Community practice sessions are springing up in churches, community centers, libraries, bookstores, senior centers, hospitals, workplaces and YMCA's throughout the US. They are created and sustained by people like you.

The pages in this section can be printed out as an aid to help you create a practice session in your community. In China a hundred million people do these practices everyday, it is a form of free health care.

Congress, the President, and the medical industry have failed to improve health care, so who will fix the health care system ? We will!\

You may be interested in attending a practice session in your community or you may even wish to participate in creating and fostering a pracatice session in your community.

The self-healing and health enhancement methods in "The Healer Within", along with several other somewhat more advanced Qigong methods and the traditions of Yoga, Tai Chi (Taiji) and several other methods are the focus of a nationwide (worldwide) network of enthusiastic citizens and professionals. This network is committed to improving health, eliminating the health cost crisis and spreading a wave of healing and health improvement through our the communities of our nation and the world.

As you read these few pages of encouragement for your participation in this remarkable and historic activity, please relax and take a deep relaxed breath. To the extent that you become excited about this opportunity, become relaxed and tranquil as well. Your willingness to begin focusing on relaxation and tranquility from the very beginning is a powerful key to the most astounding aspects of Qigong, China's ancient and highly refined system of self-healing, personal energy management and whole society enhancement.

The Methods
The "Healer Within" methods, Qigong, the self applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM) and other personal healing and energy management systems such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Pranayama etc. will literally transform you, your health and your vitality. The presence of these methods in our society will transform our institutional effectiveness and the health status of our communities. The pervasive presence of people who practice these methods around the world will transform the human experience overall.

How? or Why? you may be asking. Every person who is a wise user of personal energy and self-healing potential helps to neutralize negative forces in our world. When an individual takes care of the relatively small job of managing their own personal energy, the big job of taking care of everyone is automatically complete. Plus, it has been discovered over thousands of years of careful observation by highly intuitive cultures that value the inner dimensions - the practice of personal energy management and the self-healing methods not only heals and empowers the individual but it also unleashes forces within the community like harmony, virtue and beneficence.

On the most basic level the methods include breath practice, adjustment of the body posture and gentle movement, self applied massage, meditation, deep relaxation, visualization and purposeful direction of the inner discussion. On the most basic level these methods are used to heal and energize oneself. One may either seek to improve health or enhance personal effectiveness. Personal energy management is a very comprehensive and holistic process focused on self improvement as well as the improvement of the effectiveness and productivity of groups or teams.

On a higher, more refined level (because of the nature of intention, mind, consciousness, will and other subtle influences that are not very well understood at this time by science) these practices unleash beneficial energies (beneficence, good fortune , harmony) in the family, the institution, the community and the society. In China Qigong has these two aspects, first of enhancing health and then more profoundly of enhancing virtue and harmony.

This deeper aspect of the practice is completely automatic and requires no additional effort. Simply holding the focus that these higher aspects of the practice are true while simply doing one's practice, Chinese master teachers agree, creates the beneficial outcomes that have been described. For those who feel some sense of disbelief regarding the levels of the practice beyond personal benefit it is not important to focus on believing or disbelieving, simply relax and enjoy the benefits of your personal practice.

Why a Community Practice Session?
Everyone has experienced the added results that are achieved by the interaction of a group or team - work team, prayer group, study group, support group. The research on group activity both in business and health care has demonstrated dramatically the value of such interaction. In addition, it has been found that the quality of an individual's daily personal practice is enhanced by the group practice because it reminds one of important principles and actual details of the methods themselves. In the community sessions that have been the seeds for the nationwide network, participants have frequently noted that group practice enhances the quality and depth of personal, solo practice.

The benefits to the community are numerous. The community practice session becomes a social focal point in the community. It is a powerful point of interaction for the senior community. It is a lowcost and very effective activity where all health care organizations can refer people who are seeking improved health. The comprehensive cancer program and the cardiac rehabilitation program, in addition to the organizations representing the heart, lung, cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, diabetes, Parkinsons - all will assist their constituents by referring interested individuals to the group practice session.

The money benefits are, are of course, obvious. Any time a community based program for improving individual effectiveness, health and performance is readily available to the citizens it saves dollars for social organizations, medical organizations as well as the families and individuals themselves.

There are some less understood dynamics of group interaction that are associated with quantum physics and the energetic (or wavelike) aspect of what we experience as physical, actual or particular. Some research on prayer, meditation, volunteer activity and group interaction have shown that this kind of practice, especially in a group, has a positive benefit in enhancing community health as well as reducing crime and violence. It has been found statistically that these benefits occur, however the actual mechanism for how they occur has for now, eluded science.

