Sherwood Institute for Healing Arts
The educational institute at Sherwood Healing Arts aims to preserve and spread high-quality training in natural medicine and the healing arts in Ireland.
The primary emphasis of the institute is Chinese Medicine as an incredibly deep and rich medical tradition that offers an extraordinary path of skills to master. Embarking on a path of practitionership in Chinese Medicine is a life’s journey, one that is as much about self-cultivation and spiritual growth as it is about health and healing.
Self-cultivation is regarded as a fundamental component for skilful practitionership and therefore, Daoist Arts of Qigong and Neigong will be a core element for all professional programmes alongside rigorous academics and the continual practice of therapeutic, energetic and clinical skills.
Programmes supporting spiritual practices and self-cultivation with meditation, Qigong and Neigong are available for both students of professional training programmes and those simply seeking personal growth and healing.
Acupuncture – 3 Years Diploma
The practice of Acupuncture has undergone significant changes in the last century as authorities in China sought to radically and rapidly modernize many aspects of their culture. Following a major overhaul of their healthcare, their own medical tradition of Acupuncture was stripped back to a simpler and more commodifiable version that was then ironically christened Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), although this is in fact, a relatively recent development. While TCM does still contain many essential elements of Acupuncture theory and practice, it has, in this form, arguably lost much of its heart and soul. In response to this, there is a growing renaissance world-wide that seeks to reclaim, revive and preserve the deeper teachings and skills of practitionership, generally referred to as Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM).
At Sherwood Healing Arts, we are dedicated to studying, researching, practicing and teaching Chinese Medicine in a way that honours the more esoteric heart and soul of this medical tradition whilst rigorously training students in the extant medical theory and clinical skills necessary for competent practitionership. As such, we aim to pioneer a new programme in Ireland that embraces and teaches both TCM and CCM with a consistent focus on self-cultivation throughout.
Programme syllabus coming soon, details TBC
Please email us with your expression of interest as places will be limited.
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- REGISTRATION PAGE: Acupuncture – 3 year diploma
Module 1
Chinese Herbal Medicine – 2 year diploma in CHM
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a rich tapestry of medical lineages and navigating the diverse range of schools of thought and clinical application can be baffling for a newcomer to this healing art. Stephen Schleipfer and Freya Sherlock have extensive knowledge and experience of both the more modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach and the much older, original Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM).
In this new course, they aim to offer a pioneering approach to learning Chinese Herbal Medicine in Ireland, one that is deeply rooted in studying the classics that form the bedrock of CHM (but which are rarely taught in modern programmes) whilst giving a rigorous course of study in all aspects of the theory, practice and clinical application of CHM. Students will work towards developing an advanced understanding of diagnostics and internal energetics so they are equipped to prescribe herbs at a highly competent level. Student clinics will operate in conjunction with the Sherwood Cottage Hospital project.
This course is for qualified acupuncturists only.
Programme syllabus coming soon, details TBC
Please email us with your expression of interest as places will be limited.
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REGISTRATION PAGE: Chinese Herbal Medicine – 2 year diploma
Module 1
Graduate Mentorship Programme
Graduates of Chinese Medicine colleges often find it difficult to bridge the gap between their formal training and developing confident proficiency in professional practice. At Sherwood Healing Arts, we are committed to providing an inspiring and supportive selection of CPD programmes to facilitate bridging this gap and help graduates transition successfully to becoming accomplished practitioners of Chinese Medicine.
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- REGISTRATION PAGE: Clinical Supervision Intensive
Foundations in Neigong with Sophie Johnson
Nei Gong is a transformative system of alchemical energy work; working with the body, breath and mind to awaken spontaneity, change and deeper self-expression.
