Over the years I've participated in many different fitness, recreation, and competitive sports activities.  With all of this movement coupled with not having an understanding about rest, recovery, and listening to my body, injuries occurred.  I still had yet to learn about the root cause of an injury and how my lifestyle was affecting my Qi (vital energy) and my meridians, the energy pathways where Qi flows.

My academic and professional background was in Athletic Training and Exercise Physiology. During my professional life, I approached injury care and rehabilitation in a very compartmental way; specifically evaluating the anatomy and physiology of an athlete's injury and creating subsequent treatment and rehabilitation protocols from this information.  I used ice to decrease (and suppress) swelling and pain and suggested ibuprofen (according to MD standing orders) to further suppress the pain/inflammation process.  In this narrow approach, I was basically telling the body to be quiet rather than looking at the location of the injury, pain, and other symptoms as important messages about imbalances and stagnation in the meridians.  These athletes needed to be seen through a much wider lense - looking at their lifestyle, their thoughts/emotions, and many other important aspects about who they were at this moment in time.

In terms of exercise and competition, I had very little guidance about listening to my body; knowing when to rest and honoring the messages that my injuries were telling me.  My love of movement coupled with training hard and not wanting to take a break, over time weakened my relationship with my body's wisdom, which had both physical and emotional consequences.  Though, I’m grateful for the information that I acquired through my academics and professional work experience, I have found the Traditional Chinese Medicine Five Element Framework approach to healing and wellness to go exponentially deeper with many more lasting benefits.  A wholistic approach that is based on the understanding that everything is connected and everything is energy. 

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In 2018, I was incredibly fortunate to be accepted into the LifeForce: Tao of Medical Qigong program and be given the amazing opportunity to study with Grand Master Nan Lu, Director and President of both the Tao of Healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation.  The comprehensive year long training required daily, intensive Qigong practice, attending trainings/workshops, Qigong retreats, Qigong class, and weekly Medical Qigong group support calls.  This experience and my continued Qigong practice has allowed me to go deeper into my own self healing, which has been incredibly challenging and a tremendous gift.  I am beyond grateful.

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I look forward to and would be honored to be part of your unique healing and wellness journey.

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