Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) is a WHOLE medicine system with roots reaching back thousands of years. Every aspect of this system considers Spirit as a part of the healing process. It includes (but is not limited to): Acupuncture, Acupressure, other bodywork modalities, QiGong/TaiJi, Psychology (mind-body-spirit medicine), Herbs, Nutrition, and even TCM, which is the most recent and popular form of Chinese Medicine. 

Asian medicine systems have been used for several thousands of years to maintain and promote health. These systems encompass herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage (such as nuad-boran, shiatsu, sotai, & tui na), movement practices (such as yoga, qigong, & taiji), meditation practices, and dietary suggestions. When used in combination, with guidance and support from a physician-teacher, imbalances are corrected and health is attained and maintained.

What is ‘Qi’ & how does it flow?

A core principle of Asian medicines is that vital forces such as Qi (pronounced “chee”) flow throughout the body. When balanced and moving optimally they protect us from illness, pain, and disease. These forces circulate through pathways that are connected to all of the organs, glands, and structures in our bodies. Like rivers transporting life-giving water to nourish land, flora, & fauna, Qi nourishes every cell, organ, & tissue in our body.  

What affects these vital forces?

Many things! Physical and emotional trauma, stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, diet, accidents, or excessive activity affect the quality, quantity, and balance of our vital forces. We can even inherit imbalances from our ancestors. Ideally, our body naturally corrects these imbalances. However, sometimes it does not and this is when dis-ease can set in. We will use a combination of practices to support flow and restore balance.

Why Asian instead of Western medicine?

Even Western medical doctors are beginning to see that pharmaceuticals and surgeries are not always the best way to treat imbalance and disease on our bodies. Ideally, these options are best to avoid if we can right? Well, these natural medical practices have been working for millions of people for thousands of years, and if we can stop or avoid drugs and surgeries and improve our health, why not?

For those interested in learning more about CCM here is a brief article from one of Dr. G’s teachers who is preeminent in the field.   https://classicalchinesemedicine.org/a/ccm/

In conjunction with over two decades of studies and practices with many other teachers, Dr. G’s beliefs are rooted in the teachings and practices of my guru Swami Chetanananda. She began a blog with my Guru years ago that remains active: http://swamichetanananda.org/.  In a Yoga Therapy session, the practitioner connects to your ‘energy’ and begins the process of taking you deeper into your conscious connection to your mind, body and spirit.   Through this process, we learn what practices from the ancient sciences of Tantra Yoga & Ayurveda will most benefit you.  It will be different for each individual, therefore most work needs to be done one-on-one.  For groups, we do sessions which consist of more dialogue and demonstration where we focus on the general philosophies and practices of these sciences which will inspire and enable each individual to begin exploring their path to greater health and awareness. We do not practice or teach the Western / New Age styles of Yoga or Tantra.   We have tremendous gratitude for these styles as they open a door for us to re-enter a philosophy and practice that we aspire to learn, live and share. Tantra has been very misrepresented in the west as a ‘sex practice’.  It is not!  Although the Tantric philosophy does not denounce sex like many religions do, Tantra exists beyond religion.  Tantra simply asks us to absorb all experiences (every word, thought and action) into a heightened state of consciousness.  When you truly accept life the way it is and the way it is not without attachment or resistance, you are free or ‘enlightened’. Many students and teachers in the west are starting to revive and embrace the teachings that trace back to the 6th century Kashmiri Shavaistic texts.  

Swami Chetenananda holds both Hindu and Buddhist Tantric lineages. He also oversees a publishing company, Rudra Press, that has put out the best books on this subject.

The following text is from Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati: [The text below is a transcript from a book of lectures Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati gave in the 1960’s in Europe.]

