Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
TCM is the product of traditional and western doctors in China pooling their knowledge into an integrated approach to health care in the mid-20th century. In China many of the hospitals in Shanghai and Beijing have western and traditional medicine working side-by-side blending the best of both fields. The schools in the united states that teach acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are based on the model developed in China to treat its citizens using traditional medicine alongside western medicine. Originally this was to allow the Chinese healthcare system the capacity to care for the millions of citizens that were now being governed by the PRC, but over time this merging of the two traditions became its own form of healthcare. Today it is now quite common to see Chinese medicine in the form of acupuncture being offered in all the major hospitals in the United States, as well as being a vital part of most integrated approaches to healthcare in America. Acupuncture has become so popular due to its safety and effectiveness that it is now the leading new therapy offered by Physical Therapist (called dry needling) and by many dentists.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a pre-industrial Chinese Bioelectric therapy for benefiting the muscular, vascular, nervous, digestive, immune, and endocrine systems. In old China, these systems were associated with pathways of Qi (aka Bio-electric currents) and their associated organs (Zang Fu). Acupuncture is a painless technique for stimulating and balancing these vital pathways and systems, regulating their optimal function and stability. In the language of Chinese medicine when the systems, pathways, and substances are blocked, congested, stagnate, or diminished then illness and pain can manifest. By the stimulation of acupuncture points and channels on the body (which correspond to the muscular, vascular, nervous, digestive, immune, and endocrine systems) the regulation and circulation of Qi is enhanced and supplied in greater abundance to the vital organs and the extremities for health, well-being, and the reduction of illness and pain.
Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine has been prescribed and refined for many centuries. The first herbalist in Chinese history is Shennong, who is said to have researched hundreds of herbs and recorded his findings. The Shennong Emperor’s Classic of Materia Medica, the first Chinese manual on pharmacology, lists more than 365 medicines and dates to the 1st century A.D. during the Han Dynasty. Many Chinese herbs used could be quite common or familiar to you. Some of them include ginseng (Ren Shen), cinnamon (Rou Gui), and ginger (Sheng Jiang). The basic concept of Chinese medicine is to promote and maintain a balance in your body (Homeostasis). Each herb or herbal formula can influence your body in one direction or another, often referred to as balancing the bodies Yin and Yang. Therefore, with the right formula, Chinese herbal medicine can restore an imbalance in one’s energy flow (Qi/Chi/Ki/Prana). Chinese herbal medicine is especially effective in treating chronic and stubborn conditions.
Medical Qigong instruction
Medical Qigong is the practice of combining posture or movement, breath regulation, or the attention to the breath, and the use of passive concentration to create a synchronized, beneficial effect on the bodies nervous system, specifically the autonomic nervous system (sometimes this effect is referred to as The Relaxation Response). These practices are safe, gentle and can be performed standing, seated, or lying down. With regular practice, these methods can provide the following benefits: Your metabolism decreases, Your heart beats slower and your muscles relax, Your breathing becomes slower, Your blood pressure decreases, Your levels of nitric oxide are increased, Lower stress hormones, Help in relieving pain, Help in curing sleep disorders, Lower anxiety and irritability.
Wing Chun Kung Fu
Greg is a certified coach in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Chinese medicine has for 100's of years been combined with marital arts for health, fitness and longevity. Wing Chun Kung Fu is a unique Chinese martial art system that can be practiced by everyone; its design is based on angles, body mechanics and structure. Wing Chun's key approach is in being simple, direct, and efficient. Wing Chun Kung Fu promotes self-protection, fitness and a life long discipline devoted to character development and community. Greg offers group and private training in Wing Chun at his location in El Cerrito. Website: www.leblancwingchun.com
Zen Practice
We offer a weekly Sunday morning informal Zen practice. Zen practice at Turning Point offers an opportunity to meditate with others, which helps to strengthen our own home practice. Zen (aka Chan, Son, Thien) is a ancient meditation tradition that finds it roots in Indian Buddhism. Zen uses various tools (Just sitting, Breath awareness, Koans, etc.) to settle the mind and bring attention into the present moment, helping us to wake up to our true nature (Just this!). Zen can help to reduce stress, increase our capacity to appreciate the ordinary moment-to-moment mind and find an organic, unforced experience of letting go of our attachments (beliefs that create dissatisfaction). Life is always changing, everyone and everything each moment is an expression of the unfolding of life. When we hold, cling, attach, want, and judge we experience dissatisfaction (from a minor annoyance to great suffering), to let go of clinging in its many forms and allow this ever changing moment to unfold is what Zen is about. Central to the understanding of Zen is to see how thinking and conceptualization contribute to clinging and attachment. As a great Zen master once put it, "The unawakened reject what they see, not what they think; the awakened reject what they think, not what they see." - Zen Master Huangbo Xiyun
