About Me
In 1988, I was 18 years old and a welder for a construction company studying to be an aerospace welder. That September I was in a car accident where I was hit while stopped at a red light. I was leaning forward changing the radio station when I was hit. Since I was leaning forward the shoulder belt didn’t catch but the lap belt did. My upper body went forward while my low body was locked in place. I later found out that this caused the ligaments in my low back to stretch leaving them unable to hold my lower lumbar vertebras in place. This posed quite a problem for me as a welder. Lifting and bending caused the lower vertebras to rub together wearing down the bone causing swelling on the spine. This resulted in back pain and shooting pain down my legs. All of the doctors said the damage was permanent but felt that I was too young for surgery especially since there was no guarantee surgery would help. Their best advice was to stop welding, quit doing any sports and take 12 Advil a day. They projected that once the Advil stopped working, they would prescribe something stronger. Other than that, since they felt I was too young for surgery, I was just expected to live with the pain. I couldn’t sit for long periods of time or do much bending or lifting. I struggled as a welder for another year. I tied bags of ice to my back all day just to be able to work. I loved welding and was very good at it. It was very difficult for me to try and figure out another profession, giving up one that I not only loved but was able to make a great living. Then I discovered that massage therapy helped me a lot. One of my friends was a massage therapist who shared her experiences with me. My friend told me that you stand most of the time during a massage session and since bending and sitting bothered me, that appealed to me. As long as I watched my posture my back didn’t bother me too much. So after three years of welding in pain every day I thought I might have finally figured out another profession. It wasn’t a totally new concept for me. My parents had a Christmas Tree Farm and my brothers and I grew up working it. After a long, hard day, my oldest brother and I would massage each other’s back, shoulders and neck using a kitchen timer making sure we each got equal time. Thinking back on that and my current predicament, I realized that massage was something that helped my pain when doctors told me there was nothing that could be done and it was something I knew to soothe sore muscles when I was a kid. I was confident that my work ethic would cause me to strive to learn everything that I could so that I would be the best therapist that I could be. I was hopeful that I would make a good living at it and that I could do it without it irritating my back. So, I went to the only massage school local to me and talked to them about classes and the profession; I decided to give it a try.
I started massage school at Southern California School of Massage (SCSM) in January of 1992 at age 22. I took weekend and evening classes, finishing my first 200 hours by February and then started working at a Chiropractor’s office. I completed the Massage Therapist course (500 hours) that June and began working for two different Chiropractic offices and traveling to client’s homes. Even though I was working, I felt that I had not yet learned all I wanted to. Of all of the massage styles I had studied, the Asian modalities (Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tui-Na, etc.) impressed me the most. They also suited my style and beliefs with regard to how the body works and how to treat it. So, back to school I went. Although I had already taken all of the classes SCSM had to offer in the Asian Modalities, I wanted more. I knew that the owner of the school had traveled to China for 3 weeks to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was intrigued by all he had learned there and desired to go there and learn firsthand about their methods. When I looked into the programs offered for traveling to China to study, I saw there was a trip that would be traveling to Beijing, China for 3 months and studying at Guang An Men Hospital. Unfortunately, it wasn’t leaving until January 1994. So, while I waited, I took an additional 500 hours of training at SCSM as well as workshops offered by different schools and instructors giving me a Holistic Heath Practitioner title. Even with 1,000 hours of schooling and now 2 years experience I still knew there was so much more to learn about massage therapy and alternative/holistic health care.
Finally January 1994 came and I was fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity to leave home and study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 3 month in Beijing. The experience truly opened a whole new world for me in massage techniques, philosophy, science, spirituality, how the body works and what the body can do. The meaning of Holistic Health or Medicine is to view and treat the body as a whole system, not just separate parts, treating the whole body and not just the symptoms. TCM embodies that philosophy and far more in depth then I even imagined.
Guang An Men Hospital specialized in teaching and treating foreign students and patients. We had excellent translators and were able to see a wide range of conditions. I not only saw, but was part of healing broken bones in only 2 weeks. Cancer patients, who were diagnosed terminal in their own country, were completely cured within the time I was there. I was able to spend time in the hospital’s orthopedic, acupuncture, herbal, and An Mo (internal medicine) departments, and was fortunate to study under the best doctors in each department. Being able to stay there for 3 months was truly a key to learning as much as possible. Although the Chinese were very friendly, we (those there studying) were forced on the doctors and pretty much in their way. It took them a little bit to warm up to us and really start to work with us and share their own techniques and experiences. These doctors worked on patients all day and had to develop techniques that would be the most effective in the shortest amount of time so they would have time to treat everyone. Also, because there is no worker’s comp or unemployment in China, people couldn’t afford to be sick. If someone isn’t able to work they don’t make any money and can’t afford food or rent. The Chinese have truly perfected their techniques, not only for the benefit of the patient, but also for the benefit of the doctors as well. Carpal tunnel and low back problems are very common in massage therapist in the U.S. The techniques I learned in China actually prevent those conditions from occurring.
