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Articles By and About DHA and its
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Business
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Center takes
alternative path to health
by Matt Amato
amatomatt@dekalbchamp.com
Never wavering from a tone as soothing as the cup of
Chinese tea she offers, Corinne Chaves is relaxation
personified. She meditates twice a day and practices qi gong,
an ancient healing art. So she’s chilled, disciplined and
healthy. Now, she wants you to feel the same way.
At Decatur Healing Arts, a business where Chaves partners with
husband and Tai Chi instructor Jude Hasken, a myriad of
methods are offered to ease back pain, stress and other
ailments–yoga, therapeutic massages, Taoist meditation, tai
chi, qi gong. But this isn’t just some esoteric west-coast,
one-stop-healing shop. This stuff really works. Just have a
little faith.
“One person did the practices and had no side effects from
chemotherapy,” she said. “I’m such a firm believer. I used to
be hypothyroid and I no longer am.”
Those not in the know might imagine the experience as this:
Wear loose clothing, unroll your mat, breathe slowly, contort
the body in weird positions while listening to waterfalls and
windpipes, and one hour later all problems are melted away.
Well, there’s more to it than that. Think holistically.
“There’s a lot of education to be done because people don’t
know about it,” said Chaves referring to the challenges faced
in an instant gratification society. “I see so many people
taking so many drugs with so many side effects. I’m passionate
about people taking the responsibility for their health and
giving them the tools.”
In other words, you need to practice these tools, which have
been handed down after centuries’ worth of ringing
endorsement. During classes, students are informed
step-by-step the derived benefits from each movement and the
psychology behind them. That’s why the right instructor is so
important. And these instructors, if they’re honest about
their practice, refer to themselves as students.
Take Chaves’ case for instance. After spending 19 years as a
corporate technology consultant, she, like thousands, was laid
off after the Internet bubble burst. Having been a yoga
student since 1973, she gravitated to qi gong and the
teachings of Master Yun Xiang Tseng. Master Chen, as he’s
better known, is an interesting character. At 6 years old he
went to a monastery to study Taoist healing and martial arts.
Ten years later, he was teaching it.
Through her on-going dedication to qi gong, which took her the
length and breadth of the country, Chaves cultivated plans for
a business. “I kept getting reinforcement through meditation;
it gave me the answers to difficult questions. I kept saying
that this is what I should be doing,” she said. “So here I
am.”
During her soul-searching hiatus, Chaves also became a
licensed massage therapist. So with ideas and qualifications
to back it up, the next step was finding an adequate space.
She describes Decatur Healing Arts as having three concepts:
“The classes in the studio; therapeutic massage – Chinese
medical massage, shiatsu and Swedish; and there’s a small
retail outlet – the things that support the practices.”
And the public appears to be receptive. “It’s [the clientele]
more people 40 plus who aren’t interested in aerobics or hard
core types of exercise who look for something that feels good,
[is] not expensive and doesn’t require props or equipment. For
yoga, the big expense is your mat -- $20-30,” she said.
So with a business geared towards her lifestyle, does Chaves
miss the corporate world? “No, do I look like I do,” she
laughed.
Decatur Healing Arts is located at 109A New St., Decatur. For
more information, visit
www.decaturhealingarts.com.
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Copyright. © CHAMPION NEWSPAPER. 2006.
All rights reserved.
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By:
Corinne Chaves
.jpg) Qi Gong (chee gong) is a simple yet
magical healing method that everyone can do that produces longevity forever.
With it you can find your own healing power and bring balance and health into
your life with no medicine. This ancient method will be translated and taught by
a Master who has been visiting Atlanta for more than six years and has made lots
of healing magic here!
Born in a small village in China, Master Yun Xiang Tseng, fondly known as Master
Chen, was an unusual child, doing healing work and channeling as a small child.
His teacher, Grandmaster Li, a female Taoist priest, sent out for Chen to be
brought to the Wu Dang Taoist monastery in Hubei Province to study to be her
successor. Chen studied Taoist healing and martial arts beginning at the age of
six. After ten years training in the mountain, he was sent back to the community
to teach Taoist healing arts and preserve the ancient Taoist teachings.
