A

Rpe“sHaw

VOICES

Roger Jahnke, OMD

Conspiracy of Miracles:

Qi, Spirit-Mind-Body, and theTransformation of Healthcare

Interview by Bonnie J. Horrigan Photography by David J. Horrigan

R

Herbal Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he

cIDCat

dntwph

SsowitafaHQsvm

bara, California, in the summer of 2006.

otp

oger Janhke, OMD, has studied andracticed Chinese Medicine since thearly 1970s. He describes it as abeautiful system that honors the per-on at every level—Spirit (the eternal),eartMind (emotions and attitudes),nd Body (the substance)—all infused

ith Qi.”

oger Jahnke, OMD, is a contemporarymultidisciplinarian—a doctor of Chinesemedicine (30 years); CEO of a new erahealthcare company; author, lecturer and

researcher; healthcare historian and futurist; con-sultant to hospitals, agencies, and corporations forthe development of breakthrough programs in in-tegrative medicine; master teacher of Qigong andTai Chi; cocreator of a health and wellness coachingsystem—the Circle of Life; and cofounder of theHealer Within Foundation, which focuses on pre-serving and integrating global medical traditionsand delivers wellness coaching and mind-bodypractice to communities in the United States andglobally.

Dr. Jahnke’s work is part of a dynamic interna-tional effort to understand the “naturally occurring,internal, self-healing resource” that the Chineseand Ayurvedic traditions have called Qi and prana.The core principal of his work proposes that “themost profound medicine is produced within”through a dynamic interaction of energy, con-sciousness, and physiology. This breakthroughmeans that “true healthcare is free” when peopleare simply supported in understanding the magni-tude of their own natural powers and capacities.

Dr. Jahnke studied Chinese medicine at theNorth American College of Acupuncture in Vancou-ver, British Columbia, in 1972. In 1975, he trans-ferred to the Tai Hsuan School of Acupuncture and

tered healthcare revolution, the business w

© 2007 by Elsevier Inc. Printed in the EXPLORE JanUnited States. All Rights Reserved ISSN 1550-8307/07/$32.00

ompleted his master level of study and internship.n 1978, Roger became the first director of theepartment of Oriental Medicine at the Beechwoldlinic in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his doctor-te in Oriental medicine at the California Acupunc-ure College in Los Angeles, California, in 1983.

For the next two decades, Dr. Jahnke was fullyedicated to the clinical practice of Traditional Chi-ese Medicine as the chief physician and adminis-rator of the Health Action Clinic in Santa Barbara,ith an interdisciplinary staff of acupuncturists,hysical therapists, massage practitioners, andealth educators.

Dr. Jahnke is currently CEO of Health Actionynergies. The clinic has transmuted into a con-ulting firm that works with hospitals, healthcarerganizations, agencies, and corporations nation-ide and internationally to integrate the advances

n alternative and complementary medicine. Theraining director of the Institute of Integral Qigongnd Tai Chi and Health Action Synergies’ Instituteor Health and Wellness Coach Training, he is theuthor of two books—The Healer Within and Theealing Promise of Qi. His fascination with Qi andigong has inspired him to take eight research andtudy groups to China to investigate Qi in the uni-ersities, Qigong institutes, temples, and sacredountain sites.EXPLORE interviewed Dr. Jahnke in Santa Bar-

EXPLORE: I started following your work15 years ago. Your expertise ranges—Qiand energy medicine, the consumer-cen-

f integrating complementary and integra-ive medicine, even the convergence ofhysics and consciousness. Let’s begin

ith the changing tide.

47uary/February 2007, Vol. 3, No. 1doi:10.1016/j.explore.2006.11.002

Jatgc

opuacsnseaBtmbeazhatmCpttElmJ1Cifbehtcpe

rmifsfldftb

NtowIetgTcaas

iCcscmatQsfh

fmagcamcEQtJimwCohhfMHwccaStt

tCgbeM(

lYcCariiS

“ktMbpwiTdtri

trtft

tamdfsHffnCiscpfag

4

AHNKE: Healthcare is deconstructingnd reengineering itself. We have provenhat people can heal themselves of thereatest health threats for free. Thishanges everything!

With the arising Spirit-Mind-Body rev-lution, the deconstructive findings ofhysics (now over 100 years ago), a greaternderstanding of the relativity of energynd consciousness, the integration of an-ient and conventional medicine, per-onal Spirit-Mind-Body practice, and well-ess coaching, our wounded healthcareystem may potentially heal itself. Qi andnergy medicine are my personal favoritereas of the emerging new health system.ut even more striking is empowering pa-

ients to become self-directed health opti-izers. Perhaps the most awesome health

reakthrough of the current era is themergence of forces in the health insur-nce marketplace wherein individual citi-ens are now insuring themselves throughealth savings accounts. With self-insur-nce, health and wellness coaching, andhe implementation of energy-basedind-body practices like Qigong and Taihi (also yoga), people are healing andreventing disease for a tiny percentage ofhe cost of postsymptomatic medicalreatment—a kind of practical miracle.XPLORE: What are the most compel-

ing concepts that are driving the transfor-ation in healthcare and medicine?AHNKE: I took my first Tai Chi class in967 in Berkeley. Back then, these ideas—hinese Medicine, Tai Chi, Qigong, med-

tation, the human energy system, drug-ree healing strategies, and the relationshipetween Spirit-Mind-Body—were consid-red esoteric ideas. Today these conceptsave pushed into the culture so efficiently,hey are not esoteric anymore. They areonsidered wise decision making on theart of smart people and innovativemployers.

