Winter/Spring 2016 Classes and Workshops

Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Massage Therapyat the

Oriental Healing Arts Center

At the Oriental Healing Arts Center we are proud to provide many opportunities for health and healing, unique experiences and education in the Oriental Medicine field.

Our instructors are certified/licensed experts in their field.

We have classes for massage therapists, general public, andhealth care professionals.

If you have any questions, call us at 907-279-0135. We’d love to hear from you.

Or visit our website, akinstitute.com.

Tai Chi 101

Sometimes called “meditation in motion”, the gentle movements of Tai Chi Chuan have been used for centuries to diminish the effects of stress and aging, to increase flexibility, balance and

stamina, and to bring a sense of peace, calm and deep relaxation to the practitioner. Each class is a 5-step healing journey beginning with a guided seated meditation to connect with yourself. This is followed by a QiGong to vitalize your energy. Then, Yang Style Tai Chi practice encourages your body mind to release and heal from stress. Finally, settle into your body with standing meditation,

Instructor: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMTuesday and Thursday 6:00 - 7:00 pmWednesday 9:30 - 10:30 am

All movement classes are ongoing (beginners always welcome), unless otherwise noted.Movement classes are one hour LMT CE hour per hour of attendance, unless otherwise noted.

Movement class cost: $20 drop in, or $15/class with a punchcard, unless otherwise noted.

Mind Body Movement Classes

5 - Animal Frolics QiGong

Instructor: Gretchen Holbrook, LMT, MQP, LSWednesday 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Need a gentle yet challenging exercise? Gain agility, strength, and balance through an authentic Chinese self-healing system, 5 - Animal Frolic QiGong. Similar to yoga this QiGong mimics animal movements and is the most prevalent exercise pattern practiced in

5 - Tibetans QigongInstructor: Cynthia McMullen, LMT, MQT, SMMonday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 - 10:00 am

Join the senior massage class as we practice this excellent well-known Tibetan QiGong form that strengthens all of our internal organs for the benefit of good-health and longevity. The form gradually builds over several weeks to work up to 21 repetitions of each exercise. Prepare to be challenged and to become stronger - inside and out. * Note: We’ll announce when the class has reached the point to begin the 5 - Tibetans, usually around January and June. You’ll want to start in the beginning and follow through to the end (approximately 12 weeks).

Guigen QiGong

Instructor: Charlotte MacCay, MQP, LSSunday 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Take your health and well-being into your own hands by learning and practicing QiGong. QiGong is a gentle form of exercise that combines breath, alignment, movement and mindful intent to increase vital flow through your body to enhance health.Gui gen qigong was created by Dr. Xu Hangtag in Beijing, China based on the ancient Chinese five elements of earth, metal, water, wood and fire. Each element represents a set of emotions, internal organs and qi pathways.

Free Community QiGong Clinic

Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine is offering a Free Community Clinic on Sunday mornings. QiGong is a gentle form of exercise that combines breath, alignment, movement, and mindful intent to increase vital qi flow through your body to enhance and optimize health.

Instructor: Charlotte MacCay, MQP, LSSunday 8:30 - 9:30 am

Advanced Tai Chi Chuan

Instructor: Tao Shih Pei Wo Lun, ShifuSunday 7:00 - 9:00 pm$60 per class

Enhance your Tai Chi ritual by learning from the best. With over 30 years of Tai Chi experience, Tao Shih Pei Wo Lun has traveled the world working with many masters, including Taoist monks at Wu Dang Mountain, the home of Tai Chi. In this class Tai Chi 108 and various push hands exercises are refined. Learn how the energy moves. Learn how you can be more effective. Learn about the spirituality of Tai Chi. Tao Shih Pei Wo Lun’s Tai Chi knowledge is vast. He can assist in your journey.

Workshops

Kinesiology TapingInstructor: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SM and Vivienne D’Amico, LMTThird Saturday of each month, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm$65/ workshop + $20 materials fee2 LMT CE hours /workshop

Kinesiology tape is an elastic sports fitness tape designed for muscle, ligament, and tendon pain relief and support for the body to heal.

Each workshop will include basic anatomy, injury information and specific taping protocols. Mar 19: Introduction to Kinesiology Taping. Apr 16: Neck/Shoulder taping protocols.May 21 Lumbar spine and back taping protocols.Jun 18: Knee taping protocols.Jul 16: Arm and hand taping protocols.Aug 20: Ankle and feet taping protocols.

