I did not feel equipped to head into what I saw coming. I had strong training in Judo, some training in Aikido but somewhat less in Tai Chi and Qigong. I had excellent beginnings, but my training was interrupted when I lived in Japan and concentrated on Aikido. When I came to Seattle, I found little available unless one had connections. There were teachers, but they were hidden and took few students, much less women. I found a couple, but never really resonated with them for long. Also, I had a more modern approach to what I was doing. Because of my experience with people in pain I felt strongly that these practices could and should be accessible to all. I was old school in my heart, always attracted to traditional approaches and methods, but I was determined to be flexible in my approach. Then and now, I know there was always a way to make something work. Always a way to modify.

And so, it was difficult to find teachers to guide me. Also, because I had no advanced degree, just a B.A., I had little credibility in the Medical Community beyond a certain point. Even though I was popular with them I was just a bit behind the eight ball. I always had to affiliate with someone with an advanced degree. I never wanted to spend the time pursuing one because I wanted to spend my time training. Consequently I sought out certifications in my field. There were 2 in the country at that time.

I joined one and after 3 years graduated from Chen Hui Xian’s Soaring Crane Qigong Training program. I credit her and her methods for giving me a solid foundation at that time, though I fought the rigor of her approach and frankly wondered if this Qigong was actually what she said it was. She came to me in a dream close to the end of my training, stared straight at me and said, “you have to work harder.”

A few days before the next training I got into very bad car accident. I was hit side-on and was quite injured. I had to get to that training however, it was the second to the last of the three years and I would have to wait again for another cycle to complete it. A friend drove me down and I laid on pillows most of the weekend. At the end of the workshop I was able to move again. I taught that specific Qigong for 20 years and many people benefitted. Several of my students, including Andrew Walker, became certified to teach several of her forms. In fact, Andy Walker was my first student to become certified by one of my Grand Teachers. I continued with Professor Chen for many years after and became a lineage holder through her for one of the companion forms, Essence Qigong in 2017.