Holistic Practitioners Discussion Forum

This monthly group is open to any holistic health practitioner who wants to talk with practitioners in their own and other modalities. The purposes are: skill-building, sharing information and experiences, and discovering methods to develop ourselves and support each other.

This month: Sheng Zhen Gong — A Universal Aid to Healing

Certified teacher Peter Van Buren will conduct an introductory Sheng Zhen Gong session and then discuss the benefits of using this work in conjunction with other healing therapies, e.g. acupuncture, massage, energy work, holistic medicine. The discussion afterwards can focus on the evolving roles of client and therapist, and how we maintain a balance between practitioner-led interventions and the self-empowering actions of the client.

Arising from the practice of qigong and the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sheng Zhen Gong is a comprehensive system of moving forms, meditations, philosophy, and contemplations that clients can learn that tap into the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Sheng Zhen is Chinese for “Unconditional Love”, while Gong means “cultivation” or “practice”. The practice calms the emotions, reduces stress, enlivens the spirit, and energizes the person.

Peter began practicing tai chi in 1978 and has studied and practiced regularly since then, with Paul Gallagher in Hadley Massachusetts, at the Great River Taoist Center in Washington DC in the 1990’s, and the Baltimore School of Tai Chi, where he was an assistant teacher in the mid-2000’s. In 2005, he was introduced to Sheng Zhen Gong and gradually turned all his attention to this new form of practice, eventually becoming convinced that he wanted to become a teacher and share this powerful practice with others. After logging hundreds of hours of class time with Pamela Tanton and attending numerous workshops with Master Li, Peter attended teacher training sessions conducted by Master Li and co-taught or led 3-4 classes a week over the next year, receiving his Certification from Master Li in June 2016. He now teaches weekly classes in Baltimore, including a Wednesday evening session at Ruscombe Mansion.

The cost is $5.00 to cover expenses. Please RSVP to Paula Derry at paula.derry@gmail.com · 443-610-9881