The following year I started working at Redlands Acupuncture. I was mentored by two incredible acupuncturists. They furthered my knowledge in Chinese Medicine, herbs and working with my instinct in treating the body. During this time I also gained a client (Dr. Leeman ) who was a Holistic Psychologist. I started trading massage session for her therapy session to assist myself in growing and becoming more open minded and flexible in life. Dr. Leeman opened a whole new perception of the world to me. I continued to have private sessions with her as well as attend several workshops, complete classes and retreats. Through Dr. Leeman I also acquired several other friends and teachers who shared the same beliefs.
Next, in the spring of 1997 I traveled to Peru with Dr. Leeman to study with Indian Shamans. I spent two weeks on a boat traveling up the Amazon River stopping at different tribes and working with their Shaman as well as the five Shamans who were our teachers and guides on the boat. Then I explored the Andes and Machu Picchu with Shamans at the ruins. I did not receive much training in massage, but the Shamans view and diagnose the body with many of the same theories and techniques as the Chinese. Those weeks strengthened what I learned in China as well as gave me a broader view of herbs and different techniques to heal the body.
My Tai-Chi training has been invaluable to my massage work, understanding the body and energy systems as well as my own health. I learned Sun style Tai-Chi Ch'uan (one of the five main styles of Tai-Chi Ch'uan recognized today) in Beijing, China directly from the Sun family while I was there studying TCM. In the summer of 1996 I was fortunate enough to find Sifu Harvey Kurland and learned the original old Yang style Tai-Chi Ch’uan. In September 1999, I went to Canada to train with Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen (Sifu Harvey Kurland’s Sifu). Along the way I stopped in Oregon and Washington to train in massage therapy with other massage instructors who were also going to Canada. I still train with Sifu Kurland and I am a level 7 Instructor (10 levels total). I am currently preparing to test for level 9 training in more subtle concepts of Tai-Chi Ch'uan, Hsing-I Ch'uan and Bagua Zhang (the three Internal Syles of Martial Arts in China). I truly believe that my Tai-Chi experience is one of the main reasons I am still able to be a Massage Therapist and have excelled at body dynamics and techniques. Every doctor or anyone who performs massage in China first studies Tai-Chi Ch’uan for that very reason.
I started Studying Tantra with Dr. Leeman in 1997 for several years. I have taken Margot Anand’s & Deepak Chopra’s workshops, read books, DVD’s and studied with other Tantra Therapist. I have searched out and taken in all the of the knowledge and experience from other Masters of the art that I could. I hope to travel to India to study even deeper. I have combined all that I have learned with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi Gong, Tai-Chi Ch’uan, and all of my expertise in Massage Therapy to create my own style of Tantric Massage which I feel is extremely complete and effective in opening up the body, circulation, chakras, and building the sexual energy flowing it throughout the body.
Unfortunately, I have not taken any extensive or exciting training since 2004, but I have gone through several stages of self discovery and growth in my massage and holistic health practice. Many concepts and details that I learned in my past have come together and I have learned a deeper understanding of what all of my teachers and masters have tried to teach me. These last several years I have dedicated my time and training to mastering the techniques I have learned, controlling energy, commanding the points, proper body dynamics, and learning the deeper and complete meanings of old text that has been lost in translation over time. I strive daily to better understand the body, how it functions, how to diagnose it, how to heal it and how to be more efficient in that healing of the body, mind, energy and soul thoroughly and completely. I am continuing to research and study from my friends, teachers, fellow therapist and of course books and internet. There is always more to learn and ways to improve on our skills and what we do know. May we never stop learning and growing.
I started massage school at Southern California School of Massage (SCSM) in January of 1992 at age 22. I took weekend and evening classes, finishing my first 200 hours by February and then started working at a Chiropractor’s office. I completed the Massage Therapist course (500 hours) that June and began working for two different Chiropractic offices and traveling to client’s homes. Even though I was working, I felt that I had not yet learned all I wanted to. Of all of the massage styles I had studied, the Asian modalities (Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tui-Na, etc.) impressed me the most. They also suited my style and beliefs with regard to how the body works and how to treat it. So, back to school I went. Although I had already taken all of the classes SCSM had to offer in the Asian Modalities, I wanted more. I knew that the owner of the school had traveled to China for 3 weeks to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was intrigued by all he had learned there and desired to go there and learn firsthand about their methods. When I looked into the programs offered for traveling to China to study, I saw there was a trip that would be traveling to Beijing, China for 3 months and studying at Guang An Men Hospital. Unfortunately, it wasn’t leaving until January 1994. So, while I waited, I took an additional 500 hours of training at SCSM as well as workshops offered by different schools and instructors giving me a Holistic Heath Practitioner title. Even with 1,000 hours of schooling and now 2 years experience I still knew there was so much more to learn about massage therapy and alternative/holistic health care.
