LIZ WELCH  DS, MRSS(T)

Liz is engaged full-time in the study, practice and teaching of Oriental energetic development and healing systems, in the form of Shiatsu, Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation.

She has been practising meditation since 1985 and Tai Chi and Qigong since 1992. She has had training in Psychosynthesis counselling skills and has experience in adult education teaching and personal development groupwork facilitation.

She has studied Tai Chi and Qigong under internationally recognised Chinese masters and is a qualified Instructor for the John Ding International Academy of Tai Chi Chuan. (www.jdiatcc.com) She is a regular contributor to the international magazine Tai Chi and Alternative Health.

Liz qualified as a Shiatsu practitioner with the European Shiatsu School in 1994 and undertook postgraduate studies at the Shiatsu College in London, in addition to studying with many of the most experienced teachers in this country. She is a registered practitioner and teacher with the Shiatsu Society (www.shiatsusociety.org) and has a private Shiatsu practice in Hertford.

Liz has been a Senior Teacher for the European Shiatsu School (www.shiatsu.net) since 1999 and teaches in London, Ireland, Wales and occasionally overseas. She is Director of the Hertfordshire branch of the ESS and one of the school's main Teacher Trainers.

The pursuit of the subtleties of energetics is a lifelong process and Liz continues to study with acclaimed teachers breaking new ground in the field, notably as a senior Tai Chi student with Sifu John Ding (6th generation Master of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan), as well as exploring developments in the Shiatsu world. She is interested in interfacing with mainstream health professionals and scientists. To this end, she is a member of the Scientific and Medical Network ( www.scimednet.org).

Liz has maintained her meditation practice for over 25 years, encompassing several different traditions. This has culminated in regular retreats to deepen the practice and a desire to share the teaching with others. To this end, she has become interested in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programme, as pioneered by the University of Massechusetts Medical Centre's Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues. This programme is now being used extensively for stress reduction, depression and pain control, as well as for personal growth and development. Liz has undergone Teacher Development Training from the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at the University of Bangor.

Liz is eternally grateful to all her teachers, students and clients who have contributed to her development and learning. In particular, the following teachers have played important roles in her understanding of energy work: Zlata Vrabec; Bryan Nuttall; Dai Qiao Lin; Zhixing Wang; Sifu John Ding; Pauline Sasaki; Clifford Andrews; Ajahn Sumedho.

Liz's work centres around helping people to become more aware of their intrinsic energy (Qi) and teaches techniques to calm, energise, balance and harmonise the mind, body and spirit. This enables anyone to take more responsibility for their own health, well-being and enjoyment of living. In addition to teaching Shiatsu, Qigong, Tai Chi and Meditation, she also leads courses and workshops to introduce the benefits of Oriental health principles to a wide range of people, both those with specific problems and others who are interested in the preventative aspects and maintenance of good physical and mental health.

She fervently believes in nurturing each individual's own innate ability to heal themselves and aims to empower her students and clients to take charge of their own health and energetic development. Her intention is to encourage direct experience of energetic concepts with a very down to earth, easy, open and light-hearted approach.