Michele Collins and Andres Vergara We have all had moments when unpleasant emotions, whether it is fear, anger, worry, frustration, grief, come up with surprising force and cloud our judgment and leave us feeling unpleasant or upset. These emotions can drain your energy and cause unnecessary suffering to yourself and others. We (Andres and Michele) have found some practical and transformative tools in our qi gong practice that have taught us how to neutralize these emotions and use that energy Continue Reading
The Benefits of a Consistent Qi Gong Practice
This is a video of Andres explaining the benefits of qi gong and demonstrating the lung healing sound, an excerpt of one of the meditations from Qi Gong For Radiant Health. Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH and Andres Vergara, D.OM., L.Ac. Qi Gong translates as skill with Qi, while nei Gong means internal skill. Qi gong and nei gong represent systems of meditative knowledge that have a history of over 5000 years in China. We are very lucky that these practices have remained intact and are Continue Reading
Short Downloads for Radiant Health
Michele Collins and Andres Vergara You can now download the individual meditation you would like to try. The individual tracks from Qi Gong for Radiant Health are now available on Amazon as Mp3 downloads for $0.89 each or you can purchase the whole album for $6.99 by clicking on the title. If you are trying to decide which tracks are best for you, here are some brief descriptions to help you figure out which one is best for you right now. To download a track, simply click on the highlighted Continue Reading
Welcoming Spring and Riding the Horse Energy
Michele Collins and Andres Vergara February 4th marked the first official day of Spring. In China and other parts of Asia,January 31st marked this important event in the natural world. February 4th is the solar calendar new year, and January 31st is the lunisolar new year. China is one of several cultures that uses a lunisolar calendar where the new year is usually the second new moon after the winter solstice. This is, in short, a time of transition and of acclimating to a Continue Reading
Flowers That Feed the Soul
Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb This is one of my favorite quotes because it emphasizes how important it is to feed the soul, as well as the body. I would make one minor adjustment and change the flower from lily to peony (the flower pictured above), my favorite flower. I became an herbalist because I have always been inspired by plants. And as they inspire me, the Continue Reading
What is Medical Qi Gong?
Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH and Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. To understand Medical Qi Gong you first need to understand Qi Gong. Qi Gong in Chinese literally translates as skill with qi. It is a 5000 year old health practice originally from China used to both preserve health when well and to heal illness when sick. It consists of movement, sound, breathing techniques, creative visualization, meditation and intention to move qi in the body and thus attain good health. The concepts of Continue Reading
Qi Gong Meditation CD Available
Andres Vergara, M.Ac., L.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH Our new meditation CD, Qi Gong for Radiant Health, is now ready to order. On this CD we guide you through simple meditations grounded in the wisdom of Chinese medicine, that will help you release toxic emotions that can accumulate in your body, mind, and spirit. Qi gong is the living and breathing dance of Chinese medicine that everyone can learn, literally giving you the opportunity to practice Chinese medicine on yourself. What Continue Reading
Living in Harmony With the Seasons: A Practical Guide to Food, Herbs and Meditation by Season
Michele Vergara, RH (AHG, Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. Each season the natural world gives us important clues as to what is happening within our bodies and how to best adjust to the changing weather. Traditional healing systems, such as traditional Chinese medicine, provide a structure to help us discern what foods and lifestyle choices will best support us as we cycle through the seasons. When we heed nature’s cues and allow our life practices to mirror the seasonal Continue Reading
Tonic Herbs for Radiant Health
Andres Vergara, M.Ac., L.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH In Chinese medicine and Taoist traditions, there is a rich and nuanced understanding of how herbs can be used to prevent disease and promote radiant health, in much the same way we might use vitamins in the west. These herbs are referred to as tonic herbs or adaptogens because they can be taken regularly and consistently, as a result, often used as super foods. These herbs promote health and longevity and help the Continue Reading
Ocean Sunset in Pictures
by Michele Collins I love both dusk and dawn. It is the time in the day's cycle when yin and yang are finding their balance point. It is also my favorite time of day to meditate and do qi gong. I feel a sense of stillness, both internally and externally, as if my inner space is in harmony with the outer world. Andres and I spent several weeks in Israel in 2011. On one of those days we witnessed the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea on a beach somewhere between Tel Aviv and Continue Reading