Constructive Life Learning Center
Continuing education program in traditional Chinese medicine


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Going deeper - by integrating knowledge with experience
Our goal is to open access to advanced levels of proficiency in the healing arts. Quite often, more proficiency means a deeper grasp of the base material and not only a greater quantity of information. In our courses, we present foundational learning in key areas of traditional Chinese medicine that are equally applicable to the novice as well as the experienced practitioner. We take the time for a practical, step-by-step approach allowing each participant’s experience to lead the way to new understanding for a well integrated learning experience. This helps the practitioner to develop their own internal guidance system to help her or him more effectively benefit from the many external sources of information (books & teachers) and more directly relate to the energies underlying each patient.

Becoming an instrument of Healing
Recognizing the subtle power in the reflective dynamic of Qi, the therapist works internally to assist externally, awakening the patient’s innate power of healing. We therefore emphasize Qigong training and developing a balanced lifestyle for the practitioner so their health is strong, their minds & hands sensitive and their life a source of harmonious and sustainable energy. Our courses are carefully organized using various teaching aids including hand-outs, audio-visual materials and textbooks. We regularly adapt them according to the needs of the participants and based on the feedback provided from our student evaluation forms.

We are now fully certified with ASCA as a school of TCM continuing education.
Faculty bio, see Staff; for Tuina, see also: Ayun-Terapia

Contact us to receive our announcements of all future programs.


Program of upcoming 2012 courses:

Natural Tools of health assessment, the Pulse: June 1-2
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Traditional Chinese Massage - Introduction to Tuina: June 8-9 & 16
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Traditional Chinese Massage - Tuina for Back pain: June 23-24
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Traditional Chinese Massage - Tuina for Headache & Digestion: July 7-8
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Crane Style Qigong with Daoshing Ni: September 29
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Clinical support for the Acupuncturist: October 26-28
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Qigong for Healers: November 23-25
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Auricular Therapy: December 14-16
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Tao of Nutrition
Part I - A Taste for Health
An interactive workshop to discover the true value of food
This workshop introduces us to a beneficial way of eating according ancient Taoist principles and modern nutritional science. A good meal takes preparation, sharing & clean up. In this workshop, we prepare ourselves by clarifying our goals and learning the basic principles of a balanced way of eating, then share our stories with food & eating and finally clean-up the blockages keeping us from choosing a life-fulfilling path of healthy food. We will explore taste testing to develop our internal laboratory of food analysis, examine the basic qualities of the food groups and learn various methods to help construct a balanced diet.

We combine raw information, a drop of experimentation and some well-seasoned instruction - a balanced recipe for a knowledgeable & transformative experience - in addressing the following topics:

How does the mind & emotions affect our relationship to food and food cravings?
How does the social culture and eating environment affect our digestion?
What gives food its nutritive quality & how can we learn to taste it and see it?
Why are some substances particularly detrimental to our health?
How can we adjust old recipes to be part of a better way of eating?
What strategies can help in making a change in dietary habits?
How do we adjust our diet to the seasons as well as our to own internal changes?


Part II - The energetics of Food
In this second part of our Tao of Nutrition series, we review the healthful qualities of nearly 100 common foods presenting the traditional analysis of Chinese Taoist medicine as well as some aspects of modern nutritional science. We will introduce a few Chinese food-herbs and show how they have been used for centuries as an extension of dietary therapy. We will also discuss general guidance on how various food preparations change the energy & quality of food and examine the relative benefits of different recipes.

Some topics covered in this workshop:
How do we adjust the diet based on the seasons, age, gender or constitution?
What are some especially damaging substances to our health?
What are some especially beneficial foods that promote health & longevity?
What are the key health properties of many of our common foods?


Part III - Chinese Nutritional Analysis
This workshop teaches how to assemble dietary programs from the clinical perspective of Zang-Fu diagnosis. We work back to review what foods, food-herbs & supplements, food preparation methods & other eating habits would most aggravate or ameliorate the condition. This results in a well-constructed plan for individual patients to assist in improving their constitutional imbalances or aid their recuperation from any disease. Pre-requisite: Tao of Nutrition Part I & II, or equivalent.

Who can benefit from this workshop?
For the professional therapist with knowledge of TCM Zang-Fu diagnosis to assist their patients with healing dietary plans for all disease conditions.