Kinesiology tape workshops are great for practitioners and non-practitioners alike. It is strongly suggested workshop participants take the first workshop, Introduction to Kinesiology Taping, as that information will not be covered in each workshop.

One roll of tape will be supplied per participant per workshop.

Instructor: Cynthia McMullen, LMT, MQT, SMLast Saturday of each month, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm$65 / workshop2 LMT CE hours /workshop

Chinese Medical Aromatherapy

Six workshops for 2016: Focus on Emotional Healing & Esoteric Chakra Balancing. These workshops are specifically designed for the person who has some experience in Essential Oils and is really interested in learning to understand and apply Chinese Medicine

Theory, Acupressure, and Energy Work. Maybe you have great Essential Oil collection and you’re not doing enough with them - this series will give you some great ideas!

The workshops are very hands-on. We learn an Acupressure Point pattern for the treatment and actually do a treatment on each other to practice and experience the results. We’ll be looking at changes in Pulse and subjective experience to gauge the effectiveness.

Essential Oil Certification Course Online

Certification is strongly suggested for massage therapists who use essential oils in their professional practice.See our website for details.

Classes

Medical QiGong Energy Healing CertificationInstructor: Cynthia McMullen, LMT, MQT, SMSunday 12:00 - 2:00 pm$450/level, includes clinic18 LMT CE hours / level

Eight levels, 9 weeks each that provides an in-depth hands-on exploration of Medical QiGong, a 2500+ year old style of Energy Healing that forms the basis of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. This information may be used as career enhancement for massage therapists, acupuncturists, and other

health care providers. This class may also be taken by non-professionals as a self-interest class.

Water Element Class: 1/10/16 - 3/6/16Water Element Clinic: 3/13/16 - 3/27/16Wood Element Class: 4/3/16 - 6/5/16Wood Element Clinic: 6/12/16 - 6/26/16Fire Element: TBDMetal Element: TBD

Thai Yoga MassageInstructor: Michele Keck, LMT, MQT, SMThursday 9:30 - 11:30 am$350/ two month class20 LMT CE hours/ session

The practice of Thai Yoga Massage dates back over 2500 years and is the combination of Indian yogic stretching,  Chinese Acupressure, Reflexology,  and the  Buddhist concepts of loving-kindness (metta) and compassion.  Thai Massage promotes the movement of life-force energy throughout the body, encouraging the body’s natural healing processes. Thai massage utilizes passive stretching with rhythmic massage to increase flexibility, relieve muscle and joint tension, and enhance the body’s energy. The therapist uses their hands, elbows, thumbs, knees, legs, and feet during the massage. The stretching positions also stimulate and improve the function of the body’s major organ systems. Class will include Yogic Arts workout a n d theory. Class open to general public for personal use.

February 11 - prone posturesApril 7 - side lying posturesJune 9 - seated postures

Moxibustion, Guasha and Cupping

Instruction: Lamar Gunter, MS, M.Ac., L.Ac.February 6 & 7, 13 & 14, 27 & 28.All classes 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.24 LMT CE hours$480

This 24-hour course, delivered in six 4-hour segments introduces students to the theory and practice of the modalities of Moxibustion, Guasha and Cupping as they are used in East Asian Medicine. Each of the three procedures includes a 4-hour lecture and hands-on practice, followed by a 4-hour practicum in which students will treat patients under the supervision of the instructor. Upon completion of the class, participants will be able to use these techniques in their practice. Class open to Licensed Health Care ProfessionalsMinimum attendance: 6

Five Element Pulse Reading

Instructor: Lamar Gunter, MS, M. Ac, L.Ac.Saturday, March 5 9:30 am to 1:30 pmClinic hours to be announced in class

This class is an introductory class on Pulse Reading. The ability to read pulses is fundamental to the practice of Traditional East Asian Medicine. In this class you will learn how to find the 12 pulses as they are read in Five Element Acupuncture. You will learn to assess your patient’s energetic state by interpreting pulse qualities and identifying energetic blocks as they show up on the pulse. This skill has applications outside the practice of Acupuncture. The class is open to all health practitioners. It consists of 4 hours of lecture and practice an additional 12 hours practical experience in our community clinic. Participants can choose their practical schedule from several clinic options.