For thousands of years, the proof of theelevance of Qigong, Tai Chi, and energyedicine was the subjective collection of

mpressions and observations of purpose-ul practitioners. In our culture, such re-earch has historically been perceived asawed. We now have dozens of studiesone in our revered objective-scientificramework on Qigong, Tai Chi, acupunc-ure, and many other holistic and energy-

ased methods and treatment modalities. d

8 EXPLORE January/February 2007, V

According to the former editor of theew England Journal of Medicine, “Once a

herapy or protocol has been tested rig-rously, it no longer matters whether itas considered alternative at the outset.

f it is found to be reasonably safe andffective, it becomes an accepted part ofhe medical system.” Acupuncture, ener-y-based mind-body practice (Qigong,ai Chi, yoga), and a whole array of an-ient and modern modalities of clinicalnd behavioral healing are now accepteds parts of the healthcare and medicalystem.

At our Health Action Synergies trainingnstitutes, we have trained Qigong and Taihi teachers and Circle of Life wellness

oaches who are now working in highchools, churches, social service agencies,orporations, and more. It is not uncom-on for conventional fitness and physical

ctivity classes in spas, community cen-ers, and hospitals to begin or end withigong or Tai Chi. In addition, now thou-

ands of people have been able to actuallyeel the Qi and direct it to others with aealing intent.All of this conspires to create a steady

oundation for an international integratededicine, based on health sustainability

nd operating from fundamentals of ener-etics (energy medicine), cell biology, andonsciousness that will be of lower costnd accessible to all. The key is that peopleake medicine within, for no cost, that

an heal and prevent most diseases.XPLORE: What do we know now aboutigong, Tai Chi, and Chinese Medicine

hat we didn’t know two decades ago?AHNKE: Chinese Medicine is a marvel

n its own right. Acupuncture, the herbaledicines, the manual or body therapies,ith the wellness programs of Qigong, Taihi, meditation, nutrition—it’s a miraclef human insight. This ancient model ofealthcare is helping us redesign ourealthcare system, with a greater wellnessocus. Historically speaking, Chinese

edicine began at least 5,000 years ago.owever, when you look at early Chineseriting, the discussions on herbal medi-ine, energy (Qi) function, and the con-ept of the merging energetics of heavennd the earth were eloquent and refined.cholars suggest that it’s possible, givenhat the conversation was very advanced athe point when writing started, that the

iscussion had been going on for some e

ol. 3, No. 1

housands of years previous. This meanshinese Medicine might have had its be-

innings 10,000 years ago or more. It is aeautiful system that honors the person atvery level—the Spirit (the eternal), Heart-ind (emotions and attitudes), and Body

the substance)—all infused with Qi.The rules of Chinese Medicine are col-

ected in the Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen (Theellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medi-

ine), which is parallel to our Hippocraticorpus. They are similar in historic timend structure—they share a focus on natu-al healing. The first rule in Western med-cine is “First, do no harm.” The first rulen Chinese Medicine is “First, honor thepirit.”The second rule in Chinese Medicine is

Treat individuals while they are well, toeep them well, instead of trying to fixhem after they lose their health.” Chinese

edicine is prevention and well-beingased. And the third rule is “The superiorhysician teaches people to sustain theirell-being.” Chinese Medicine is based on

nforming, inspiring, and empowering.he first three rules do not even mentionisease. Even in the treatment of disease,he focus is on maximizing that which isight, rather than finding and fixing whats wrong.

Our culture is just discovering the ideahat a wellness program may have someelevance, whereas in the Chinese tradi-ion, the wellness program was woven inrom the very first historical instant thathe story of medicine was told.

Go back to Hippocrates; you’ll noticehat there is a rich discussion about Spiritnd the natural capacity for self-sustain-ent and self-recovery. Functional life is

riven by the mysterious presence of aorce—physis—the natural functionality ofystems, including the human system. Soippocratic medicine actually has its

oundation in the idea of maximizingunction, which is exactly the same as Chi-ese Medicine. The key points are (1) inhinese Medicine, the wellness program

s in the delivery system from the first in-tant and (2) the roots of Western medi-ine, as evidenced in the Hippocratic Cor-us, recognize coherent function as aundamental. That means that while Asiannd Western medicine seem quite diver-ent, at their basis both revere well-being

nhancement.

Voices

CipbmloAiQo

dadsIw

dohodfwahhtwfPt

gtaLMCiatSfbmaccpitra

afhmap

Cefldwm

D nhkt lves

V

In the 1960s and as a new doctor ofhinese Medicine in the 1970s, I was ask-

ng the question, why isn’t the medicalrofession implementing well-being–ased healthcare. The concepts of dietaryedicine, meditation, and cultivating a re-

ationship with nature were simply not inur culture at the time. So, at the Healthction Clinic, we instituted natural heal-

ng and wellness. We taught Tai Chi andigong classes and developed a method-

logy for health and wellness coaching.It became clear that everyone has resi-

ent wisdom. Each of us already knows a lotbout health. Implementing resident wis-om turns on the healer within, the naturalelf-healing capacity of the human system.n China, this is known as the medicineithin—a natural inner elixir.The most profound medicine is pro-

uced within the human body for free. Inur conventional medical world view,owever, we have doubted the relevancef inherent or inner knowledge and wis-om; we have historically disassociatedrom natural wisdom and leave peopleith the nail-biting sense that they needn expert to tell them what to do. Theealer within and the medicine withinave been considered unworthy of atten-ion until recently. In fact, the medicineithin is a miracle of human life, a gift

rom God, the architect of the universe.eople are now understanding this andaking action.

