Medical Qigong Counting Patterns

I am excited to finally have this Medical Qigong practice aid available! This downloadable CD (MP3 file format) is meant to be played on your iPod, iPad or computer while you practice. It follows the format of the weekly qigong class that I taught for years, with counting patterns, verbal cues and relaxing background music.

This format allows great flexibility, as you can choose to practice just the Quiet Gong, one of two options for the Moving Gong, or a complete sequence of the Quiet Gong through the Moving Gong.

There is a sample of the first counting pattern and more information at our Online Shop

Instructions for using iTunes with Downloaded Files

Here are the instructions for using iTunes with the downloaded audio files from our online shop. Keep in mind that if you just want to play these files on your computer just download them and double-click them to start playing.

iTunes directions:
1. Download the four Counting Pattern files to your computer ''desktop''.
2. Open your iTunes and make a new playlist - call it whatever you like that you'll remember
3. Use your mouse to drag and drop the files from the computer desktop into the open iTunes window onto the new playlist. ( In order to drag the files from your desktop to the iTunes playlist you may need to resize your iTunes window smaller in order to see the downloaded Counting Pattern files on your desktop).
4. On your computer iTunes Library playlist that you made you will see the downloaded tracks listed. Before "syncing" the list to your iPod or other device, uncheck the track titles which you do not need for your current practice. When you then sync with your device the downloaded tracks are ready for you to use.

Two New Classes on June 4th

Medical Qigong - Moving Gong - Saturday June 4th from 9:30-11:30

This workshop will cover the philosophy of movement within Medical Qigong, the First Full Moving Qigong (Taiji Dongzuo Gong) of Comprehensive Medical Qigong, the Second Moving Gong parts 1 & 2 and adapting to seasonal and environmental changes with Qigong.

The fee for the workshop is $35.

Nourishing Life - Chinese Medicine Principles of Food and Nutrition - Saturday June 4th from 1:30-3:30

Some of the most common questions that I hear in the office are:

How come I ate just what I was "supposed" to and felt bad?

What foods should I eat and avoid?

What is the best diet to follow?

The answer to these questions is simpler than most people think. It is all about understanding your own body and following a few simple principles that allow you to eat the foods that work for you in a way that works for you.

This workshop will cover practical Chinese Medicine principles of food and nutrition that are easily applied to modern life, optimizing your diet to meet your individual needs and goals, eating with the seasons, and balanced eating to enjoy your food!

The fee for the workshop is $35

If both workshops are going to be taken, the fee for the day is $55.

Medical Qigong Workshop in the Garden - May 22

This introductory Medical Qigong workshop will be at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens in Glen Ellen. This is the first introductory workshop that I have taught in almost two years and I am excited to have it in such a beautiful setting. We'll cover Quiet Qigong, Three Gates Gong and Closing Gong with an emphasis on using nature for healing.

This is a benefit for the Garden. You can register by calling (707) 996-3166 or visiting their website at http://www.quarryhillbg.org/home.html

The class is scheduled for May 22nd from 9:30-11:30.

New Interns

Leslie, my previous intern, has finished acupuncture school last month and moved on. Good luck and best wishes to Leslie!

I am very happy to have two new interns, John and Katie, both of whom are very interested in Chinese herbal medicine, students at AIMC Berkeley and already doing great work in our herb dispensary. I'm looking forward to working together with them for some time!

Miso Soup

Miso has been in the news a lot lately in regards to radiation, etc. I have always felt though that there are many good reasons to include it regularly in your diet and wanted to re-post this (from June of 2010) recipe that I regularly use and recommend:

To make miso soup, start by bringing 4 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 piece of Kombu seaweed that is about 3 inches by 3 inches (it best to rinse the seaweed first in cold water). Reduce heat and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add a small handful of dried Bonito (dried, fish shavings). Let sit for several minutes then strain. Put 2 teaspoons (or more depending on taste preference) of miso paste in a bowl. Mix in one cup of the base that you have prepared and add a small pinch of Wakame seaweed. All of these ingredients - Kombu seaweed, Miso paste, Bonito, and Wakame seaweed - are available at an Asian market.

Welcoming the Rawlinsons

I'm happy to welcome Ian and Cindy Rawlinson to our offices! They are both very skilled, long term practitioners of Five Element Acupuncture and will bring a great amount of experience and knowledge with them. I've known them for many years and am happy to continue our association with them here!