operating at a higher energy level than the client to begin
with, and it is essential to replenish the energy that you use in the healing process. This can go a long way towards making you an effective therapist, and protect you from injury and burnout. These are serious issues for
bodyworkers, and the leading cause of therapists leaving the profession.
There are many approaches to keeping yourself strong and healthy. In my experience qigong, taijiquan, posture training and meditation are excellent
choices as part of your program, and are specific for Chinese energy-bodywork styles.
Qi Development For Healers Series–
This series is primarily aimed at massage therapy students and practitioners, and hands on healers of all kinds.
Qigong For Bodyworkers–
Two to three days, 10-15 contact hours
Typically four or five two and a half to three hour classes. We start with
the fundamental practices of body, breath and mind. This is the foundation of almost any kind of qigong or bodywork practice, and unfortunately, is not always included in massage training curriculum.
One or two simple sets or methods of qigong practice utilizing the above practices will be introduced and practiced throughout the workshop. The goal here is to learn something that you can take home and start using to
develop sensitivity and awareness of your body kinesthetics and your qi. This is the first step. Sensitivity leads to awareness, awareness leads to knowledge and understanding, understanding leads to usefulness, that is,
your ability to concretely feel and utilize your qi. Begin with a concept and through time and practice, make it real. This is developing gongfu. Finally we will learn a few static (standing) postures to stretch, mobilize
and strengthen the body's muscle and connective tissue.
The focus of this seminar is on practice, but some time will also be devoted to discussion of beginning level theory of yin, yang and qi, which comprise
the basis of all the Chinese energy arts and are the root of the Tao. All drills and qigong are practiced several times throughout the classes to solidify them in your body/mind. Back to top
Cultivate Your Qi– Two to three days, 10-15 contact hours
Same class format as Qigong For Bodyworkers, above, and a continuation of this series. Again starting with body, breath and mind. A little review of the basics, and then we work on the next level of body structure and
breath training. This includes drills to learn opening and closing the joints to flow qi more efficiently, and strengthening of the dantian through bellows breathing and filling. The qigong training is learning and
practicing The Eight Healing Sounds of Yin-Style Bagua, a "healing without medicines" set that regulates and strengthens the organs and meridians through the use of posture/movement, sound/vibration and focussed quiet
mind training. We continue the discussion of theory with the concept of how qi moves and manifests in our systems, emphasizing the most common qi imbalance that massage therapists encounter, stagnant qi. We also
will continue structural training as applied to table posture and how to unify the body to transmit force and energy efficiently.
As above, the classes are practice oriented. The Healing Sounds are repeated throughout the seminar so the student will be able to practice them on their own after the weekend. Back to top
Cultivate Your Qi, Level II– Two to three days, 10-15 contact hours
Continuing in the same format as previous workshops. Some review of basic structure and breathing, then gaining a deeper level of unifying the body structure with several drills to stretch and strengthen the fascia.
This is accomplished through both relaxation (sinking and filling) and dynamic full body isometrics. The breath training moves into reverse and rolling breathing, and we start single pointed focus mind practice. The qigong is
The Eight Storing Qi and Developing Sensitivity Exercises of Yin-Style Bagua (YSB). This set is specifically for energy-bodywork development. The student learns how to store qi in the dantian/kidney function and to
perceive the movement of qi in their system, i.e.– opening and closing, raising and lowering, entering, gathering and dispersing. We begin to discuss a framework for using qi in bodywork, and will learn and practice
2-4 tui-na (bodywork) hand techniques from the YSB system. Back to top Chinese Energy-Bodywork– 
Two to three days, 10-15 contact hours
This workshop deepens the practice and understanding of the Eight Storing Qi set and the fundamental theories of Chinese medicine as it applies to bodywork practice.
There is continued discussion of yin/yang theory and the actions of qi in harmony and disharmony. The energetic functional physiology of the meridians and organs will be introduced as well as the concepts of
deficiency and excess syndromes, and energetic assessment using the eight principle patterns. This will help clarify your understanding of the "view" of Chinese medicine, and of the sensations you feel in your body
from practice of the qigong. This is the first step in learning to apply this new knowledge in the treatment of clients with energy-bodywork.
You will practice applying 4-6 tui-na hand techniques
on yourself and your clients. The bodywork is presented in a simple and straightforward manner, and you can put it to use in your practice regardless of your style.
However, these techniques also have great depth, and it is up to you to put in the time and effort to develop the incredible power and efficiency available when skilled hands are combined with strong, sensitive qi; and an
understanding of Chinese medicine. Back to top
Qigong and Yang-Style Taijiquan Workshops
Qigong workshops can run from single 2-3 hour classes to multi day seminars. There are a several different kinds of classes available; Foundation Practices, Concepts and Skills, and Qigong
Sets. Most of my qigong comes from martial and medical arts systems and is appropriate for body strengthening and health maintenance, meditation and bodywork development. My favorite personal practices are from Yin-Style Bagua.
Foundation Classes involve training in body (posture,
stances, movement), breath (natural and reverse dantian breathing, open/close breathing, bellows breathing, rolling breathing, etc.), and mind (quiet mind, guiding and leading, single pointed focus). These are examples of
different levels and styles within the categories. You always start at the beginning, from there it depends on where you want to go, and what you want to do, that is– your goals. Self strengthening and healing, meditation,
bodywork development, etc. These classes consist mostly of drills and discussion of the ideas behind the practice, applications and so on.
Concepts and Skills
are "special topics" classes and include such things as: opening and closing, flowing the meridians, internal mind, pulling and reeling silk, self-healing, maintaining the body and organs, building
strength. These classes usually combine individual exercise drills with qigong sets.
Qigong Sets Classes
focus on just that, learning and practicing groups of qigong exercises. These include: Qi Permeating Technique, Qi Transportation Exercises, Swimming Dragon, Tiger Mountain (a set of Taijiquan
movements), Taoist Qigong (name unknown!), Flying Crane, My personal practice warmup. Also the following from the Yin-Style Bagua system: Six Daily Qi Meditations, The Eight Healing Sounds, The Eight Storing and
Developing Sensitivity, The Twelve Guiding Energy Sitting Meditations, The Luohan Patting Exercises, Maintaining the Body and Organs Exercises.
Taijiquan–
I have been a student of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) since 1987, and started teaching in 1990. I practice a long form of taiji which is really suited to continuing study, but there are many shorter drills and
practices, as well as short sequences of movements from the long form, that are appropriate for workshops. These kinds of practices can stand on their own, and are a great introduction to the very large world of Taijiquan. For
students with some forms training, there are drills for developing the "internal" side of taiji, regardless of style. I
can also teach beginning level push-hands, a cooperative partner exercise that lets you study movement and qi in conjunction with another person.
Most of my qigong workshops and classes integrate these four sections of study. Back to top
Custom Workshops
I am happy to work with your organization, group or school to come up with a program that meets your needs
and requirements, based on the above areas of study. I have taught classes for the general public, bodywork therapists and students, in hospitals and wellness programs and in a corporate setting. Please contact
me if you would like to explore the possibilities.
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