So, at the original Health Action Inte-rative Clinic, we developed two powerfulool sets for maximizing the healer withinnd fostering health self-reliance: Circle ofife coaching and an approach to Spirit-ind-Body practice based on Qigong, Taihi, and yoga. Circle of Life coaches assist

ndividuals and wellness groups to lever-ge resident wisdom. It is very similar tohe wisdom circles of traditional cultures.pirit-Mind-Body practice is based on theour self-healing methods of all cultures—ody movement, breath practice, self-assage, and meditation. Both coaching

nd self-enhancing health practices arerafted for application in contemporaryulture from the precious wisdom andractice of the ancients. The breakthroughs that it is easy and the cost is minimal tourn on the healer within. It’s often simplyemembering how much we already know

nd applying it. u

oices

So, the foundation of our clinical model,nd later our consulting and training, is theact that healthcare starts with caring forealth, rather than as a system for financingedical intervention. And Qigong, Tai Chi,

nd health coaching are the foundationieces of wellness. People don’t have to wait

emonstrating the practice of Qigong, Roger Jahrough the practice, people can heal themse

ntil they are sick. Following the rules of m

EXPLORE Jan

hinese Medicine instead of healing dis-ase, we maximize well-being. Having moreun, getting better jobs, making more bril-iant decisions, meeting the lover of ourreams, and making more income becausee have more energy, more insight, andore focus—why wait to get sick to become

e says that “the real miracle of Qigong is that,.”

ore well?

49uary/February 2007, Vol. 3, No. 1

firtlstTWpTtipETJtQfohlpaom

tetvdtabqt

ntesiiIfitiysgtbft

C

wAablQw

dpUtramwv

UoteaCataoIrmifTaN

cUitadwEJsyecWbQsgdt

qmoi

dypedioWawQuo

mmobtYbgoaacvolgmms

norepQ

wpshattmIcT

5

Here’s the punch line. Our culture isnally moving into an awareness of theelevance of well-being sustainment andhat medical intervention should be theast resort. It used to be that people woulday, “As a ‘last resort,’ we’ll have you seehe acupuncturist or practice Qigong.”hose are much better as the “first resort.”e are always talking about the “third

arty.” Well, what about the “first party?”hat’s where all the intelligence, the heart,

he power, and the Qi resides. Health max-mization as the first resort for the firstarty—that is a system that cares for health.XPLORE: Where has the Qigong andai Chi research taken us?AHNKE: The findings of early explora-ions into the basic outcomes of Tai Chi,igong, yoga, and meditation have been

airly robust. The next stage was more rig-rous study designs. These types of studiesave now generated a large body of excel-

ent data, especially on balance and fallsrevention and the prevention and man-gement of heart disease, plus numerousther areas—immunity, neurological andental function, asthma, etc.Traditionally, there has been the idea

hat Qigong and yoga come from highlysoteric traditions and that if you makehem simple and accessible, somethingery critical is lost. I agree that somethingoes get lost. The beautiful philosophy ofhese cultures with their concepts of yinnd yang, the chakras and nadis—thoseodies of information are absolutely elo-uent and rich and should forever be pro-ected and refined.

However, for application to people whoeed to support themselves in recoveringheir vitality—from life-threatening dis-ases, from surgical procedures, or fromtress—it is my personal opinion that theres everything right with creating an Amer-canized version for practical applications.n fact, I would say that when a personnds how much value there is in utilizinghose methodologies, they are all the morenclined to want to know about yin andang, Qi, prana, chakras, and nadis. Inimplifying, something awesome isained—a profound set of accessible toolso apply in very practical situations. And,y the way, this also opens a wider gatewayor people to become more interested inhe deeper levels of this knowledge.

Our Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai

hi (IIQTC), for which I am the director, t

0 EXPLORE January/February 2007, V

as called upon by the National Council onging to look at the idea of generating anpproach to Qigong and Tai Chi that woulde very accessible to people who have abso-utely no interest in Daoist philosophy or

i. Drawing on the best of ancient wisdome created Tai Chi Easy.Tai Chi Easy was implemented in a

emonstration project in which over 400eople participated from all over thenited States. They were able to embrace

he protocol very easily. This was not aandomized trial; however, we did pretestsnd posttests based on respected assess-ent scales. The number of participantsas impressive and the findings were allery positive and significant.The National Council on Aging and theniversity of Illinois took this concept and,ver a period of time, secured a grant fromhe Archstone Foundation for $250,000 toxplore an array of questions about Qigongnd Tai Chi. The IIQTC, the Nationalouncil on Aging, the University of Illinois,

nd the Archstone Foundation convenedhe National Expert Meeting on Qi Gongnd Tai Chi. Thirty-five experts from allver the world gathered at the University ofllinois and came to consensus on how toesponsibly bring Qigong and Tai Chi to theasses. What would a class look like? What

s the least amount of training needed for aacilitator to be competent? And so forth.he consensus document can be reviewednd downloaded at http://TaiChiEasy.org/ational_Expert_Meeting.Two demonstration projects are being

onducted in relation to this. One is at theniversity of Illinois and the other is here

n Santa Barbara at the IIQTC. We areaking the conceptual framework that wasgreed upon by the thirty-five experts andemonstrating the relevance of those ideasith moderately sized populations.XPLORE: Why does Qigong work?AHNKE: There are three levels of an-wers. These same mechanisms operate inoga, all forms of moving meditation, andven holistic support groups and wellnessoaching. The first level is physiological.

