QI GONG FOUND ME! I enrolled in Massage Therapy School for the first class available at the time. It was called “East West Sampler”. I didn’t care what it was called I wanted to be a Massage Therapist. The first half of the course was Swedish Massage, very interesting and what I had been seeking. The second half of the course was Shiatsu Massage. I had no idea what that was but having signed up I was open to new ideas. This part of the course included an extensive Chinese Medicine section and to help us build the energy needed to be effective Shiatsu Massage Practitioners, we were given QiGong instruction and practiced twice each session– ’18 Style’ in the morning with Chung Bai and ‘8 Pieces of Brocade’ in the afternoon with Tai Yung Han. I resonated with the ’18 Style’ and have been practicing it ever since. It was a gift that I have used for the last 16 or 17 years that has improved my health and well being. It cured my bad back and a lot of other physical maladies. Qi Gong is truly a part of my life. I choose to do this ritual as a regular part of my day. I am forever thankful that I was guided to be in the “East West Sampler”. It truly changed my life with the gift of Qi Gong 18 Style.
I felt that massage was something I could do in retirement. It would be a way to give to people and have some extra income. I could regulate the schedule to have time for travel and still have a practice.
What prompted you to attend massage school?