Teachers, instructor, mentors- First a Caution
There are many who will suggest that only highly trained and highly masterful individuals can lead a Qigong practice. This is simply not correct. Anyone who has enthusiasm and a spirit of community service can be a facilitator of a community practice session.

There are, of course, highly trained and highly masterful people who may have advanced Qigong skill. Such individuals may be very desirable as master teachers during certain periods of our personal development. However, the simple act of using and sharing the "Healer Within" practices is far too great of a treasure to limit or restrain. The need in families, institutions, corporations, hospitals, agencies, communities or societies is too immense. A nationwide network of enthusiastic instructors who are not "masters" will only be a benefit. Deeper training will be available for all who wish to gain greater mastery.

There are levels in all aspects of our lives and our world. The level of the practice of personal energy management, Qigong or self-healing that a genuinely enthusiastic citizen can share with others is a true blessing to those who will benefit from the opportunity to learn.

For those who are investigating the more advanced or deeper aspects of Qigong, please just relax and deepen your practice. As you probably know, deepening into your own practice does not require a special form of instruction - rather deepening requires a special form of attention, intention and calm. Your presence at the practice session, if you are an advanced practitioner, will benefit everyone - not through judgment, but through the quiet depth of your connection with the Qi.

Now regarding facilitators, instructors and mentors
A teacher is someone who knows more than the student. Anyone with some familiarity with these practices can be both a student and a teacher. When someone is courageous enough to lead the practice session, celebrate their willingness to serve the community.

It is preferable to have a group of practice session facilitators who get together on an occasional basis to upgrade their own skill. Always encourage new teachers so that the community's ability to sustain one or several practice sessions is always strong.

What to do to create a Community Practice Session
In China the daily practice sessions that happen in the parks and open spaces, by the rivers and lakes and even in the streets are casually organized by citizens who feel a strong impulse to serve and strengthen the society. Frequently, these facilitators or instructors are physicians or professors who have strong feelings about health and vitality. Just as frequently they are retired government officials, retired physicians, artists, teachers and even factory workers. These people simply find an area in the park and start teaching. Sometimes classes do not have a specific teacher, someone just agrees to lead for a few times.

To create a practice session in your community, join together with a few interested people and begin. If it seems complex to find an inside space use the park. It is easiest to work with a group inside, particularly in communities where the winters are cold. The group energy is stronger in a contained space.

People typically ask - "Is it better to practice outside or inside?" Outside, you are exposed to the natural environment and this is a great benefit. Inside the energy of the group is more contained, the variations in weather are not a challenge and it is easier to hear. The best answer is to do the group practice session inside where it is easier to control the environment and feel the circulation of healing resources, known as Qi (chi). Then do you own personal practice outside whenever possible. If it is not possible or comfortable to practice outside - it is not necessary, just practice in your home or with friends. Really, the place of your practice is secondary to the intention you bring to the practice itself.

The perfect situation is to find an indoor place that has excellent public access. Some of the practice sessions that we know about are taking place in:
- community recreation centers
- book stores
- clinics or hospitals who have volunteered space
- the Red Cross facility
- meeting rooms at workplaces
- churches
- school class rooms after school
- senior centers

Please let us know where the practice session in your community is located so more people can be inspired by how simply this can be done.

Let people know about the practice session
The Cancer Society, Heart Association, MS Society, Diabetes Association, etc. all have members who will benefit from practicing the "Healer Within" methods. Seniors are particularly interested in these practices. The hospitals, clinics and special organizations like the "breast cancer support group" or the "hospice workers" should also be informed through flyers or listings in the local paper.

Who is in charge?
It is best if the community practice session can become self-sustaining as soon as possible. In China these practice sessions go on for years with no interruptions. Here in America we will have to work at it a bit as the idea of community based self-healing practice is new.

Typically, to sustain a weekly session over time, a number of individuals will rotate into the facilitator role. Here in Santa Barbara we have 6 individuals (currently) who rotate into the instructor/facilitator role. Originally, fewer people led the session, but as the process has matured others have become involved.

Practice Session Time
The community practice session should always be at the same place and the same time. This is one of the most important factors for keeping it simple. If the session always occurs and is always in the same place there is a lot less to organize. People know that if they go to that place at that time, people will be practicing. No announcements are necessary because its always there - like a heartbeat of the community.

Typically, the session is an hour in length with about 1/2 hour of social time afterwards.