e already know that benefits of mind-ody practice, including Tai Chi andigong, cross numerous physiological

ystems. Take oxygen. We know that oxy-en is a powerful healing factor, so weon’t have to prove that. We also knowhat diffusing oxygen into the system, so

hat it’s superavailable, is key. So the real u

ol. 3, No. 1

uestion is: Does Qigong and Tai Chiaximize in some way the utilization of

xygen in all the ways that we know that its utilized? And the answer is yes.

Now, to dispel a myth—breathing deepoesn’t increase the amount of oxygen inour blood. There is actually 98% oxygenerfusion in the blood of almost everyone,ven those with chronic obstructive lungisease. So the issue isn’t getting oxygennto the blood. The issue is getting oxygenut of the blood and into the tissues.hen you go into a deep state of relax-

tion, the gentle movement associatedith all forms moving meditation likeigong, yoga, and Tai Chi cause the nat-

ral body intelligence to pull oxygen outf the blood toward the tissues.Interestingly, when you practice sittingeditation, you lose this benefit. Withoving meditation, you gain this. In vigor-

us exercise, what happens is that oxygen iseing diffused out of the blood and into theissue, but it is spent as fuel for the muscles.ou do get the great muscle buildup desiredy most people. For healing, do I want oxy-en to burn as fuel for muscles or do I wantxygen to be more available in the system ashealing resource? In a state of deep relax-

tion, the blood vessels—particularly theapillaries—get larger and you have a largerolume of oxygen-rich blood available. Thisxygen is available everywhere—in youriver, in your thymus gland, in your adrenallands, in your hypothalamus. So, gentleovement plus the deep relaxation equalsore oxygen diffused more deeply into the

ystem.In the same vein, the science on psycho-

euroimmunology is established. So wenly have to ask one question: do youelax in Qigong and Tai Chi? Yes! So ev-rything we’ve found in the domain ofsychoneuroimmunology is applicable toigong and Tai Chi.The next physiological reason Qigong

orks has to do with the lymph. The sim-lest story on metabolism is “get the goodtuff in, get the bad stuff out.” And weave a massive amount of intelligencebout the blood and the heart, which ishe delivery system for oxygen and nutri-ion. But we don’t know a lot about theechanisms for getting the bad stuff out.

n fact, many physicians are resistant tooncepts like toxins and detoxification.oxins are actually metabolic by-prod-

cts, and detoxification is activating the

Voices

nTptsm

dstslbhi

mpThaoaSoupilwttbiew

aapateamaWpfcdtpnlgoS

ftsiskoQga

“QmpibyEJniayiyaosys

vwceoascattifekTl

aH(T“m

tQttmfibc

etrzlsmftgc

TawHnwooitattHttpteoc

tnhiFit

V

atural capacity of the elimination system.he system for removing metabolic by-roducts and any other kind of pollutionhat has been delivered into the body,uch as cigarette smoke, street drugs, oredical drugs, is the lymphatic system.When a tumor in a person’s body is

econstructed, by chemotherapy or by vi-ualization, how does it get out? Throughhe lymphatic system. Yet we give only amall percentage of the attention to theymph that we pay to the cardiac and thelood system. This is just an insight intoow our thinking has been biased and

mbalanced.If you look at Qigong with the lymph inind, you could easily say that Qigong is

rimarily a lymph-based methodology.here are five components to the lympheart. The first is compression; contractingnd releasing of the muscles puts pressuren the lymph system, causing flow, andny massage contributes to this as well.econd, when you metabolize oxygen,ne of the by-products is water. Any vol-me of water coming into the tissue spacesushes the water ahead of it. Third is thentrinsic propulsion mechanism; theymph vessels open up, reach out, grabater, and pull it in. It actually looks like

hey are doing Tai Chi, by the way. Andhey do this most efficiently when theody is in a state of rest. It’s very interest-ng—within you thousands of lymphaticndpoints are doing Tai Chi movementshen you authentically relax.The fourth mechanism is inversion

gainst gravity. Any time you raise yourrms up in the air, the lymph falls andushes the lymph ahead of it. But if yourrm is down by your side, the lymph haso climb against gravity. Any inversion orven leveling of limbs in Qigong (yoga),ccelerates lymph propulsion. Fifth, theost impressive lymph propulsion mech-

nism of the lymph heart is the breath.hen you take a small breath, you do not

ump lymph. But when the diaphragm isully engaged, it compresses the cisternahylii (a balloonlike sac right below youriaphragm) that fills with lymph fromhroughout the body. When it’s com-ressed, it propels the lymph forward. Theature of the lymphatic system is that

ymph cannot go backwards. There areates. When you move lymph, the gatespen, if lymph flows back, the gates close.

o the balloon gets compressed, and this i

oices

ountain of lymph goes shooting uphrough the thoracic duct and into theubclavian vein, and from there it goesnto the blood and becomes a part of theerum that is delivered to the liver and theidneys for the final detoxifying portionf the elimination process. In other words,igong, Tai Chi, and yoga are pro-

rammed to maximize lymph propulsionnd thus significantly enhance well-being.

