"Mobility in my     "I felt the energy in      "Love having you both

and shoulders

                  in the room rise              ... each offers something

increased                          greatly during your        very special.

phenomenally.                Qi Gong presentation.

- Elizabeth                     - Mark (ANFP Conference)   - Sonya

INSTRUCTORS

Joann Malone, Co-Founder

Qi Gong has definitely given me a longer life, a fuller, more healthy, peaceful life. I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my hands, hips, knees and hips after a car accident in 1992. The pain interfered with sleep and increased to a place that I could not walk around the block. I had lived a very active life, teaching high school, exercising, hiking, so I wasn’t ready for immobility in my fifties. 

Today at almost 76, I live without pain, active, healthy, enjoying life. The issues with arthritis have resolved to the place where I hiked to the top of Old Rag Mountain in 2014. I was first exposed to Qi Gong on retreats over 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until my husband’s experience with tendinitis in 2005 that we began taking classes and practicing together daily.  In 2011, our acupuncturist and teacher Nianzu Li offered a teacher training program for the first time. Patrick and I have continued our studies,  are certified, and have been teaching Qi Gong at the Takoma Park Recreation Department since 2013.  We also teach Qi Gong on our Days of mindfulness and retreats, since the movements enhance breathing, living and meditating mindfully.

Patrick Smith, Co-Founder

I was exposed to Qi Gong over 20 years ago on Guitar Craft Courses and various meditation retreats. Practicing these movements with a group always left me feeling better. At times I’d even experiment with them at home, but did not develop a regular practice.

When I developed tendinitis in my left wrist, I took heavy duty anti-inflammatory drugs, but I knew this was not a long term solution. The documented side effect were too grim, especially long term. Eventually I stopped playing guitar and let my body rest.  During this time I was introduced to acupuncture. In the lobby of Dr. Nainzu Li, I was a flyer for his Qi Gong class. That day I asked him for an exercise related to my condition. He showed me Opening the Energy Gates. 

I began practicing immediately and signed up for his next class.  I have studied with him and his wife Peggy Li. In 2012 I joined his Teacher Training Program and am now a certified Level 3 Qi Gong Teacher. My studies with him and others continue to this day. I have a daily discipline of Qi Gong which nourishes my body, mind and spirit.

 

Joann & I offered our first class with the Takoma Park Community Center in 2013. We continue to offer classes there and on various guitar and meditation retreats. In October 2016 we gave a presentation on Qi Gong at the 21st Annual Conference by the Sea for the Association of Nutrition and Food Service Professionals.