Education and Experience
Education:
Started Massage School at Southern California School of Massage in January 1992 at age 22 and completed the Massage Therapist Course (500 hours) in six months. I continued taking classes there and at other school workshops gaining over 1,000 hours of education and earning a Holistic Health Practitioner certificate.
January to March 1994, studied in Beijing, China at Gaung An Mens Hospital for an additional 500 hours in Tradition Chinese Medicine. I also learned the Sun style T'ai-Chi Ch'uan long form directly from Sun Lutang's Daughter (Sun Jianyun) and his grandsons (Sun Peng).
June 1994 I started training in Tai-Chi Ch’uan with Sifu Kurland.
1995 to Present I have been studying with Dr. Leeman in Holistic Psychology, Traditional Native Cultures and Medicines, Energy Systems, and Holistic Healing to include the new technology known as Cold Laser treatments.
1997 to Present I have been studying and practicing Tantra with Dr. Leeman, Margot Anand, Deepak Chopra and other Tantra Therapist.
April 1997 I studied with an Indian Shaman in Peru for two weeks on the Amazon River and in Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains for one week.
September 1999 I went to Canada to train in Tai-Chi Ch’uan with Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen. I went to Oregon and Washington to train in massage therapy with other massage instructors.
2001 – 2004 Attended various workshops and studied with other massage therapist and instructors.
June 2012 I was certified a Level 7 Instructor of Tai-Chi Ch'uan by Sifu Harvey Kurland and The Northwest Tai-Chi Ch'uan Association. (9 Levels total)
2004 – Present. Though I am trained in many different styles of massage and other kinds of body work, it has been my desire to start perfecting the basic techniques I learned in China. My training in China focused on mastering the techniques and all of the components in each technique but there was so much covered in such a short time that a lot of what I learn either didn’t completely click or was just washed away because I could only absorb so much at once. Over the years, many of the details and theory have become clearer and sunk in deeper. Sometimes, when working on a client focusing on what I am doing, I remember a lecture or demonstration pertaining exactly to what I need for that client at that time. During these past 5 years it has become more and more clear to me how truly important it is to master the basic techniques that I learned in China, so that is exactly what I have been focused on accomplishing. These techniques are both a science and an art form. Just like Chinese martial arts, many techniques take years and some even a life time to truly master.
In China it takes years for martial arts students to move from one technique to the next and it is almost the same with Chinese Medicine. But here in the U.S. it is the exact opposite. There are several martial arts studios that will give you a black belt in one year. Similarly, massage schools (most but not all) just show you a technique and say “ok, now you do it.” There is no breaking down the technique into all of its components. There is very little or no purpose given for the technique. Very little to no information is explained as to what the technique does, how or why it does what it does and when be best to use that technique. In my opinion, there are two reasons for this. First, many people don’t care about mastering anything anymore. They want to learn something as fast as possible and then move on. Secondly, massage schools just aren’t what they use to be. (Please read my page on “Massage School Rant.”) I was fortunate enough to have the experience and training I had in China as well as a few other exceptional massage therapists who gave me the knowledge I needed to perfect my techniques and taught me a great respect for the art.
My Experience:
* 39 years as a Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Massage Therapist
* 36 Years as a Massage Instructor
* 37 years of Tai-Chi and 33 years as a Tai-Chi Instructor
* 33 Years Certified Aroma Therapist
* 30 Years Cold Laser Therapist
* 25 Years Stress Management & Nutrition
* 25 Years Tantra Practitioner
* 20 Year Feng Shui Consultant
* 13 Years Working with Acupuncturist
* 9 Teaching Martial Arts and Personal Trainer
* 6 Years as a Physical Therapy Assistant
* 3 Months in Beijing, China working at Guan An Men Hospital
Like most massage therapist I started off working at more than one place to keep busy enough to make a living. I would work one or two days at one Chiropractor’s office and one or two days at another Chiropractic or Acupuncture Office, Physical Therapy Clinic, or Day Spa. I have worked in high-end resort spas as well as small, intimate resorts. I enjoy the pampering and luxury style spa treatments used on the spa side of massage therapy, but I love being able to relieve someone from chronic pain or conditions using more therapeutic massage and other holistic health techniques that I have learned. I was fortunate enough to have worked for and with some incredible doctors who taught me a great deal. I feel I have been able to combine the luxury spa style massage with a variety of therapeutic techniques offering the best of both worlds to my clients making my sessions complete and suitable for everyone. My clients have followed me from office to office until present where I have my own office in Redlands, CA. I loved working with doctors and an endless variety of injuries and conditions to challenge me and make me grow as a therapist. Unfortunately, the settings in doctor offices are never well suited for massage since they are not very quiet, peaceful, relaxing or private. I wanted to have a space where I could provide both the medical and relaxing sides of massage therapy. I feel I have done just that and I hope to be able to share it with you.
I also work at a few clothing optional resorts in both the Palm Springs / Desert Hot Springs area and the San Bernardino mountains near Lake Arrowhead. Please feel free to contact me for more information on these resorts.