The practice ofigong is intended toindfully and onurpose create anncreased harmonyetween yin andang energies.”XPLORE: What is the second level?AHNKE: Qi, energy, life force! The Chi-ese will tell you that the practice of Qigong

s intended to mindfully and on purpose cre-te an increased harmony between yin andang energies. When you compare the solid-ty of the earth with the openness of space,ou get an idea of the difference between yinnd yang. Yang Qi is related to function andpenness and activity, Yin Qi is related toubstance, containedness, and rest. Whenin of earth rises and yang of heaven de-cends, they merge to create life.

Qi is distributed throughout the uni-erse, some speculate that it is associatedith what Einstein called the cosmologi-al constant, a subtle energy that is appar-ntly everywhere in the universe. The Qif the human system derives from Heavennd Earth. Qi is inherent to the humanystem, from the original yin and yang re-eived from one’s parents. We call that Xnd Y DNA. Qi is often called “informa-ion.” It is the essential nature of every-hing to be integrated and communicat-ng. In humans, the Qi segments itself intounctional association with organs and en-rgy channels, but it also gathers in threeey Qi reservoirs called the three Danian. The lower Dan Tian (earth) is be-

ow the belly button, your lower abdom-

nal area. The middle Dan Tian is associ- t

EXPLORE Jan

ted with the heart, the Chinese sayeartMind. And the upper Dan Tian

heaven) is associated with the brain.hese reservoirs are associated with thethree treasures”—Shen-Qi-Jing. Weight say Spirit-Mind-Body.These three reservoirs, associated with the

hree treasures, are the foundation of howigong operates, and they are a parallel sys-

em to the yoga-based chakras. The defini-ion of Dan Tian is beautiful. Dan meansedicine (actually elixir) and Tian meanseld—elixir field. In the Asian paradigm, theody is designed to make medicine that weultivate in the three elixir fields.

The lower Dan Tian makes and stores anlixir for the body, associated with the sub-lest aspects of physical function—the neu-otransmitters, hormones, the DNA, en-ymes, co-factors, etc. Jing, which is theower Dan Tian treasure, is associated withexuality and physical function. The fe-ale holds the integrity of the original yin

orce and the male holds the integrity ofhe original yang force. When those ener-ies meet, you get a new life and a body isonstructed within the Qi field.

The middle Dan Tian is the HeartMind.he Chinese do not have a word for heartnd another for mind. They have oneord, HeartMind—Xin (also hsin). TheeartMind is not the body, but it is alsoot the spirit. Ask yourself this question:hat am I that is not the boundless naturef my spirit and not the substantial naturef my body? Intelligence, emotions, feel-ngs, consciousness, dreams, creativity—allhat is the HeartMind. Panic, paranoia,nxiety, sadness, and confusion. Alsorust, esteem, and courage. Your capacityo focus is HeartMind. Intent and will areeartMind. The HeartMind elixir is really

he essence of Qigong; it heals the charac-er. HeartMind elixir is the capacity to pur-osefully choose what to do, what tohink, and even what to feel. HeartMindlixir is a created through Qigong method-logies that foster the capacity to elect,hoose, and decide.

We all live from our conditioning, evenhe best of us. So Qigong, at this level, isot an exercise associated with the body. Itas an influence on the body, but that

nfluence is mediated through the psyche.or example, the capacity to influence themmune system, heart rate variability, orhe productivity of healing neurotransmit-

ers is directed by the HeartMind.

51uary/February 2007, Vol. 3, No. 1

ttwbhtfi

nvsodhdcidiassumidhstt

titvtpothsEJPwsytmdPoWhb

ee

ppcmc(ae

asBem

pfcnftlpthaiBeEasicJptistrpt

gQcmwwgpyi

ec

dfhtsiapam

tssaptsEJswdbtbs

absstt

QnhslsethkfQuphweth

5

And the upper Dan Tian is associated withhe Spirit. The head is the part of the bodyhat is the furthest from the substantial earthe stand on, the part that is the closest to theoundlessness of heaven. Spirit Qigongelps to answer the question: how can I havehe eternal, spiritual part of myself, that isree from trauma and conditioning, be mak-ng my decisions for me?

Spirit elixir heals everything. Spirit doesot need to be healed, instead it is re-ealed. Because of the ineffable nature ofpirit, this is difficult to articulate. There isne thing that is absolutely clear in all tra-itions of medicine, and that is “firstonor spirit”. One must necessarily un-ergo the healing of the HeartMind (thelearing of mental/emotional condition-ng) to bring forth—reveal—the eternal ra-iant essence of oneself. This means clear-ng feelings, attitudes, opinions, biases,nd traumas that cause one to make deci-ions and act out of accord with the es-ence of one’s wholeness. We all know,nfortunately, how this works. It is com-on to find ourselves acting and thinking

n ways that are not consistent with oureepest self. It is exhausting. So, the pointere is that to fully express our spiritualelf, the golden key is to heal and cultivatehe HeartMind—the character, the mind,he mental/emotional aspect of our being.