Chen has trained many thousands in America and over 10,000 people in China. He
has a gift for making these authentic Taoist teachings understandable. His
command of English and his modest and humorous delivery have opened the door for
Westerners to learn the Taoist healing arts from an authentic master. As part of
his mission, Chen is committed to building the first Taoist monastery in the
U.S.
Until recently you had to travel to China to learn from such a master.
Fortunately for us Master Chen now lives and travels in the U.S. doing seminars
in Atlanta, New York, and elsewhere. He will be in Atlanta September 28th
through October 2nd teaching Primordial Qi Gong for beginners. For more
information about his schedule, contact Susan Ross at susan108@earthlink.net.
You owe yourself the chance to try this simple, fun, magical method.
The Healing Art of Qi Gong
Qi Gong integrates movement, breath and visualization. “Qi” translates as
essential energy, and “Gong” translates as “to make it work”. It shares concepts
of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist alchemical meditation practice. As a
Taoist practice, Qi Gong is rooted in ancient Chinese shamanism and includes
practices to refine body, mind and spirit in the quest for health, longevity and
immortality.
The art of Qi Gong involves working with or developing skill in the use and
circulation of Qi. The practitioner is trained to use the mind and slow
movements to guide Qi flow within the energetic pathways of the body, clear
blockages and rebalance the energy system, creating the opportunity for healthy
longevity and spiritual cultivation.
Qi Gong includes gentle movements that work on the body, Qi and mind in specific
ways. Some movements target individual organs improving their function and
quality. Other movements improve the quality and quantity of Qi. The goal of Qi
Gong is to refine the essence, Qi and spirit to support internal energy
transformations. Qi Gong can build the basic supply of Qi to overcome fatigue;
balance organs; improve circulation and calm the mind. Under a good teacher’s
guidance, after a short period of practice, you can target general health
improvement or strive for a specific effect for a particular problem. “John”
practiced Qi Gong daily while undergoing a round of radiation therapy and
experienced no side effects from the therapy. “Jane” experienced a gradual
restoration of strength, reduction of painful arthritis symptoms in her hands,
and improved overall immune function.
Other Qi Gong effects include improved eyesight, lower blood pressure, better
joint flexibility and range of motion, improved thyroid function, stabilized or
improved bone density and increased strength and endurance. Many students report
an overall improvement in general well being and reduced stress. Qi Gong also
lowers cholesterol, promotes youthfulness, helps control weight and helps with
sleep disorders.
Qi Gong is suitable for any health level and is good for all level
practitioners. Different people get different results from their practice.
Beginners can expect general health and energy improvements. An intermediate
practitioner develops strength, fitness and may experience increased energetic
awareness. As the student progresses, subtle improvements in the quality and
quantity of qi and essence begin to manifest in many subtle ways as internal
changes accelerate.
One Student’s Experience
My introduction to Master Chen was quite accidental. I kept a good friend
company at a Qi Gong seminar in early 2002. Initially I was intrigued but
reserving judgment. After the workshop I dreamt of being Master Chen’s student
in a different time and place. After that I looked more closely and saw the
energy swirling as he cleared and energized water, demonstrated Qi Gong
exercises and Tai Chi forms and did healing work.
Since then I have taken every opportunity to study with Master Chen. This has
sometimes felt like drinking water from a fire hose because he has so much to
teach. Even then, it was fun and I always took something that I could use from
every lecture. After four years I feel I have just scratched the surface of
Chen’s knowledge of Qi Gong, Taoist philosophy, meditation, Qi Gong massage, and
the beautiful and flowing original Tai Chi form previously only taught at Wudang
Monastery in China, and more.
Give yourself the chance to learn this simple method and enjoy the fun of
learning as well.
Published in Aquarius Magazine,
September 2006.
http://www.aquarius-atlanta.com/Sept06/qigong.htm
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