Practice Session Content
Usually about 1/2 of the session comes from "The Healer Within". In this way there is always some consistency over time and through numerous facilitators. The remaining 20 - 30 minutes may be innovative practices that the facilitator brings from other sources. The usual order is -

1. adjust posture and gentle body movements done in a relaxed state
2. self-applied massage
3. breath practice
4. deep relaxation and meditation

There are numerous suggestions in "The Healer Within" for how to assemble a practice session.

Here is a general outline for a weekly practice session:

1) 2-3 minutes
Welcome the participants, remind them of the concept of self-healing, the "medicine within" and the self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM) using information from "The Healer Within", your own experience and things you have learned from others. Make any announcements.

2) 10 - 15 minutes
Explore gentle movement and purposeful adjustment of the body posture and practice one or two of the methods from chapter 4 of "The Healer Within".

3) 10 minutes
Explore self-applied massage and practice one or two of the methods in chapter 5 of "The Healer Within".

4) 10 minutes
Explore breath practice and teach one or two methods drawing from chapter 6 of "The Healer Within". 5) 10 minutes
Explore deep relaxation and meditation and practice one of the methods in chapter 7 of "The Healer Within".

6) 5 - 10 minutes
Conclude with some discussion on the simple physiology of the practices (pages 241-244), adapting the methods for practice in bed or in a chair. Ask participants to share their experiences and give testimonials for their victories. Encourage daily, personal practice. Leave the group with an inspired feeling: that they can easily activate the "healer within".

In the context of a recurrent practice session, where participants are familiar with the overall concept, it is best to place the breath practice before the meditation as it naturally leads to a deepening of calm.

Practice Guidelines and cautions
Please refer to pages 26 -28 of "The Healer Within".

Setup and cleanup
If each participant sets up and then returns their chair after the practice, there is little set up required. If money is to be collected or a record kept of the numbers of people in attendance there will need to be a table set up. It is best to have a facilitator/instructor in training or a volunteer from the group handle this aspect of the practice session activity.

The person who will lead the session should be free from this task to allow for preparation, greeting and answering questions.

Money -
The money component of community practice sessions will be different in every case. Some practice sessions will happen under the auspices of HMOs and other health care institutions. These will generally have no cost and be coordinated by the organization. Practice in conjunction with clinical programs may have a higher cost which may be re-imbursed by health insurance companies or HMOs, but these are not typically considered to be community based.

Several practice sessions that are happening through community recreation facilities have no cost, others have a minimal cost ranging from $1 to $10 per class. It is important to have the cost be as little as possible to encourage the "community" feeling of the gathering and keep the session open and non-exclusive.

Sessions that are happening at bookstores, Red Cross facilities, churches and senior centers are typically free.

There is some value to having some funds to support flyers to announce the practice session. Sponsorship for announcements to the community may be available through the hospital or other community organization.

Some communities will pay the people who facilitate the sessions. This a complexifying factor, however, and it may simpler to deal with volunteer instructors only. If a group of instructors emerge and organize themselves slightly the session can still be inexpensive and create a small payment to the instructors.

For example, imagine the cost of the space is $30 per weekly session. Lets say the instructors get $25 each time. In a 4 week month this is $220 and requires a total of 44 participants at $5 each. So as long as there was an average of 11 people at each of four weekly sessions the costs would be covered. Over the year, lets say, there was an average of 20 people in each session and the costs for making flyers was $50 for the year. $5200 would be collected. Rent would be $30 times 52 weeks = $1560. Teacher payments would be $25 times 52 weeks = $1300.

The total costs $1560 + $1300 + $50 = $2910. Income of $5200 minus costs of $2910 leave $2290 in the practice session bank account. The instructors, volunteers and even the practice community can get together, have a celebration and decide how to spend the money. The ideal, of course, would be to use the proceeds to expand the reach of the program.

In the case where there is less income than cost it may be better to have a free space and use volunteer facilitators.

Always focus on the practice and the community service. Dealing with money can become complex. Always look for volunteer space and volunteer instruction to make the community feel of the practice session prominent. After all, the practice of these self-healing methods is first and foremost a process of personal and community improvement.

The rewards and benefits for volunteers
When a citizen contributes to their community, it is among the most elevated virtues. In a community where the volunteer spirit is highly evolved the quality of life is enhanced for no cost. In the ancient Chinese philosophy called Taoism (Daoism) this sort of community service is seen as a method for accumulating virtue and beneficence in the society. The persons involved are seen as highly revered community servants, like heroes. Most of the instructors of practice sessions in the parks in China receive no payment. They are, however, considered to be superior citizens, cultural heros, who contribute to the virtue and strength of the community.

