AGENDA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008

DAILY SELF-HEALING PRACTICE
It's all about you! Nurture yourself.

• Each morning enjoy a unique practice with Taiji expert, Josie Zhuo.
• Each afternoon join instructor Irma Jenne for a soothing Wu Ming Qigong session, or participate in Brother Bernard Seif's meditations.

Use these times to absorb what you've encountered and build your energy foundation.

7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
Morning Taiji - Be Flexible!
Josie Zhuo, MTCM, LAc

Gently stretch, slowly twist, feel your Qi flow! Taiji helps you become more flexible in body, mind and spirit. The ancient art of Taiji has been refined for millennia into a series of beautiful, slow rhythmic movements for self-healing. Award-winning practitioner Josie Zhuo helps us get a fun, energetic start to the day with movements anyone can do.

7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
Tao of Medical Qigong with Nan Lu, OMD
(Private Session: Open only to those healthcare practitioners who are completing training in Tao of Medical Qigong - Level 1 with Dr. Lu.)

8:15 - 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast on Your Own

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
QMT (Qigong Meridian Therapy)
Have you QMT'd today? Our trained QMT practitioners are on hand all day, ready to serve and offer you the experience of a lifetime. Whatever you do, don't miss this energy massage session that has been described as beyond cogitation!

8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Ellen Schaplowsky, TCM World Foundation, Welcome

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
OPENING KEYNOTE
Healing Presence: The Essence of Therapeutic Relationships
Robert M. Duggan, MA, MAc. (UK), Dipl.Ac. (NCCA)

Patients long for meaning, understanding and empowerment. They long for the healing presence of a practitioner who responds to them as a whole person and actively listens to their life's story, veiled in symptoms. We know the practitioner's attitudes, words, and actions his or her presence is deeply influential in the healing process. Developing and maintaining a healing presence includes observing one's self; willingness to be a learner; holding one's self accountable; thinking critically; building partnerships; bringing forth the appropriate mood emotion or disposition and being an active and independent learner.

Instead of conquering symptoms, we can empower patients by helping them understand symptoms as teachers and messengers bringing the wisdom of change for a healthier life. This presentation examines the basic skills for delivering a strong healing presence in real life and in a practice. It explores the value of clear intention and clarity about the meaning of the practice, and ways to gain and apply these skills. (Continues this afternoon.)

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Understanding the True Origins of Breast Cancer
Christine Page, MD and Nan Lu, OMD

The true origins of breast cancer can be found in the chronic negative emotions and imbalances that initially take a silent and potentially deadly toll on many women's lives. This condition, the second largest killer of women in the nation, is rooted in consciousness and the awareness at a deeper level of reality that it is time to change time to listen to one's true spirit and fulfill life's mission.

This panel explores how two practitioners from different medical systems address how and why breast cancer occurs and what messages breast cancer has for those it affects. It also examines the signs and signals that occur before breast cancer can be detected with scientific tests. Each panelist will discuss the spiritual purpose of breast cancer and its role in teaching women how to look at their lives from a different perspective and the potential miracles inherent in transformative thinking.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
In Deep Waters: Transforming Fear to Wisdom
Thea Elijah, MAc

We experience fear in situations of critical importance to us, situations where even small matters may have great impact. Fear is a call to attention; it indicates and maintains a sense of urgency in our response to circumstances. At the same time, fear may be exactly what keeps us from responding with the level of calm, clarity and confidence that the situations we face demand. Fear can be debilitating, leaving us feeling helpless at exactly the moments when we most perceive the need for decisive action.

On a chronic level, fear can keep us from "sinking in" to the quieter places inside of us, where the unique power and wisdom that belongs to each of us alone lies waiting to be discovered. Join us for an experiential workshop focused on assisting the Water element's transformation of virtue from Fear to Wisdom, inside or outside of the treatment room.

12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Lunchtime
Lunchtime is your time to reflect, rest, and rejuvenate yourself. Explore our exhibit hall, practice Wu Ming Qigong, meditate quietly, or slip into Qigong Meridian Therapy, a sublime energy massage session. It's up to you!

Lunch on Your Own

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Sponsored Networking Luncheon (Registration Required) Build community; connect with old friends; make new ones. This complimentary networking luncheon offers an ideal opportunity to engage with fellow participants in a fun and informal way.