Started Massage School at Southern California School of Massage in January 1992 at age 22 and completed the Massage Therapist Course (500 hours) in six months. I continued taking classes there and at other school workshops gaining over 1,000 hours of education and earning a Holistic Health Practitioner certificate.
January to March 1994, studied in Beijing, China at Gaung An Mens Hospital for an additional 500 hours in Tradition Chinese Medicine. I also learned the Sun style T'ai-Chi Ch'uan long form directly from Sun Lutang's Daughter (Sun Jianyun) and his grandsons (Sun Peng).
June 1994 I started training in Tai-Chi Ch’uan with Sifu Kurland.
1995 to Present I have been studying with Dr. Leeman in Holistic Psychology, Traditional Native Cultures and Medicines, Energy Systems, and Holistic Healing to include the new technology known as Cold Laser treatments.
1997 to Present I have been studying and practicing Tantra with Dr. Leeman, Margot Anand, Deepak Chopra and other Tantra Therapist.
April 1997 I studied with an Indian Shaman in Peru for two weeks on the Amazon River and in Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains for one week.
September 1999 I went to Canada to train in Tai-Chi Ch’uan with Grandmaster Tchoung Ta-tchen. I went to Oregon and Washington to train in massage therapy with other massage instructors.
2001 – 2004 Attended various workshops and studied with other massage therapist and instructors.
June 2012 I was certified a Level 7 Instructor of Tai-Chi Ch'uan by Sifu Harvey Kurland and The Northwest Tai-Chi Ch'uan Association. (9 Levels total)
2004 – Present. Though I am trained in many different styles of massage and other kinds of body work, it has been my desire to start perfecting the basic techniques I learned in China. My training in China focused on mastering the techniques and all of the components in each technique but there was so much covered in such a short time that a lot of what I learn either didn’t completely click or was just washed away because I could only absorb so much at once. Over the years, many of the details and theory have become clearer and sunk in deeper. Sometimes, when working on a client focusing on what I am doing, I remember a lecture or demonstration pertaining exactly to what I need for that client at that time. During these past 5 years it has become more and more clear to me how truly important it is to master the basic techniques that I learned in China, so that is exactly what I have been focused on accomplishing. These techniques are both a science and an art form. Just like Chinese martial arts, many techniques take years and some even a life time to truly master.
In China it takes years for martial arts students to move from one technique to the next and it is almost the same with Chinese Medicine. But here in the U.S. it is the exact opposite. There are several martial arts studios that will give you a black belt in one year. Similarly, massage schools (most but not all) just show you a technique and say “ok, now you do it.” There is no breaking down the technique into all of its components. There is very little or no purpose given for the technique. Very little to no information is explained as to what the technique does, how or why it does what it does and when be best to use that technique. In my opinion, there are two reasons for this. First, many people don’t care about mastering anything anymore. They want to learn something as fast as possible and then move on. Secondly, massage schools just aren’t what they use to be. (Please read my page on “Massage School Rant.”) I was fortunate enough to have the experience and training I had in China as well as a few other exceptional massage therapists who gave me the knowledge I needed to perfect my techniques and taught me a great respect for the art.
My Experience:
* 39 years as a Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Massage Therapist
* 36 Years as a Massage Instructor
* 37 years of Tai-Chi and 33 years as a Tai-Chi Instructor
* 33 Years Certified Aroma Therapist
* 30 Years Cold Laser Therapist
* 25 Years Stress Management & Nutrition
* 25 Years Tantra Practitioner
* 20 Year Feng Shui Consultant
* 13 Years Working with Acupuncturist
* 9 Teaching Martial Arts and Personal Trainer
* 6 Years as a Physical Therapy Assistant
* 3 Months in Beijing, China working at Guan An Men Hospital
Like most massage therapist I started off working at more than one place to keep busy enough to make a living. I would work one or two days at one Chiropractor’s office and one or two days at another Chiropractic or Acupuncture Office, Physical Therapy Clinic, or Day Spa. I have worked in high-end resort spas as well as small, intimate resorts. I enjoy the pampering and luxury style spa treatments used on the spa side of massage therapy, but I love being able to relieve someone from chronic pain or conditions using more therapeutic massage and other holistic health techniques that I have learned. I was fortunate enough to have worked for and with some incredible doctors who taught me a great deal. I feel I have been able to combine the luxury spa style massage with a variety of therapeutic techniques offering the best of both worlds to my clients making my sessions complete and suitable for everyone. My clients have followed me from office to office until present where I have my own office in Redlands, CA. I loved working with doctors and an endless variety of injuries and conditions to challenge me and make me grow as a therapist. Unfortunately, the settings in doctor offices are never well suited for massage since they are not very quiet, peaceful, relaxing or private. I wanted to have a space where I could provide both the medical and relaxing sides of massage therapy. I feel I have done just that and I hope to be able to share it with you.
I also work at a few clothing optional resorts in both the Palm Springs / Desert Hot Springs area and the San Bernardino mountains near Lake Arrowhead. Please feel free to contact me for more information on these resorts.