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Auricular Therapy
December 14-16; Friday: 18h30 - 20h30, Sat-Sun: 8h30 - 12h30 & 13h30 - 16h30
CHF 420.-, with registration by November 12, Location: Chi Rivers, Geneva

This workshop aims at providing the health professional and particularly the acupuncturist with a supplemental, convenient and simplified venue for gaining diagnostic & therapeutic results. Auricular therapy, including massage, acupuncture, and embedding of therapeutic devices in the ear ("press-tack" needles, seeds, or magnets) , is excellent for ease of application & simplified management. Auricular therapy can be applied to persons confined to wheelchairs, for emergency first aid with minor accidents, during continued patient activity such as for for the purposes of combining other physical therapies (massage, stretching, etc). It also contributes to confirm or focus the diagnostic protocol with easily appreciated visual, palpable or electrical evidence. This weekend provides all you need to practice using a refined & proven methodology of incremental learning that progresses by alternating practical discovery with introduction of new material.

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Natural Tools of health assessment, the Pulse
June 1-3; Friday: 18h30 - 20h30, Sat-Sun: 8h30 - 12h00 & 13h00 - 16h30
CHF 420.-, with registration by May 1, Location: Chi Rivers, Geneva

Pulse reading is a primary method of traditional Chinese medical diagnosis that can be used by acupuncturists, health care practitioners or those involved in self-healing. In this workshop, we take a highly experiential approach to learning basic and advanced material. We harmonize seemingly conflicting historical theories and present a well constructed method of pulse taking. We will also introduce short exercise & meditative practices that aid and illuminate pulse work. Not limiting ourselves to the 28 traditional pulse characteristics, we seek to help practitioners to a direct channel of communication to their patients’ internal energy environment. If you are frustrated, lost or curioius to learn more about pulse work, this workshop can transform a pulse-by--number approach to the living art that it is and provide you with the keys to continue a reliable life-long study.

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Qigong for Healers series
Crane Style Qigong with Daoshing Ni
September 29, 08h30 - 12h00 & 13h00 - 16h30
CHF 180.- with registration by August 27, Location: tbd, Geneva
. . . read more


Qigong for Healers series
Support for the practitioner and the Healing Space
November 23-25, Friday: 18h30 - 20h30, Sat-Sun: 8h30 - 12h30 & 13h30 - 16h30
CHF 420.-, with registration by October 22, Location: Chi Rivers, Geneva

This workshop includes theory & practice for: energy dynamics & postural mechanics for healers, rooting, self-discovery of acupuncture channels & points, the nature of the healing process, self-protection and cleansing of negative energy. We will draw from the principles regulating energy flow that are common to both TCM and Feng Shui to enhance the physical environment for therapy as well as the internal environment of the therapist. The workshop is suitable for anyone involved in healthcare, especially those who apply direct physical methods such as acupuncture, massage, reiki, or bodywork of any type (also see Qigong Therapy).

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Clinical support for the Acupuncturist
October 26-28, Friday: 18h30 - 20h30, Sat-Sun: 8h30 - 12h30 & 13h30 - 16h30
CHF 420.-, with registration by September 24, Location: Chi Rivers, Geneva

A traditional acupuncture training program usually includes a year of clinical study to gain confidence and perfect the techniques of diagnosis and needling, and realize the truth of medical theories as they exist in live patients. It is an important time to learn a great amount of practical material, receive confirmation of what you have already learned and discover where you still are lacking. This weekend aims for towards these goals. Each participant is asked to gather all their questions about the practice of acupuncture; none being too small or too grand. During the weekend, we will intersperse details of point location review, refinement of needling technique, and key points of theory with open-ended question & answer sessions. We will also share practical clinical information such as how to achieve greater control and better results in needling, how to have more efficient & directed patient interviews and how to establish closer rapport & achieve greater patient compliance. We will adjust our program (more time needling, reviewing diagnostic details, point location, point function, etc) depending on group priorities.

We will review specific locations and safe & effective needling from amongst the following: Taiyang - M-HN-9, Fengchi - GB 20, scalp & face points, Jianjing - 21, Dazhui - Du 14, Baliao - eight sacral foramen points, Hua-Tou Jia-Ji points, Lieque - Lg 7, Er Xiyan - two eyes of the knee points, and three points of the shoulder joint (Jianyu - LI 15, Jianliao - SJ 14, and Jianqian - M-UE-48).

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Traditional Chinese Massage - Tuina
A co-production with Ayun-Terapia
See: Ayun-Terapia for complete program details.

- Introduction to Chinese massage: June 8-9 & 16
- Tuina for back pain: June 23-24
- Tuina for headache, and problems of the digestion: July 7-8



Qigong & Self-cultivation
Our ongong weekly courses in Qigong (see: Current Schedule) provide therapists with a solid base of self-support that makes them more effective in their interactions with patients and better able to perform their therapeutic techniques.

Therapists who choose our weekly Qigong courses as continuing education must take a minimum of twenty hours of weekly courses and submit a Personal practice report every three months. This level of committment allows them to enter the College of Tao / Chi Heatlh certification programs as well.

You or your patients may also be interested in our women’s health program: Flow of Life, three self-help seminars that are an excellent practical introduction to TCM gynecology.

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