TCM is the product of traditional and western doctors in China pooling their knowledge into an integrated approach to health care in the mid-20th century. In China many of the hospitals in Shanghai and Beijing have western and traditional medicine working side-by-side blending the best of both fields. The schools in the united states that teach acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are based on the model developed in China to treat its citizens using traditional medicine alongside western medicine. Originally this was to allow the Chinese healthcare system the capacity to care for the millions of citizens that were now being governed by the PRC, but over time this merging of the two traditions became its own form of healthcare. Today it is now quite common to see Chinese medicine in the form of acupuncture being offered in all the major hospitals in the United States, as well as being a vital part of most integrated approaches to healthcare in America. Acupuncture has become so popular due to its safety and effectiveness that it is now the leading new therapy offered by Physical Therapist (called dry needling) and by many dentists.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a pre-industrial Chinese Bioelectric therapy for benefiting the muscular, vascular, nervous, digestive, immune, and endocrine systems. In old China, these systems were associated with pathways of Qi (aka Bio-electric currents) and their associated organs (Zang Fu). Acupuncture is a painless technique for stimulating and balancing these vital pathways and systems, regulating their optimal function and stability. In the language of Chinese medicine when the systems, pathways, and substances are blocked, congested, stagnate, or diminished then illness and pain can manifest. By the stimulation of acupuncture points and channels on the body (which correspond to the muscular, vascular, nervous, digestive, immune, and endocrine systems) the regulation and circulation of Qi is enhanced and supplied in greater abundance to the vital organs and the extremities for health, well-being, and the reduction of illness and pain.
Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine has been prescribed and refined for many centuries. The first herbalist in Chinese history is Shennong, who is said to have researched hundreds of herbs and recorded his findings. The Shennong Emperor’s Classic of Materia Medica, the first Chinese manual on pharmacology, lists more than 365 medicines and dates to the 1st century A.D. during the Han Dynasty. Many Chinese herbs used could be quite common or familiar to you. Some of them include ginseng (Ren Shen), cinnamon (Rou Gui), and ginger (Sheng Jiang). The basic concept of Chinese medicine is to promote and maintain a balance in your body (Homeostasis). Each herb or herbal formula can influence your body in one direction or another, often referred to as balancing the bodies Yin and Yang. Therefore, with the right formula, Chinese herbal medicine can restore an imbalance in one’s energy flow (Qi/Chi/Ki/Prana). Chinese herbal medicine is especially effective in treating chronic and stubborn conditions.
Medical Qigong instruction
Medical Qigong is the practice of combining posture or movement, breath regulation, or the attention to the breath, and the use of passive concentration to create a synchronized, beneficial effect on the bodies nervous system, specifically the autonomic nervous system (sometimes this effect is referred to as The Relaxation Response). These practices are safe, gentle and can be performed standing, seated, or lying down. With regular practice, these methods can provide the following benefits: Your metabolism decreases, Your heart beats slower and your muscles relax, Your breathing becomes slower, Your blood pressure decreases, Your levels of nitric oxide are increased, Lower stress hormones, Help in relieving pain, Help in curing sleep disorders, Lower anxiety and irritability.
Wing Chun Kung Fu
Greg is a certified coach in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Chinese medicine has for 100's of years been combined with marital arts for health, fitness and longevity. Wing Chun Kung Fu is a unique Chinese martial art system that can be practiced by everyone; its design is based on angles, body mechanics and structure. Wing Chun's key approach is in being simple, direct, and efficient. Wing Chun Kung Fu promotes self-protection, fitness and a life long discipline devoted to character development and community. Greg offers group and private training in Wing Chun at his location in El Cerrito. Website: www.leblancwingchun.com
Zen Practice
We offer a weekly Sunday morning informal Zen practice. Zen practice at Turning Point offers an opportunity to meditate with others, which helps to strengthen our own home practice. Zen (aka Chan, Son, Thien) is a ancient meditation tradition that finds it roots in Indian Buddhism. Zen uses various tools (Just sitting, Breath awareness, Koans, etc.) to settle the mind and bring attention into the present moment, helping us to wake up to our true nature (Just this!). Zen can help to reduce stress, increase our capacity to appreciate the ordinary moment-to-moment mind and find an organic, unforced experience of letting go of our attachments (beliefs that create dissatisfaction). Life is always changing, everyone and everything each moment is an expression of the unfolding of life. When we hold, cling, attach, want, and judge we experience dissatisfaction (from a minor annoyance to great suffering), to let go of clinging in its many forms and allow this ever changing moment to unfold is what Zen is about. Central to the understanding of Zen is to see how thinking and conceptualization contribute to clinging and attachment. As a great Zen master once put it, "The unawakened reject what they see, not what they think; the awakened reject what they think, not what they see." - Zen Master Huangbo Xiyun