1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Wu Ming Qigong Practice
Irma Jenne

Deepen your connection to the invisible power of the Universe. Qigong is the ancient self-healing energy art used for millennia to promote and maintain wellness of body, mind and spirit. Experience the freedom of Wu Ming Qigong with instructor Irma Jenne of the Tao of Healing (NYC) and feel the thrill of letting yourself really go with the flow!

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Dragon's Way® Weight Loss and Stress Management Certification Instruction
(Private Session: Prerequisite, Dragon's Way® Certification Enrollment. This session is for those learning to teach the popular Dragon's Way® Stress and Weight Management Programs in their communities.)

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Meditation
Brother/Doctor Bernard Seif, SMC, EdD, DNM

How often do we take enough time in our busy lives to listen to that still, small voice of inner wisdom and clarity? Here's your opportunity to take a respite from all the excitement and spend a quiet half-hour in mindful meditation with Brother Bernard Seif. Rejoin the afternoon's activities with a peaceful mind.

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Workshops

Part II: Healing Presence: The Essence of Therapeutic Relationships
Robert M. Duggan, MA, MAc. (UK), Dipl.Ac. (NCCA)

Part II of this morning's keynote provides a learning environment where you can discover effective methods and techniques for developing and maintaining a healing presence. The focus is on the practitioner's words, attitudes and actions, including observing one's self; holding one's self accountable; thinking critically; building partnerships; engendering the appropriate emotions, and being an active and independent learner. Participants will learn a special set of skills that can help maintain focus on the self, and expand the repertoire of responses in both personal and professional relationships.

Part I: Advanced Treatment Protocols for Women's Health Issues
Hong Jin, MD (PRC), DAOM, LAc,

Chinese medicine has been used successfully to treat many common women's health issues such as infertility, dysmenorrhea, and menopause. According to Chinese medicine principles, the most effective protocols can maximize treatment results by promoting the normal reproductive physiology of a woman based on her menstrual cycle as well as her life cycles. This two-part workshop presents an advanced approach to treatment of women's health issues and wellness using essential therapeutic principles and methods, including acupuncture and herbs, of Chinese medicine. (Continues on Sunday afternoon.)

Virtues and Vices: Five Phase Types and the Dynamics of Healing
Harriet Beinfield, LAc; Efrem Korngold, OMD, LAc

This workshop focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, predilections and challenges characteristic of the Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water types within the context of Chinese medicine practice. How we interact with our patients, establish rapport, formulate and pursue therapeutic strategies is intimately informed by our own fundamental orientation to our life and work.

Who we think we are and how we function our ideology about ourselves is formed by our innate character or true nature, what we call our Type. The workshop reviews the core features of the Five Phase Types and how they are revealed in our soma and psyche. It identifies which profiles most closely match our own nature and personal identity. It also opens a dialogue about how understanding our Type the continuum of our virtues and vices can assist us in knowing our patients, and becoming more effective in our practice.

The Role of Ritual in Personal Practice
Brother Bernard Seif, SMC, EdD, DNM

Many times rituals can be life-giving, at other times they can be just plain boring. Why is this the case? During this learning experience, Brother Bernard will help participants explore the psychological and spiritual aspects of ritual in our personal practices of Qigong and meditation, or as rites of passage that we employ from the cradle to the grave. Taize chanting (an ecumenical monastic community), mala beads / rosary, and a simple Asian ritual will be examined and used as vehicles to deepen our experience of the double-edged sword of ritual in life.

5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Dinner on Your Own

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Halloween Happening: Masks, Miracles and Moving into the Authentic
Christine Page, Thea Elijah, Steven Cowan, Harriet Beinfield, Tao of Healing Staff

Halloween is that mystical time that allows us a glimpse into the netherworld. Striking a deep chord within, it reminds us of the impermanence of all things. Only invisible gifts travel with us when our spirit completes its journey and fulfills its destiny in this reality. How often do we nurture these eternal gifts? How often do we hide behind a facade-live behind a mask?

This is a jubilant night of making masks, exchanging masks and symbolically dropping those masks or barriers to our authentic selves. Don't miss this electric evening of Five-Element fun as we let our creativity shine and come together to free ourselves from the masks that hide our authentic selves. Let yourself go with the flow on this "hallow" evening!

9:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Qidancing
Every age and culture has used rhythmic movement or dance to connect to Spirit. Qidancing gifts us with a powerful spontaneous moving meditation from ancient Chinese culture. Free your own healing energy by moving to our "live" musicians as they channel Five-Element Drumming meditation music. Learn how to harmonize your body, mind and spirit with simple energy movements that anyone can do. Enter into this loving dance of the Universe!