Christina J. Barea Young

Daoist Priest - Zheng Yi Sect (China)
Masters in Medical QiGong (China)

• Ordained Daoist Priest, Zheng Yi branch, China; 65th Generation Disciple of Celestial Master Daoism
• Masters of Medical QiGong Therapy - International Institute of Medical QiGong studied with internationally recognized Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson, founder of the IIMQ. This certificate is recognized both in the USA as well as China.
• Director of the Georgia Branch of the International Institute of Medical Qigong
• National Qigong Association Board of Directors - (2008-2011) currently in office
• NQA Certified Level III - Advanced Qigong Instructor/Clinical Practitioner
• Qigong Instructor - University of East West Medicine, Sunnyvale - Fall Term '08
• Master in Brand Management - Istituto Marangoni - Italy
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration - University of Puerto Rico
• Certified Thermo Therapeutics™ Hot Stone Massage Therapist
• Daoist Mysticism - Tian Shi Fu Temple -Jiangxi Provence, China October 2005 & November 2008
• Daoist Mysticism - Qing Cheng Mountain - Sichuan Province, China 2007
• Advanced Medical QiGong - February 2007, International Institute of Medical QiGong
• Fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.
• Mother of a beautiful boy, my "magnum opus", Matteo.

Greetings! and thank you for stopping by to learn more about me. It's now been just over a year since I've been practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. "Y'all" have been such gracious hosts and have made me feel very welcome here. I moved here from California where I also had a very successful qigong practice. In all, I've been practicing for about 9 years and have had the opportunity to treat a wide variety of conditions, teach in many places and meet a lot of interesting people.

I work best with difficult cases, people who have tried other healing modalities and have not had the desired results. Specifically, I've worked with cancer (brain, breast, liver, bone, lung and blood) for the purpose of reducing tumors and/or managing the side-effects of chemotherapy & radiation (specifially addressing neuropathy, hair loss, nauseau, lethargy), depression, transitions from prescription medication to natural medicine, diabetes types I & II, ALS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, pre & post surgery (specifially heart surgery, knee replacement, child birth, stroke, cancer procedures), Crohn's Disease, migraine headaches, digestive disorders, allergies, asthma, gout, strokes (both flaccid and tense), high blood pressure, and more... I've worked mostly with adults, but have to admit that my passion is children.

In terms of teaching, I've taken the message of total wellness and Chinese medicine to the following places:

Georgia

• Virginia College -Augusta, *multiple presentations
• Sutton Middle School - Atlanta, *single presentation
• Phoenix & Dragon Bookstore - Atlanta, *single presentation
• Unity North Atlanta Church, Y.O.U. Group *single presentation
• Westminster School - Atlanta, GA *qigong classes

California

• University of East West Medicine - Sunnyvale, CA *Faculty
• Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy - Los Gatos, CA *series of lectures & demos
• Gardner Family Health Center - San Jose, CA *staff taichi instructor 
• NEC Japanese Electronics - Santa Clara, CA *corporate account
• Polycomm Corp. - Santa Clara, CA *single presentation at employee health fair
• 11th World Congress TCM/Qigong - San Francisco, CA *lecture
• 6th International Daoist Conference - Los Angeles, CA *lecture
• National Qigong Association yearly conference - 2009 California, 2010 Minnesotta
• Mountain View Health Center - Mountain View, CA *staff instructor
• KB Fitness - Los Gatos, CA *staff instructor, weekly qigong classes
• Morning Crane Healing Arts Center -Willow Glen, CA *weekly qigong classes
• Dimensions in Health - San Jose, CA (previous office location)
• Vediya - Los Gatos, CA (previous office location)
• Artemis Healing Center - Los Gatos, CA (previous office location)
• The Awareness Network - Los Gatos, CA *single presentation
• Fujitsu - Santa Clara, CA *single presentation
• Menlo School - Atherton, CA *single presentation to students
• Holistic Fair - California *lectures & demos, multiple
• Google - MountainView, CA *single presentation

"Home", Puerto Rico

A little history on my life:

I was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico a few centuries ago... OK, really it was about 40 years ago. I had a wonderful childhood and spent long days, weeks, months, years soaking up the sun in the Caribbean and spending oodles of time at the beach. I still strongly believe in the cleansing power of the salt water of the ocean. Stronger than any salt bath created with Epsom salts or imported salts from around the World, the warm water of the ocean combined with the soft sand under your feet and the gentle waves breaking softly around you, the warm sun, the light breeze and a fresh coconut. Ok, I'm going home now! You get the idea, a day at the beach is highly therapeutic.

 Well, I had a traditional childhood and played a lot of sports (track&field team, swim team, surfing, sailing). I also learned some arts (drawing, acting, writing). I met people from all over the world many of them just passers by arriving on a cruise ship for a few days, others sailing around the world on yachts or simple sailboats. The Caribbean is a huge melting pot condensed into micro-spots of land. My mother says it best: "The Caribbean region is more than a tropical destination; it is a place where world cultures come together to forge a new identity." The international influence of the Caribbean and Puerto Rico's unique status as half USA-half independent gives its residents a particular taste for all things global. After all, it is an island founded by Italians, Spaniards, Dutch, French, Africans, South Americans, English, and more recently, Americans. So, eventually, I left the island in search of adventure. And that is most certainly what I've had. My journeys have taken me to live in Miami, Italy, New York City, and California. I've visited so many cities around the world I sometimes forget which ones they are. The countries are easier: Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Holland, Jamaica, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Nicaragua, El Salvador. Each place fills my heart with joy and wonder. In fact, one of my wishes is to be able to communicate in every language. What a way to travel the world, speaking every language!! But, I'll have to make it happen on English, Spanish and Italian, although I am trying to learn Mandarin Chinese now -it's going to take some time. And here I am. I consider myself now a child of the world, with a deep appreciation for all life in all its many colors, flavors, textures, identities and so on.

The Dao was a gift... or maybe a lot of hard work? From very early (around 8) I had an interest in exploring the many facets of religion. Again, coming from an ecclectic environment, one is exposed to many different faiths very quickly. What ensued were years of reading about mythology, spirituality, religion, cultural expression and philosophy. Throughout the years, what evolved was a deeper understanding of myself and the complexities of the human condition. While I still have a lot to learn, I'm now at a place which allows me to speak to the many types of people I encounter in my practice, and finding effective ways at communicating the wisdom of chinese medicine to preserve the treasure of life.

The treasure of life is something I value deeply. During most of 2009 and half of 2010 I held a job at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. During that time I met countless women and children who had endured the darkest side of humanity. It made me realize among other things how delicate our lives are, and how unresolved issues can become extremely toxic. That experience allowed me the opportunity to take the gift of life to a different environment for people who were really crying out for help. And at the same time, it restored my own appreciation for what was given to me. Today, my committment is to continue to reach out to all people whose lives are challenged either by health, thoughts, emotions, other people, the environment and more. I firmly believe that through awareness we can effect real change; and that our lives would be greatly improved if we could all be more mindful of the consequences of our decisions.

If you've read this far, then I thank you for your time and interest, and if I can ever be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact me. ~Christina