Volunteering to support the practice session in your community becomes a part of your professional credentials. For doctors, nurses, health educators, massage therapists, acupuncturists and other health care professionals leading the community practice session on occasion becomes a part of your credibility in your community. In this period of our history, those who help to improve the community's health are considered to be valuable community contributors. When consumers are deciding who to chose as their doctor or therapist, they will typically choose an individual who is seen as a community leader. Facilitating the "Healer Within" practice session can, in the long run, help to increase your position in your professional community.

Giving presentations to groups or organizations to build the awareness of the community practice session (one hour)
1) 5-7 minutes
Introduce the concept of self-healing, the "medicine within" and the self-applied health enhancement methods (SAHEM) using information from "The Healer Within", your own experience and things you have learned from others.

2) 10 minutes
Explore breath practice and teach one or two methods drawing from chapter 6 of "The Healer Within". Explain the physiological benefit from pages 243 - 244 of "The Healer Within".

3) 10 minutes
Explore gentle movement and purposeful adjustment of the body posture and practice one or two of the methods from chapter 4 of "The Healer Within". Explain the physiological benefit from pages 243 - 244 of "The Healer Within".

4) 10 minutes
Explore self-applied massage and practice one or two of the methods in chapter 5 of "The Healer Within". Explain the physiological benefit from pages 243 - 244 of "The Healer Within".

5) 10 minutes
Explore deep relaxation and meditation and practice one of the methods in chapter 7 of "The Healer Within". Explain the physiological benefit from pages 243 - 244 of "The Healer Within".

6) 10 minutes
Conclude with some discussion on the simple physiology of the practices (pages 241-244), adapting the methods for practice in bed or in a chair. Leave audience with an inspired feeling - that they can easily activate the "healer within". Announce the time and place of the community practice session.

In a one time workshop we explore the breath practice first because it is the easiest starting place when the participants are new to the topic.

In certain settings you will be required to be brief (10-20 minutes). Use your best judgment on how to approach the subject, always try to involve the audience in some activity.

In Conclusion
There are many levels of Qigong practice. The "Healer Within" methods are like a gateway into a remarkable realm. At the simplest level Qigong is a self-healing and health enhancement practice. At more refined or more advanced levels the practice becomes a personal transformation tool and a way to access one's essential nature.

One of the most remarkable features of Qigong is that deeper levels of cultivation or more refined and advanced practice do not particularly appear to be more advanced or complex. In fact, as an individual goes deeper into Qigong, the practice may actually appear more simplistic externally but be more refined internally. Through the practice an individual's character may change, they may become more calm and radiant - and less anxious or judgmental.

When the facilitator or instructor seems to lack in wisdom and experience in their teaching or Qigong skills there are two possible reactions- 1. to judge the person for their imperfection
2. to celebrate the person for their courage and community service

While it is tempting to render judgment, it is actually more in keeping with the highest values of Qigong and other practice systems to celebrate the individual's contribution to the overall virtue in the community.

When someone states something incorrectly or demonstrates something incorrectly just relax and go deeper into your practice. Look for an opportunity to help the group to gain insight into the incorrect point, perhaps by taking a turn teaching yourself. It is always best if the facilitators meet occasionally to give each other feedback. Resist the temptation to criticize. The group's level of refinement will continue to advance over time and incorrect points will tend to be polished to a more effective state.

There are many attitudes in Qigong. Some are boastful and exclusive. Some are expressive of simplicity and humility. Simplicity and humility are preferred characteristics of the leaders of Qigong practice.

The practices in "The Healer Within" are all very safe and healing. When an instructor suggests something during the period of the class where new material is inserted that seems too extreme or complex, just relax and drop out of the practice momentarily. Participants should always be encouraged to follow the guidelines regarding going slow, improving gently and staying in the comfort zone.

Unfortunately, exposure to fantastic and unusual practices or skills can engage the ego. Typically, in Qigong, watch for humility and kindness as positive virtues. Boasting, claiming and showing off are not usually expressions of the yielding nature of a great teacher.

Training
There will be opportunities through Health Action and The Institute for Self-Initiated Healing, for training in the basic principles of Qigong, the specific methods in the "Healer Within" and other forms of Qigong practice. If you feel moved to seek deeper learning, please feel free to contact Health Action's Institute for Self-Initiated Healing at 805-685-4670 or email at Healerwithin@healthy.net