Finally January 1994 came and I was fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity to leave home and study Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 3 month in Beijing. The experience truly opened a whole new world for me in massage techniques, philosophy, science, spirituality, how the body works and what the body can do. The meaning of Holistic Health or Medicine is to view and treat the body as a whole system, not just separate parts, treating the whole body and not just the symptoms. TCM embodies that philosophy and far more in depth then I even imagined.
Guang An Men Hospital specialized in teaching and treating foreign students and patients. We had excellent translators and were able to see a wide range of conditions. I not only saw, but was part of healing broken bones in only 2 weeks. Cancer patients, who were diagnosed terminal in their own country, were completely cured within the time I was there. I was able to spend time in the hospital’s orthopedic, acupuncture, herbal, and An Mo (internal medicine) departments, and was fortunate to study under the best doctors in each department. Being able to stay there for 3 months was truly a key to learning as much as possible. Although the Chinese were very friendly, we (those there studying) were forced on the doctors and pretty much in their way. It took them a little bit to warm up to us and really start to work with us and share their own techniques and experiences. These doctors worked on patients all day and had to develop techniques that would be the most effective in the shortest amount of time so they would have time to treat everyone. Also, because there is no worker’s comp or unemployment in China, people couldn’t afford to be sick. If someone isn’t able to work they don’t make any money and can’t afford food or rent. The Chinese have truly perfected their techniques, not only for the benefit of the patient, but also for the benefit of the doctors as well. Carpal tunnel and low back problems are very common in massage therapist in the U.S. The techniques I learned in China actually prevent those conditions from occurring.
The following year I started working at Redlands Acupuncture. I was mentored by two incredible acupuncturists. They furthered my knowledge in Chinese Medicine, herbs and working with my instinct in treating the body. During this time I also gained a client (Dr. Leeman ) who was a Holistic Psychologist. I started trading massage session for her therapy session to assist myself in growing and becoming more open minded and flexible in life. Dr. Leeman opened a whole new perception of the world to me. I continued to have private sessions with her as well as attend several workshops, complete classes and retreats. Through Dr. Leeman I also acquired several other friends and teachers who shared the same beliefs.
Next, in the spring of 1997 I traveled to Peru with Dr. Leeman to study with Indian Shamans. I spent two weeks on a boat traveling up the Amazon River stopping at different tribes and working with their Shaman as well as the five Shamans who were our teachers and guides on the boat. Then I explored the Andes and Machu Picchu with Shamans at the ruins. I did not receive much training in massage, but the Shamans view and diagnose the body with many of the same theories and techniques as the Chinese. Those weeks strengthened what I learned in China as well as gave me a broader view of herbs and different techniques to heal the body.
My Tai-Chi training has been invaluable to my massage work, understanding the body and energy systems as well as my own health. I learned Sun style Tai-Chi Ch'uan (one of the five main styles of Tai-Chi Ch'uan recognized today) in Beijing, China directly from the Sun family while I was there studying TCM. In the summer of 1996 I was fortunate enough to find Sifu Harvey Kurland and learned the original old Yang style Tai-Chi Ch’uan. In September 1999, I went to Canada to train with Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen (Sifu Harvey Kurland’s Sifu). Along the way I stopped in Oregon and Washington to train in massage therapy with other massage instructors who were also going to Canada. I still train with Sifu Kurland and I am a level 7 Instructor (10 levels total). I am currently preparing to test for level 9 training in more subtle concepts of Tai-Chi Ch'uan, Hsing-I Ch'uan and Bagua Zhang (the three Internal Syles of Martial Arts in China). I truly believe that my Tai-Chi experience is one of the main reasons I am still able to be a Massage Therapist and have excelled at body dynamics and techniques. Every doctor or anyone who performs massage in China first studies Tai-Chi Ch’uan for that very reason.
I started Studying Tantra with Dr. Leeman in 1997 for several years. I have taken Margot Anand’s & Deepak Chopra’s workshops, read books, DVD’s and studied with other Tantra Therapist. I have searched out and taken in all the of the knowledge and experience from other Masters of the art that I could. I hope to travel to India to study even deeper. I have combined all that I have learned with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi Gong, Tai-Chi Ch’uan, and all of my expertise in Massage Therapy to create my own style of Tantric Massage which I feel is extremely complete and effective in opening up the body, circulation, chakras, and building the sexual energy flowing it throughout the body.
Unfortunately, I have not taken any extensive or exciting training since 2004, but I have gone through several stages of self discovery and growth in my massage and holistic health practice. Many concepts and details that I learned in my past have come together and I have learned a deeper understanding of what all of my teachers and masters have tried to teach me. These last several years I have dedicated my time and training to mastering the techniques I have learned, controlling energy, commanding the points, proper body dynamics, and learning the deeper and complete meanings of old text that has been lost in translation over time. I strive daily to better understand the body, how it functions, how to diagnose it, how to heal it and how to be more efficient in that healing of the body, mind, energy and soul thoroughly and completely. I am continuing to research and study from my friends, teachers, fellow therapist and of course books and internet. There is always more to learn and ways to improve on our skills and what we do know. May we never stop learning and growing.