Qigong is a power tool for self-observa-ion. Any practice or path that forthrightlynvestigates the difference between condi-ioned nature and the essential nature re-eals spirit and heals trauma and condi-ioning. Use Qigong to get into theresent and disassociate from the regretsf the past and anxieties of the future. Inhe present, Spirit naturally emerges andeals the complexities of the HeartMindpontaneously.XPLORE: The third level?AHNKE: Timeless, boundless being.hysics, the shamanic view, and the greatisdom traditions agree that time and

pace are relative. One hundred and oneears ago, Einstein deconstructed the viewhat time, space, and mass are the funda-entals for how things work. Time and

istance are based only on perception.hysics has been without a clear view forver 100 years—the Mystery rules. In theestern scientific cultures, we tend to ab-

or the Mystery—it is dangerous and must

e solved. In the ancient cultures, how- w

2 EXPLORE January/February 2007, V

ver, the Mystery is the mother ofverything.

Given the findings of later quantum ex-lorers—Hiesenburg (Uncertainy Princi-le, 1927) and Bohr (Indeterminacy Prin-iple)—intention and attention have aajor influence on what probabilities be-

ome actualities. The wave-particle dualitya form of yin and yang) declares that were to some extent creating the world wexperience.

My physics colleagues insist that this isn anthropomorphization of nonhumanystems, but if you look at the Daoist,uddhist, shamanic perspectives, andven democracy, the notion of self-deter-inism prevails.According to the emerging views of

hysics and the wisdom traditions, theundamentals of our world are more likeonsciousness and light. Given time mayot be limited to its perceived trajectory—orward toward the future—we may be ableo heal ourselves by getting into the time-ess present and influencing our own ap-arent past. This adds a special dimensiono Qigong. Not only does the practice en-ance physiological function (level one)nd harmonize Qi (level two), it may alsonfluence our own past to alter our future.ut this is just too much for us to explorefficiently today.XPLORE: Most people think of Qigongs exercise, an activity one does for one-elf. There is also an aspect wherein we cannfluence others through focused intentalled Qi transmission, correct?AHNKE: Qi transmission is not onlyossible, we are doing it all the time. Theransmission of intent as prayer is, accord-ng to the Chinese, Qi transmission. If Iay I am fine but you sense that I am not,hat awareness may be your capacity toead my Qi transmission. When a greatoet or teacher inspires me, that is Qiransmission.

A quick story. I was in China with aroup of people who were learningigong. We were visiting hospitals and

ertain places in the mountains, butostly we were practicing Qigong. Weent to one hospital to meet with a manho ran the Qigong department and heave a beautiful lecture about the omegaoint, which is the place where yin andang meet in balance and harmony. Hisdea was that we move toward that point

hen we are in direct relationship with our o

ol. 3, No. 1

ternal self as opposed to our local, moreonditioned self. It was a beautiful lecture.

Someone in the group requested that heemonstrate Qi transmission so he askedor a volunteer. A woman who had beenaving headaches stood up and he startedo do his Qigong practice near her, withome implication that he was manipulat-ng her Qi. But he said, “I am not doingnything to you. What I am doing is sup-orting you in getting into the omega statend I am going to do that by entering intoy omega state.”Three times he said, “It is not my intent

o do something to you. It is my intent toupport you in doing something for your-elf.” And the woman’s headache wentway and all were impressed. Then on thelane, on the way back home, she told mehat she had to start saving her money sohe could come back to see the Qi master.XPLORE: She missed the point.AHNKE: Yes. The Qigong master hadaid over and over how it works, how heas helping her to do what she could beoing on her own, and then she comesack with that. He was saying that Qiransmission is possible and incredible,ut it is never more important than per-onal Qi cultivation.

I think it’s a great reflection about theverage person’s inability to pay attention,ecause they are so busy trying to findomebody somewhere who will provideomething marvelous and miraculous forhem, as if they didn’t have that some-hing already.

This is one of my favorite stories abouti transmission. Number one: we don’teed a Qi healer. Number two: we are a Qiealer. And number three: we would bestpend our time supporting people inearning about their power to heal them-elves. Qi transmission is interesting andxciting, but the real miracle of Qigong ishat people can heal themselves. Whenealthcare profitability is dependent oneeping people powerless—whether we re-er to a surgeon, an acupuncturist, or aigong healer—the truth about an individ-

al’s power to heal his or her self is re-ressed. My opinion—this is a sin againstuman possibilities. I love the story inhich we let ourselves in on the fact thatvery human being is powerful. To me,he suppression of this fact is the greatestuman tragedy right now, and the greatest

pportunity.

Voices

ErMpaJstfisippmht

pbaswriettsiyassbecitEythJtitaImeppthcslS

(isaimwlcc

“rpmbhaeo

ismhWstsbtcths

pfea

pc“dt

splsDml

mthifdhmtdTtpchEdmctaJafticctC1tpCudmTchw

Cfsfiibf

V

XPLORE: I want to go back to the nar-ow gate and the need to repair the Heart-

ind. Does that happen naturally in thehysical practice of Qigong or is there alsomental practice?AHNKE: The reason why we called myecond book The Healing Promise of Chi ishat there are many promises that are ful-lled when one sustains a cultivation life-tyle. One of these promises is that if you,n good faith, in a sustainable way, do theractice, you will derive benefit. It doesn’tromise a miracle (though small and largeiracles are common). It does promise,

owever, personal improvement or evolu-ion with practice.