To initiate and support this process we use a variety of tools. Bodywork and conditioning, theory, meditation, Qi Gong and its forms, Dao Yin (guiding and leading) and transmission are used to facilitate this journey. Sophie teaches the process of Nei Gong she has studied with her teacher Damo Mitchell in a systematic and classical way. Sophie is a Senior Teacher for Lotus Nei Gong and aims to pass the teaching and transmission she has been so blessed to receive, onto her students in the clearest way possible. It is something she feels deeply about, it has profoundly deepened her spiritual journey and as such she sees it as a great treasure and privilege to be able to pass it on.
The fundamentals of the Nei Gong process involve working diligently with the physical body, regulating the breath, awakening the energy body, and purging toxins from the mind and body. The body needs be to opened and conditioned to allow the increase in energy to pass through efficiently once the energy body has been awakened. The breath must be regulated to soften the rhythm of movement of Qi through the system, and increasingly tensions in the mind and heart need to be shed. To do this we use stretching, standing postures, breath-work, Dao Yin (leading and guiding) forms, and foundation Qi Gong forms to balance the Jing Luo (acquired meridian systems). Great attention is given in classes and retreats to these fundamentals, which are often overlooked. Learning to stand with correct alignments, the attention to the physical body, understanding and applying the process of Sung (systematic release of tension physically, energetically and spiritually) and purging of stagnation from the system.
After these vital foundations have been established there are practices specific to women, connecting to the breasts, uterus and working a little earlier with the heart.
Nei Gong is best suited for those adventurous in spirit, with a capacity for discipline, looking for internal transformation, and spiritual development. The signs of progression initially manifest in the body similar to the Kriya’s in Yoga. There is no need to wonder if energy is moving, the signs are perfectly clear! We train seriously but have a lot of fun in our classes and retreats, everyone soon learns to not take themselves to seriously as we are all learning and releasing nonsense together!
If you are new to Neigong, please read the article below before booking:
Neigong is a challenging and intense process, suited only to those who are really looking for transformation. We advise that anyone considering taking such a study as Neigong really enquire honestly what outcomes they are after… stress reduction or transformation?
If you are already a practitioner and know that you are looking to go deeper, want an honest, open and kind environment to do it in, with a focus on body/energy techniques, then the Neigong process may suit you, it’s not for the faint of heart, it is often confronting, difficult and uncomfortable. Once the Neigong process has become active, everything will accelerate, enabling deep and real change.. with which, of course, comes challenges.
Pain (physical, emotional, mental) is going to be part of any transformative practice, it’s an indication of tension/conflict which, when dispersed correctly, is part of the healing process.
In other words don’t go and learn flower arranging when our ultimate goal is to understand the complexity of the soil. If you are after techniques to apply to a stressful period of life, to calm down a little, to improve the quality of the muscle in your bottom, or a new hobby/holiday, then there are many other far more efficient teachers and courses for such things. Neigong training may not suit you.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for truth, for an uncompromising approach to your inner life, to having a continued and active practice, looking to find a teacher or a course that takes you to your personal edge within an atmosphere of compassionate commitment to truth, then this may be the school for you. For it is only at your edge that you can transform.
It needs to be an approach that makes us uncomfortable, either emotionally and/or physically, where the teaching and the teacher has an earthed, honest approach with a sense of humour! For safeguards look for a lack of pretentiousness, a lack of focus on money, humility about their attainments, and abundant humour. These are things that are in abundance with the Lotus Neigong school, and equally, are what you will find here training with Sophie at Sherwood Healing Arts.
This statement is not intended to be remotely offensive to anyone, but we do have a duty of care and need to ensure that the training is conducive to those participating. Kindness and heartfulness are central to our teaching – please know that if this type of training appeals to you, you will be very welcome…all of you.
NB Neigong is definitely NOT suitable for those who:
- Are under 18 yrs old
- Are pregnant
- Have a heart condition
For further information, please visit https://sophieneigong.com
NEXT START DATE: November 2020
DURATION: 3 years
COST: €1250 per annum
LOCATION: Sherwood Healing Arts
REGISTRATION PAGE: Neigong Foundations