Healing Tao Institute

FAQ

What is Medical Qigong?
Medical Qigong is one of the oldest branches of Chinese Medicine, predating acupuncture by thousands of years. Qi refers to the life force energy that flows through the acupuncture channels, while Gong means skill acquired through practice. Thus, Medical Qigong refers to a wide series of therapeutic exercises, breathing methods, and healing mental imagery that guide and direct the Qi for health and balance.

Medical Qigong can be divided into three categories:
• Physical therapy exercises for building Qi and healing specific disorders
• Relaxation methods for guiding the Qi within, and for stress management
• External Qi healing (Wai Qi Liao Fa) for emitting Qi to heal others

Today there are hundreds of Medical Qigong hospitals and clinics throughout China, treating such problems as breast and ovarian tumors and cysts, paraplegia and hemiplegia, muscular atrophy, stress and insomnia, immune deficiency disorders, migraine headaches, certain types of cancer and pain.

What is the Medical Qigong Therapy Program?
The Medical Qigong Therapy Program is a one-year certification program providing training for the clinical practice of Medical Qigong.

Students in the Medical Qigong Therapy Program will learn:
• The guiding principles of Oriental medical theory
• Meridian and point location, and energetics
• Special methods of Qigong diagnosis
• Qigong cautions, contraindication and Qi deviations
• Methods for building, guiding and emitting Qi
• Qigong treatment protocols for a wide range of common disorders

In addition to the more traditional Oriental medicine and Qigong studies, the Medical Qigong Program will also cover:
• Anatomy and physiology from the Western medical perspective
• Practical aspects of running a clinic
• Ethics and psychology as related to the field of energy healing.

Alongside the more technical skills taught as part of the Medical Qigong Therapy training, students will be taught to develop their intuitive faculties necessary for energetic diagnosis and healing. Our Program also emphasizes the psycho-spiritual components of healing.

Is there licensing for Medical Qigong Therapy?
Currently there is no national or state licensing for Medical Qigong Therapy in the United States. Some states require medical, acupuncture, or massage therapist licensing to legally use the hands-on therapeutic methods of Medical Qigong. Students may wish to obtain more information from their state licensing bureaus regarding the regional laws in their local area. The National Qigong Association (NQA) recently formed a special committee to establish national standards for Medical Qigong Therapists. In order to qualify as a professional member of NQA as a Medical Qigong Therapist, one must have completed at least 400 hours of training within a minimum of two years. A minimum of 200 hours must be specifically in Qigong training. Our 620-hour program is designed to more than meet these new national standards.

What is Chi Nei Tsang?
Chi Nei Tsang is a Taoist healing technique you can learn to do on yourself (and others) that detoxifies, regenerates and balances each one of your body's vital functions. It is a system of healing that focuses on the internal organs, as well as the circulation, lymphatic system, digestive, eliminative, nerve centers of the body, tendon muscle system and the acupuncture meridians (Chi system). These systems concentrate and cross paths in the abdomen, which acts as their control center.

Chi Nei Tsang uses energetic techniques and manipulations to untangle knots and release obstructions. This system of health rejuvenation and maintenance is so complete that it also includes working on balancing the mind, the emotions and the essential energy of Chi (Qi). It can complement and enhance almost all other healing techniques.

Chi Nei Tsang will help you enhance your vitality and overall health from the inside out. Chi Nei Tsang was brought to America by Master Mantak Chia.

What Is The Chi Nei Tsang Program?
Presently Healing Tao Institute's Chi Nei Tsang Program offers a 327 hour course of study, consisting of up to 175 hours of training in Chi Nei Tsang technique and theory, 72 hours of supervised clinical training, and 80 hours in Healing Tao Basic Training courses. Our Instructors are certified by the Universal Tao, the international organization of Master Mantak Chia.

How Can I Become Certified as a Chi Nei Tsang Practitioner?
There are three main routes to Certification as a Chi Nei Tsang Practitioner in the United States:
• Healing Tao Institute
• Universal Tao
• AOBTA
• NCCAOM

Healing Tao Institute Certification
Upon successfully completing our Chi Nei Tsang Program, students receive a Certificate of Completion. This meets the basic core Asian Bodywork hours needed to meet those requirements of the following credentialing agencies.

Universal Tao Certification
After completing Healing Tao Institute's Certification requirements, students must also submit Chi Nei Tsang case studies, short written notes on sessions with clients. These must consist of either: a) 20 clients, 5 sessions each, or b) 120 total sessions of no more than 40 different clients. In addition, students must also pass a practical test by the Chi Nei Tsang Committee. These tests are given internationally, and may be given in Austin.

AOBTA Certification
Healing Tao Institute's current program meets the Asian Bodywork Therapy core curriculum requirements for AOBTA Certification; however, additional hours are needed in Oriental Medical Theory, Anatomy and Physiology, and other related subjects to meet the necessary 500 hours. Founded in 1989, the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) is a national not-for-profit professional association of practitioners of Bodywork Therapies of Asia. Chi Nei Tsang is one of their recognized Asian bodywork styles that may meet their membership requirements. There are several levels of membership, each with its own curriculum requirements; these include: Certified Practitioner, Certified Instructor, Associate Member, and Student Member. By meeting the credentialing requirements as a professional member in AOBTA, practitioners may be designated as either a Certified Practitioner or Certified Instructor. There is no additional written or practical exam required. For more details, visit the AOBTA website at www.aobta.org.

NCCAOM Certification
Chi Nei Tsang is an Asian Bodywork Therapy that is formally recognized by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). With the new Asian Bodywork Therapy certification exam created by the NCCAOM, our profession stands equally with the practices of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology as one of the three delivery systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through the NCCAOM OBT exam, the professional practitioner has the opportunity to be Nationally Certified as a Diplomate in ABT. Practitioners who meet the requirements to be professionally certified by the AOBTA will have met the eligibility requirements to sit for the NCCAOM exam, and vice-versa. For more information, visit the NCCAOM website at www.nccaom.org.

Is State Licensing Required for Me to Practice Chi Nei Tsang?
The laws are different in every state. Currently there is no national or state licensing for Chi Nei Tsang in the United States. Some states require medical, acupuncture, chiropractic, or massage therapist licensing to legally use the hands-on therapeutic methods of Chi Nei Tsang. Other states have exempted Asian Bodywork Therapy methods from their massage licensing requirements. Some Chi Nei Tsang practitioners have successfully contended that their sessions with clients were strictly educational, as most of Chi Nei Tsang's methods can be applied as self-therapy. Students should contact their state licensing bureaus regarding the regional laws in their local area.