As the Spirit is revealed through theractice of present moment focus, theody and mind are healed by the naturalrising of the eternally well aspect of theelf. My sense is that by doing the practice,e put ourselves into a more unrestrained

elationship with the part of our being thats already healed. So, when you stop doingverything else (buying, selling, worrying,hinking, etc.) and you just do the prac-ice, that naturally well aspect of beinghows up more fully. Practice brings younto the harmony point between yin andang and the balance point between pastnd future. When you are truly able toustain the focus on the present, the per-onality and its worst habits are trumpedy the radical and radiant presence of theternal Spirit. Once a person has a signifi-ant experience of this state, they will lovet, seek it out, and even become habituatedo it. This is the healing promise of Qi.XPLORE: Speaking of promise, I knowou are a big proponent of self-determina-ion in healthcare; is there promise inealth savings accounts?AHNKE: A key question in our societyoday is how can we compete and be prof-table? Recently, one of the most awfulhings that ever happened in health insur-nce and also one of the best has occurred.t was originally called cost shifting. Thateans that the companies pay less for an

mployee’s healthcare and the employeeays more. The criticism was that the com-anies were just dumping the cost ontohe employees—big bad companies doingorrible things to innocent people. Let’shange the view. Instead of calling it costhifting and thinking of it as a bad thing,et’s turn it into a brilliant opportunity.

o, here come health savings accounts i

oices

HSAs). It is the same thing; the employees still paying but instead of paying an in-urance company, the money is going intobank account. Now I’ve got my money

n my bank account that is exclusively fory healthcare. The first benefit is thathen I spend, it is a pretax dollar. That’s

ike getting $1.00 worth of services for .75ents. The second benefit is that I am in-entivized to improve myself.

As the Spirit isevealed through theractice of presentoment focus, theody and mind areealed by the naturalrising of theternally well aspectf the self.”Most people are inclined to personal

mprovement and needing less medicalervices, especially when they retain moreoney in their savings account. Caring forealth becomes wise retirement planning.hile companies are shutting down pen-

ions, they are opening up HSAs. The facthat the company is no longer taking re-ponsibility for us in our old age is notad. In fact, you could say that companiesaking responsibility for people’s healthompromises independence and self-de-erminism. Life, liberty, and the pursuit ofappiness is not somebody else’s respon-ibility, it is my opportunity.

So, instead of being disempowered,eople are now more encouraged byorces in the market place to become morempowered and more self-reliant. Person-lly, I see that as a brilliant breakthrough.

I am interested in people and in theower that people have to refine how so-iety and culture work. Like Gandhi said,Become the world you want to see.” Let’so that. Every time the healthcare indus-ry precludes people from self-reliance, it

s a kind of crime. When companies re- I

EXPLORE Jan

trict employee self-reliance, it is counter-roductive; when they foster self-reliance,et’s celebrate. So, I wouldn’t call this costhifting. Ask: does this empower people?o HSAs make it so that people whoake better decisions can have a better

ife?Given that you can heal yourself andake medicine within, at home for free,

here is a possible conspiracy of wonderere. This conspiracy leveraged efficiently

nto the market has the potential to trans-orm this culture. With HSAs, a personoes not need permission to use holisticealthcare and trigger a third-party pay-ent. The first party makes the payment,

he first party sets up the appointment andecides how often to go, and who to go to.he first party decides to get healthier so

hat he or she needs less medical visits,retax dollars grant an automatic dis-ount. This scheme is aligned with naturalealing and human empowerment.XPLORE: I know you help businessesesign wellness and productivity enhance-ent programs and health systems design

omplementary and alternative-integra-ive medicine (CAM/IM) centers. Whatre you seeing?AHNKE: With my experience as head ofdepartment at the Beechwold Clinic

rom 1977-1980 and then as director ofhe Health Action Clinic, we created anntegrative medicine framework includinglinical pathways for acupuncture, physi-al therapy, occupational therapy, bodyherapy, coaching and group support, Taihi, Qigong and meditation. Starting in990, I continued to refine these strategieshrough the Health Action consulting androgram design work. At Health Actionlinic, we had a rule—we will not treat younless we have communication with youroctor. So integration with conventionaledicine was built into our infrastructure.he foundation of this work and our keyonsulting deliverable is a process thatonors all stakeholders involved in a newellness or CAM/IM initiative.It is widely known that many of theAM/IM centers developed in the 1990s

ailed. One of my best clients has been aix-hospital system in Virginia that has atness center with every hospital. Interest-

ngly, they did well because they did notuild a CAM center. I watched thoseailed CAM/IM centers come and go and

consulted against CAM therapeutics in

53uary/February 2007, Vol. 3, No. 1

mtl

oetatsbdBtbbl

EsiAefisoawspwBinTbtwbsacf

ttsyahtwvtt

r

haAgtti

fpcctpibswitpaEaJssmpfodadbtlaipmbQombpaTctoEeJpc

es

Cci(eOtogtEtpJappccosmgwnkgfnctpTpfl

tpuBagtl

FHnCaW

5

any instances. One organization calledheir CAM/IM failure the $6 million dol-ar learning.

What got left out was the simple processf getting buy–in from obvious stakehold-rs—a critical oversight, the difference be-ween success and catastrophe. Never donything provocative without enrollinghe enthusiasm of the most importanttakeholders. Many of these centers wereuilt when good-hearted philanthropic in-ividuals gave multimillion-dollar gifts.ut the vetting of the plan often missed

he most important step of getting theuy–in of all the parties who were going toe providing the referrals. Millions of dol-ars were wasted.

