Medical Qigong for Acupuncturist 2022-2023

Hi, welcome to the Medical Qigong Teacher Training registration page.

I’m opening a new group for the live online program, with monthly sessions running from September 3rd, 2022 - June 4th, 2023. This is the first part of the 3-year program. (2022: Sept 3-4 / Oct 1-2 / Nov 5-6 / Dec 3-4 / 2023: Jan 7-8 / Feb 4-5 / Mar 4-5 / Apr 1-2 / May 6-7 / June 3-4) Classes start at 8am pacific, 11am Eastern, 4pm UK, 5pm Central Europe and are 4h long each day.

Most acupuncture programs in the west only have a very limited amount of time dedicated to Qigong and the teachers of those classes are rarely specialists in the field. It often feels more like a gym class in high school when it should have the same quality level as a physiotherapy university program.

Since 1957, the Shanghai Qigong Research Institute, a branch of Shanghai University of TCM, one of the first Medical Qigong centers in China, has been studying the therapeutic effects of Qigong. In 1979, Professor Lin Housheng, former director of the Institute, created the Taiji Qigong Shibashi system at the request of the Health Ministry to help the Chinese population improve and maintain their health with Qigong. The Shibashi system was taught in most Chinese Medicine Universities throughout China and South East Asia. The system was used in the hospitals and clinics affiliated with Shanghai University, providing data on its efficiency on a large scale. A particular study organized by the Shanghai Hypertension association conducted over a 20 years period with 10 000 patients used specific movements of the Taiji Qigong Shibashi system with great results.

The simplicity of Taiji Qigong Shibashi makes it user-friendly for most patients. The movements are easy to adapt to any conditions. Professor Lin explains: “If the patient is bedridden, make them do an exercise lying down. Once they can sit, make them do seated exercises. Once they can stand, make them do a simple Zhan Zhuang (standing posture). Once they can move, make them do moving Qigong. Once they can walk, make them do Walking Qigong.” This represents well the adaptability of this Medical Qigong system to the reality of the clinic.

I have been using this Medical Qigong system clinically since 2012 in my private practice in Montreal, and now in a cutting edge Stem-cell clinic in Los Cabos, Mexico working alongside MDs, surgeons, biochemists, etc… Our patients come from all over the world regained their health from chronic disease, often lasting decades before finding us. Medical Qigong and herbal medicine is a key component of their treatment plan and is seen as essential in their recovery. One of the exercises you will learn in this program has been used repeatedly to help patients return to a normal white blood cell count within a few weeks when nothing had helped them for decades.

Until 2020, I had been teaching private students how to use this system. My students all gained immense benefits from their practice. And since many of them are acupuncturists, therapists, and teachers, their patients and students also gained benefits thanks to them. This is the most important part. If it was just me who could do it, it would not have much value. But since it is teachable and others can gain the same results, it is priceless!

For the first time, I will run a group class exclusively for acupuncturists. Relying heavily on TCM theory, I will help you understand the ins and outs of Medical Qigong. What are the key elements that make it efficient and how to reverse engineer it so you can pick and choose the best-suited part for the individual need of your patients in a fun and user-friendly way for them so they want to do it! Because even if you had the perfect exercise to heal them in a week of practice, it would be useless if they don’t do it. Just like in herbology, patient compliance is key.

Since we all have a nerdy side when it comes to the Chinese healing arts, here is an overview of what we will cover during this 3-year program.

The lineage is that of Professor Lin Housheng who created the Taiji Qigong Shibashi system. Prof Lin credit the Shaolin NeiJin YiZhiChan system for developing his Qi to be able to do Qi emission. We will study both of these based on Professor Lin’s teaching. The first year will focus on Taiji Qigong Shibashi Set 1 and the foundation posture of the Shaolin NeiJin as well as the ZhenQi Yun Xing (Qigong meditation).

Using the movements of set 1 as our main learning tool, we will discover the different layers hidden in each exercise and how to apply them clinically:

-Wai Gong / Jing Gong (physical movement / body structure / choreography)

This layer is the simplest and fastest to learn. It will give good results for most patients and will be the foundation onto which all other layers will be developed.

-Nei Gong (internal movement / connecting the body via the breath)

Once we are familiar enough with the external qualities of the movements, we will start to use the breath in all its aspect to improve our connection between the external and internal movements. It is the layer that teaches us to move the inside first to influence the surface.

-Qi Gong (movements of Qi / micro and macrocosmic orbits)

Discovering the feelings of Qi being moved by the form until the body is filled enough that the Qi moves the body. Strengthening the WeiQi to develop our connection with the Environment, Heaven, and Earth.

-Shen Gong (meditative state / entering tranquility)

Using images at first to focus the mind. Once the bond is calm, entering the state of tranquility to observe all aspects of our body and mind during our practice and in life.

-Zhan Zhuang (posture training to develop Qi)

The Shaolin NeiJin system of posture was distilled by Professor Lin into the 3 most important postures to build Qi. The original system had multiple postures to help open the channels. Since we are using Taiji Qigong Shibashi to do this, we can focus on the essence of Qi building from this system. Posture builds Qi, movement removes stagnations. Using both, we can achieve harmony faster.

-Wai Qi LiaoFa (外氣療法) / Fa Gong (發功) / Bu Qi (布氣) (Qi emission methodology)

From building Qi and opening the channels so more can flow, the skills of emitting Qi will develop. This skill can be used in many ways: to help a patient or student feel the effect of a movement, to increase the effect of needling techniques, TuiNa, or non-contact healing, to improve your diagnostic skills, etc…

By the end of the program, you will be able to put all those layers together in everything that you do, be it your personal Qigong practice, in your clinic, and in your personal life. They will enhance your life experience in every way. I mean, I’m able to live on the beach in Cabo because of this practice, where would you want to live?

I’m looking forward to practicing with you.