The word Tantra is derived from the Sanskrit roots Tan and Tra. The root Tan means extension, expansion, a stretching and pulling, as you pull the rubber. Tra means to liberate, to release, to emancipate, to make free. And what does Yoga mean? Yoga means a process of fission of matter and energy and ultimately a process of fusion. The meaning of Tantra and the meaning of Yoga is the same but somehow today in this part of the world, and in other parts also, the Yoga teachers would prefer to call themselves Yoga teachers but they are afraid to say that they teach Tantra. I teach Tantra. Why not, if it is something very nice, if it is going to clear up your personality, your deep rooted complexes, going to correct your behavior, is going to rehabilitate you psychologically, and physically? Why should you not take it up? Yoga and Tantra are 2 different words belonging to the same way of life. Yoga is an offshoot of Tantra. Yoga is not only Yoga but it is Tantra. But there is a difference, though only a little. Whereas in Yoga there are a lot of restrictions, in Tantra there are no restrictions. Tantra does not accept any kind of religious, cultural or tribal or national inhibitions. A teacher in Tantra or the philosophy of Tantra is aware of the variations in human behavior. Tantra accepts that three billion people cannot belong to only one range of life. We are evolving, mentally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, morally and ethically also and this evolution is constant and this evolution is sure and certain. This evolution is controlled by the collective nature Prakriti, and this evolution the Tantra respects. Hatha Yoga (all yoga) evolved from Tantra.   If you ask me ‘what kind of yoga’ I practice, I could say Hatha, Bhakti, and/or Kundalini Yoga, but as I learn more about this beautiful practice, I come to realize it is all Tantra. Asana (what most in the west consider to be ‘yoga’) is but one element of a complete Yoga practice. 

One of our goals is to help individuals start to learn about the whole practice of Yoga. “When the senses are stilled, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect wavers not – then, say the wise, is reached the highest stage.  This steady control of the senses and mind has been defined as Yoga.”       – Patanjali

The basis of our teaching and practices is strongly rooted in the Indian healing traditions of Ayurveda.  The word ayurveda derives from two Sanskrit words:  ayur, meaning “life,” and veda, meaning “knowledge.”  Together these words describe a concept of harmonious living.  Ayurveda helps us maintain a healthy balance and respects that each individual is unique and requires different attention to achieve and then maintain this balance. Thai Massage originally developed as an assisted-yoga practice, the rhythm and intensity by which a pose was executed being guided by Ayurvedic principles of constitution:  slow and gentle for vata, non-vigorous and relaxing for pita, energetic and fiery for kapha.         

We honor Dr. George’s teacher Saul David Raye for all he taught her about this healing art form over many years of study and apprenticeship. Even after a medical degree and deep love for acupuncture and other Asian lineages of medicine, Thai-Style body work is still a foundational aspect of our hands-on work with people. “The healing art of Traditional Thai Massage is an ancient and sacred system of healing with roots in Yoga, Ayurvedic Medicine and Buddhist spiritual practice.  It is a unique and powerful system of Yoga Therapy, which combines rhythmic massage, acu-pressure, assisted Yoga stretching exercises, gentle twisting, energy work & meditation. This work creates a powerful release of stress and tension, and increase in vitality and well-being and it deepens the connection between mind, body and spirit in both the giver and receiver.  Thai Yoga Therapy™ integrates the art of Traditional Thai massage with other techniques and practices of Yoga and Yoga Therapy, including Hatha Yoga, restorative Yoga, breathwork, pranic healing, meditation and deep relaxation, to make this system complete, balanced and deeply therapeutic.  This work aims at stimulating the flow of healing energies within the body, opening the areas which are blocked and bringing the body, mind and spirit back into balance and harmony, for health, happiness and wellness of being.”  ~Saul David Raye

Being lead through a series of yoga postures while palming and thumbing along the body’s energy lines and pressure points, you receive a comprehensive full-body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, and balances the body energetically. Sessions are followed with recommendations on diet, exercises, yoga postures, and meditation to practice before your next sessions.  Ideally, a progressive treatment plan is set up where you build on each session and develop the relationship between practitioner and patient-student.

Key Benefits
Relaxation
Flexibility
Structural Integration

These in-person sessions are traditionally 1.5-3 hours. Partner and group workshops are also a good way to learn to work on one another.

Cranio-Sacral Osteopathy and Reiki can be provided in both remote and in-person sessions. Here is a piece Dr. G wrote on Reiki:  http://thelotusway.org/web/Reiki.htm Here is an interesting 30-minute interview she did with her Guru regarding ‘Alternative Therapies, Health, and Spirituality’. It includes discussions about many modalities and some history behind the evolutions of various medical modalities, including cranio-sacral osteopathy, Classical Chinese Medicine, Yoga/Shaktipat, Homeopathy, and even modern bio-medicine.  The last few minutes are key for us all to hear and remember!  http://swamichetanananda.org/august-2015-alternative-therapies-and-health-care/