Hot Stone MassageInstructor: Brittany Russell, LMT, LSApril 9,16, 2312:00 - 4:00 pm12 LMT CE hours$425

Looking for a way to spice up your massage practice? Try Hot Stone Massage! Through the healing power of the warm stones you can melt tension out of your clients quicker and get into deeper layers of muscles without overworking your hands. This course will cover the Do's and Don'ts,

set up of your workspace, and a full body massage both using and placing of hot stones.Class open to Licensed Health Care Professionals.

Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan

Instructor: Tao Shih Pei Wo Lun, ShifuSaturday 7:00 - 9:00 pm$60 per class

Explore Chen Style Tai Chi as you work with Tao Shih Pei Wo Lun to bring your Tai Chi alive. In this class you will cultivate your Tai Chi to flourish and grow.

Tuina Medical Acupressure Therapy Level 1Instructor: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMThursday 6:00 - 9:00 pm, Student Clinic Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 pmSept 8, 2016 - July 1, 2017114 LMT CE class hours, 40 CE clinic hours

Tuina Medical Acupressure Therapy is a therapeutic style of body work from China. It includes Acupressure and various Oscillating Hand Techniques to release and open the body. Tuina is based on the energy channels of the body and allows the client to heal. Class includes Introduction to Oriental Medicine, Energetic Business Skills, and Tuina instruction for the whole body. This class is

open to bodyworkers and health care practitioners.

Instructor: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMThursday 6:00 - 9:00 pmSept 8 - Oct 6, 201615 LMT CE class hours$450

Learn the foundational philosophy of Oriental Medicine. Including Yin/Yang and Five Elements theory, this knowledge can be used to better understand life movements and it is extensively used in any Chinese healing modality, such as Tuina, Tai Chi Chuan, Medical QIGong and Herbology. This class open to anyone interested.

Energetic Business Skills

Instructor: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMThursday 6:00 - 9:00 pmOct 13 - Nov 17, 201612 LMT CE class hours$360

How do you connect with a person and what is that person really saying to you? Do they really understand what you are saying? Learn answers and techniques to these questions. Directly applicable to communication on a personal and business level.

Introduction to Oriental Medicine

Events

Explore China Presenter: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMFourth Friday of Every Month6:00 - 8:00 pmFree

The Oriental Healing Arts Center has an awesome Tai Chi Chuan and Tuina travel/study trip to China yearly in October. Join us on the last Friday of each month to learn about life in China through pictures, video, music, food and stories. There will be opportunity to discuss the upcoming trips to China, as well. 2016 takes us to Shanghai to study Tai Chi with Master Yuxuan Zhang. Folks that have taken these trips have found them to be fun, educational, and

the trip of a lifetime!

How to Pay for Massage School

Presenters: Lee Ann Benko, LMT, MQT, SMMichele Keck, LMT, MQT, SMAnna Remick, LMT, MQTGretchen Holbrook, LMT, MQP LSDates Second Friday of Every MonthFree

In this wonderfully informative seminar learn the many ways you can fund massage school tuition. The different options will be discussed and direction will be given as to how to make these options work for you! Join us to find out how your dream of being a massage therapist can become reality.

These seminars have not yet been scheduled. Please check our website or watch your emails for updates.

Experience Tuina Medical Acupressure TherapyPresenters: Tuina TeamThird Friday of Every Month6:00 - 8:00 pm$20.00

Have you ever wondered - what exactly is Tuina? And what can it do for me? This is your chance to find out! Receive a 15 minute Tuina Medical Acupressure Massage, also known as “Massage that Heals”, followed by snacks and drinks. A wonderful way to start the weekend!

Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Massage Therapyat theOriental Healing Arts Center2636 Spenard Road907-279-0135AkInstitute.com

CEU’s are provided for professional Massage Therapists. Alaska Institute of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture & Massage Therapy is approved by the National Certification Board fro Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider, # 450089-06.

LMT - Licensed Massage TherapistCE - Continuing EducationMQT - Medical QiGong TherapistSM - ShimaMQP - Medical QiGong PractitionerLS - Lao ShihTBD - to be determinedMS - Master of ScienceL.Ac. - Licensed AcupuncturistM.Ac. - Master of Acupuncture