Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Blane.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey of practicing Asian healing arts, as well as martial arts, spans over 30 years. Along the way, I was introduced to qigong and became fully immersed as I began to see the transformational power and benefits of qigong in my life. I spent time in China to explore Zhineng Qigong in even more depth with the expert teachers there. My teachers in China encouraged me to share qigong with others by becoming a teacher myself, and that’s what I did.
In 2003, I completed a Zhineng Qigong teacher training program and began teaching qigong classes in Hawaii and San Diego. After completing advanced training, I began to also offer workshops and retreats. Today, I continue to offer qigong classes and workshops in person in the San Diego area and through online classes.
The modern world is filled with many challenges. My hope is that I can help others live a healthier and happier life through the benefits of qigong. I delight in supporting my students in all walks of life by presenting qigong in a fun and easily accessible way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In my early life, I experienced turbulent times. Nature was a safe place for me, and that is where I took comfort. Among the blue skies, trees, earth, and ocean, I felt at home. The natural world influences the wisdom of many healing arts, especially qigong. It was natural that my own self-healing journey in the Asian healing arts ultimately led me to discovering qigong and becoming a teacher myself.
When I started teaching, I noticed the difficulties Westerners had in understanding the theories of qigong, which are important to learn to get the most benefit from the practices. The ancient history of qigong and Chinese culture are rich and complex and very much intertwined. The word and concept of qi are part of everyday life in China. In the West, it is a foreign concept. I devised ways, mostly through storytelling, to impart qigong wisdom so that the Western mind could absorb it.
It has been a fully life-changing privilege to have qigong in my life. It has provided unwavering support to our family during illnesses, injuries, and other challenges. During the easy times and the hardest times, we have turned to qigong for the calming and grounding benefits. It helps us meet whatever is happening with an open heart and mind. As my husband and I age, we feel sure that qigong will help us continue to greet life as it comes and to be of service.
I am deeply indebted to past teachers and those who helped me reach this point in my own journey. That is why I feel so compelled to share qigong with others.
We’ve been impressed with Qigong for Life, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Qigong is a powerful tool which activates the conscious mind and awakens expanded perception, mindfulness, and self-realization. The body and mind are engaged and united, which naturally creates an exquisite opportunity for healing on all levels.
Currently, I offer online and in-person qigong classes in the San Diego area with occasional workshops with registration available through my website, qigong-for-life.com. Classes are available for everyone, no matter your physical condition or experience. With qigong classes, you can expect to practice standing, seated, and sometimes lying down. Qigong can also be adapted to your physical ability and often includes breathing and meditation exercises. The main thing needed is just an open mind and the willingness to learn.
In-person classes are given at the Elfin Forest Qigong Studio, a beautiful straw bale building in rural North San Diego County surrounded by an abundant fruit orchard and beautiful landscape.
I encourage students to practice within a group setting to experience the benefits of the collective qi. There’s nothing like the community you find when you practice together with others!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.qigong-for-life.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qigongforlife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qigongwithmarthablane
Image Credits
Nat Warr Photography
Suzie Kaplan
L. Wittwer
