A Quiet Revolution
If this was my husband’s blog, he’d probably have lots of entries about Ba gua, the martial art he’s been practicing for a number years. Like him, many of our friend’s study Ba gua, mostly because they recognize the mastery of the man who teaches it, and they understand what an opportunity it is to learn from him.
The teacher, who came to Floyd 5 years ago via Blacksburg and the Southwest before that, is also a Chinese Medicine Practitioner. Like his Ba gua students, his patients also recognize the beneficial opportunity to be treated by him. I know because I am one such patient (and not a Ba gua student). For more than a year I drove twice a month to the rented home he works out of to receive traditional Chinese Medicine treatments, which could include acupuncture, cranial sacrum work, tuina (deep body work), bone setting, and the use of herbal infusions.
This past weekend my husband and I attended an open house to celebrate a newly built Floyd clinic for Chinese Medicine. You probably won’t find the clinic in the phone book, at least not yet. I’m not using names for a reason. The building was largely manifested by way of community support. The teacher and the teacher’s teacher, who was also in attendance, both shy away from special attention and shun promotion. Yet, their popularity has created a word-of-mouth culture. A quiet revolution.
Looking around at the population of patients and Ba gua students (some of which are one in the same) that has been generated by a tradition and one teacher’s sharing of it, I was amazed. The beauty of the building reflected the healing energy cultivated and shared amongst the people who were gathered in it. 
Apparently, the large room where Ba gua is practiced has great acoustics. Listening to my friend Dorian sing made me look to see if she was wearing a mic. Sweet music filled the air as children spun and people snapped pictures.
In the kitchen, the loud hum of talking could be heard as people filled their red picnic plates with organic chicken, sushi rolls, and all manner of in-season fruit and vegetables from the potluck table. There were vases full of roses in every room. I know because I made it a point to admire and smell them all. 
With a waiting list of a hundred that he has no choice but to turn away, Floyd’s Chinese Medicine Practitioner is training apprentices as fast as he can, he told me. His current 2 apprentices can do about 75% of various techniques he uses, he said.
I think I spoke for most everybody when I responded, “That’s great, but when I come for treatments I want that 25% that only you can do.”
Photo: Tamra is a gymnast. Photo #3 was taken from behind a glass window.
June 14th, 2006 9:26 am
That is a beautiful building! Wonderful what you can find in Floyd!
June 14th, 2006 9:36 am
Is that you, standing on your hands??
June 14th, 2006 10:50 am
What a great benefit for those of you in Floyd. We sure could use something like that here in Cedar Key. Enjoy it and keep us posted.
June 14th, 2006 11:06 am
I am so moving to Floyd! 😉 Your community just seems to authentic.
Is Tuina similar to Rolfing?
Loved the email you sent me…..
June 14th, 2006 11:20 am
Hi Nancy,
I had to google it. Here’s some good links. It’s pronounced “twee-nah” and means push and pull or push and grab.
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/tuina.html
http://qi-journal.com/TCM.asp?-token.SearchID=TuinaFAQ
http://www.planetherbs.com/articles/tuina.html
June 14th, 2006 11:59 am
what a wonderful place.
floyd always sounds amazing but it just gets better and better! how fortunate you are. lovely. thank you 🙂
June 14th, 2006 12:37 pm
Wow. What a neat looking (and sounding) place! Lucky you to live in such a community.
Years ago during a college class I was suffering from a horrendous migraine. My sign language teacher called me up to the front of the class to demonstrate accupressure. I swear on my mother’s peaceful grave my pain was completely gone inside of 20 minutes after he finished working his magic on my neck and head.
Anyone who has true migraines will attest to the fact that usually nothing but heavy duty narcotics will ease that sort of pain.
I was amazed!
(Colleen – thanks so much for your kind comments and caring during my recent ordeal; muchly appreciated!)
June 14th, 2006 4:17 pm
Very cool!
June 14th, 2006 8:58 pm
What a beautiful building, both outside and in. I’m sure your husband will be very happy studying there.
June 14th, 2006 9:12 pm
There always seems to be something new in Floyd.
What a great group!
June 14th, 2006 10:39 pm
How much cooler can Floyd get? I just stay jealous of you….
June 15th, 2006 12:07 am
And Floyd goes up another notch in being outstanding. What a clean pure feeling of space. Word of mouth getting that much community response is fabulous.
June 15th, 2006 5:54 am
I am always amazed when I read about all the diverse things that happen in and around Floyd..It certainly seems to be a place to be Creative in whatever your “Art” is…including Chinese Medicine…! And I love that you know about all of it and partake of all of it!
June 15th, 2006 9:42 am
What a gorgeous building! Your town is so very progressive 🙂