Another thing happened too. Davidisenberg did those two profound water-hed studies (New England Journal of Med-cine, 1993 and JAMA: the Journal of the

merican Medical Association, 1997). How-ver, did people actually read them care-ully? In my opinion, no. Were they mis-nterpreted? Yes, immensely. I read thosetudies carefully and reported on this to allf my clients, and they did well by payingttention. Truth is, the big breakthroughas not alternative therapies. It was citizen

elf-determinism. Less than 15% of theeople in those studies actually used whate would call nonconventional therapies.ut over 85% of the people in those stud-

es used what we would call alternative oronconventional health behaviors. Yoga,ai Chi, vitamins, weight loss, biofeed-ack, counselors—these are behaviors, notherapies. So the public was saying, “Weant a new healthcare system rooted inehaviors and life choices and based onelf-reliance.” They did not say, “We wanthealthcare system based on alternative

linical therapies.” This is a profound andrequently missed point.

During the early 1990s, a research ques-ion was asked, “What is the most impor-ant thing in healthcare to you.” The an-wer was “Chose my physician.” Threeears later, the same question was askednd the answer was “A wide array ofealthcare choices.” The finding was nothat people want alternative medicine, itas simply that they want access to a di-ersity of behavioral and wellness serviceso complement and integrate with allherapeutics.

Isn’t that amazing? One of my clients

ight now is a consortium of 30 Catholic a

4 EXPLORE January/February 2007, V

ealthcare organizations in Cleveland,nd they are building what is called thebundant Living Model. They have inte-rative therapeutics in the discussion, buthe core of the system focuses on the facthat a person is a spiritual being—first rulen Chinese Medicine.

Another of my clients is a major manu-acturer that grants $1,000 per year to em-loyees to buy wellness services of theirhoice. What I have seen with most of myonsulting clients, whether they start outhinking that they want CAM/IM thera-ies or a wellness program, is that most

nitiatives want two basic services—mind-ody practice and wellness coaching. It iso much easier to inspire people to remainell than to fix them of life threatening

llness after their health is lost. These arehe least costly (coaching and mind-bodyractice are delivered in groups) and theyre the most empowering.XPLORE: What is your personal edge inll of this?AHNKE: More and more, I am able toustain a sense of the eternal aspect of my-elf that is boundless and eternal. Througheditation and Qigong, I am—like an as-

iring alchemist—intending to make goldrom the rough ingredients of myself. I amvercoming my addiction to feelings ofoubt. I am electing to focus on gratitudend set my intentions with purposefulnessaily. I have stopped listening to bad newsecause I can hear more of the good newshat is happening all around me. Because Iove my work as a kind of inspired play, Im making more friends with the peoplen the holistic field—playmates toward areferred new world where the best in hu-an nature is cultivated for the good of all

eings. Every day in my practice ofigong, I learn more about the cultivation

f inner peace. And I am enjoying learningore about transmitting prayer and intent

y visualizing others—people I know, peo-le I do not know, and world leaders—cting from their own spiritual nature.here is a distant Qi transmission practicealled light delivery method wherein I prac-ice seeing people in their perfect state,verflowing with light.XPLORE: That’s nice. To visualize oth-rs in a perfect state.AHNKE: It takes little time and no ex-enditure of energy, and it is absolutelyost free to send a wave of Qi and intent to

nother. Nor does it take any real time or F

ol. 3, No. 1

nergy to acknowledge my gratitude andet my own intentions.

In one of the great wisdom texts of thehinese, it says, “Make a medicine of the

hallenge.” So, I am creating a new habitn my life—to make medicine within, evenor especially) when I am challenged. It isasy to discuss, but not always easy to do.ne of the promises is that if we “become

he world we want to see,” it builds a wavef possibility, which can trend towardreater and greater probability and finallyo actualization.XPLORE: So what is the bridge between

he profound and deep, and the veryractical?AHNKE: The most practical concernsbout profitability in business, as well aseace in our world, require vitality androductivity. The deepest, most profoundoncerns for human nature require over-oming our conditioning and revealingur true nature. In both cases, the keytrategy or method is to choose to becomeore conscious. This is not a medical pro-

ram, it is not a treatment—it is more aell-being maximization lifestyle, simulta-eously practical and profound. The firstey piece is to have a system for achievingreater personal effectiveness and livingrom purpose. This is coaching and well-ess support. People are gathering in cir-les to support each other and reach forhe purposeful life. The second key is aractice of self-care and self-realization.his means having a Spirit-Mind-Bodyractice. The yoga revolution is in fullorce; Qigong and Tai Chi are buildingike a benevolent tidal wave.

The most profound medicine is not athe drugstore or the doctor’s office. It isroduced within us for free, through a nat-ral interaction between the Spirit-Mind-ody. The magnitude of good that canrise from this simple concept is huge—ood for people, families and communi-ies, and good for business and the bottomine.

or more information, please visitealth Action at http://HealthAction.et; Institute of Integral Qigong and Taihi at http://IIQTC.org; Tai Chi Easy

t http://TaiChiEasy.org; The Healerithin Foundation at http://HealerWithin

oundation.org; or http://FeeltheQi.com.

Voices