My own journey taught me that connecting opposites – East and West, body and mind, science and intuition – can create the most profound transformations.
Is life always about choosing either one path or the other – or can we connect seemingly opposite approaches to create something far more profound?
People often ask why I didn’t follow the conventional medical route but instead devoted my life to exploring alternative attitudes toward health and healing. The truth is, I didn’t decide – life decided for me. I was thrown into situations where I had to choose how to respond to health challenges, both for others and within my own family.
My first encounter with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) came when I watched a young girl receive regular massage treatments for a specific condition – with results that, to me, were astonishing. Alongside these treatments, her nutrition was adjusted, and the combination brought visible improvement. That experience sparked my curiosity and led me to explore the deeper causes of medical imbalances.
Not long after, our own baby was advised to undergo a rather severe medical intervention for a chronic respiratory issue. My curiosity became a mission. I needed to understand what true healing meant – beyond treating symptoms. That moment ignited a lifelong study of health and dis-ease, of imbalance and harmony, of Yin and Yang and their intricate dance within life itself.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of accompanying many clients on their personal healing journeys. Time and again, life revealed that pain is rarely the first sign of “something wrong.” Healing required looking beyond the physical into the emotional, mental, and energetic dimensions of being human.
Guided by this understanding, I immersed myself in a variety of energetic and holistic modalities—Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Bach Flower Remedies, meditation, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and more. Each taught me an essential truth: there is never one source of imbalance, nor one path to healing. Acute conditions often call for conventional medicine, while chronic imbalances respond best to gentler, integrative approaches.
The true breakthrough came when I realized that dis-ease does not arise merely from stress; a weak immune system isn’t simply inherited; and recurring pain isn’t just a result of aging. These may be contributing factors – but at the root of most persistent discomfort lies the emotional system.
Exploring how people adapt to life’s challenges led me to study coaching and counselling. Understanding one’s Adaptation Type – the unique way a person responds to stress and environment – can foster profound self-awareness and acceptance. It becomes a roadmap toward physical and emotional well-being, empowering healthier choices and a more balanced life.
What has been your own experience with an acute or chronic health issue?
Were you ever guided to explore the possible underlying reasons behind it?
For more details go to: TCM – The Gentle Way
