by Kathleen Cliff

Looking at it closely, with the mind quiet, breath deep and slow, it all seems to have started in 1972, with David Carradine, who portrayed Kwai Chang Caine in a weekly television show, Kung Fu. None of my earlier life experiences could explain my deep compulsion to watch this weekly show about a Shaolin monk roaming the early West helping those he met along the way. I chuckle at the irony of this introduction to the Tao, and my path to the present.

While living in Spokane, Washington, I wasn't aware of many opportunities to study martial arts. However, after moving to the Seattle area, I tried attending several classes unsuccessfully. Something would always block me, and I finally gave up. Then in the winter of 1997, Dallas Pasley told me about a Qigong class that sounded interesting. So I signed up with Dallas and Ann Pasley, and the class wasn't cancelled.

I first met Bill Fouts teaching Level 1 of Yi Ren Qigong at Evergreen Hospital. He made it clear this form of Qigong was very special, and that he studied with Dr. Guan-Cheng Sun, the current lineage holder, and originator of Yi Ren Qigong. This was amazing, because Bill emanated a bright silvery light all around him, and he considered himself a student. He imparted such deep reverence and respect for Dr. Sun, that he transmitted that to everyone in his class, and continues to do so.

Initially, seeking relief for Trigeminal Neuralgia was my motivation. The deep pain on the R side of my face, mandible, TMJ, neck, and shoulder was constant. A tooth extraction 3 months earlier was very traumatic, and there was extensive bone and nerve damage. I tried many medical and alternative therapies without success. To my great relief, the pain was eliminated after only 3 classes. This was of great relevance to me as a health care professional, as this could actually empower an individual to take charge of and manage their own health and well-being!

It took me a few years to develop my own daily practice. Since I can remember, I have always been "sensitive" and could feel energy. This led me to a career as a Licensed Massage Practitioner specializing in Cranial Sacral Therapy for the past 21 years. So I immediately had amazing energetic experiences in class, and thoroughly enjoyed the group practice. I used the breathing techniques and applied many of the principles during my work, but it took me awhile to establish my own practice. So much of my day was spent in deep Theta trance-like states of consciousness, that I used my free time to weight-train and do aerobics. After quite a while of dissipating energy this way, I added Qigong practice to my life. The result was better integration, better health, I needed less sleep, my sensitivities were more refined, and I didn't feel overwhelmed by incoming information or energies. The ability to process life as it happened improved, so more time could be spent in the present, being here now. In general, brought more freedom, and greater space to my life. The focus shifted, and I found myself more satisfied with my life just as it was. All these benefits occurred to me after studying the Level 1 Foundation Exercises over a few years, what would occur after studying Level 2 and 3 in earnest, and studying directly with Dr. Sun?