Here you can find some of the comments and experiences from previous participants in the Elemental Alchemy 200 Hour Instructor Certification Program. There are some videos where you can listen to participants talk about different aspects of their experiences, and if you scroll down you can also find some written comments.
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Dear John
I just wanted to thank you for the Elemental Alchemy course that has just come to a close.
As with the previous courses of yours at Long White Cloud that I have undertaken, the course is rigourously put together. All the materials are thoughtfully and artfully put together. The information is delivered in both video and text in terms that make receiving, understanding and assimilating the information easy and pleasurable.
The concepts in this course are profound and it’s a tribute to you that you can explain and summarise with authority and still communicate in a way that makes the complex simple to grasp.
The teaching of the movements is as usual exemplary, and I’ve enjoyed learning the theory and practice and will continue to use what I’ve learned on a daily basis for years to come.
I can’t recommend this course enough to anyone looking to further their knowledge of Qigong, either for personal use or to teach.
All three courses, Small Universe, Inner Fire and Elemental Alchemy are fascinating, life enhancing, health giving and ultimately enrich the experience of being alive.
For anyone who’s done one or two of the other courses I would say sign up for Elemental Alchemy without hesitation.
For anyone who hasn’t done a course before, I’d say the same.
Many thanks John, I know you’ve put tremendous thought and effort into making this course, it’s a very welcome addition to the school’s offering and I am delighted to have taken it.
After completing the Long White Cloud Qigong Instructor courses you are left with an invaluable resource. All the lessons and videos are still available to you.
This is so helpful as your practice and teaching deepens, to be able to go back over any aspect of the course materials, including lesson planning.
There’s too much to fully take in during the 15 week courses, so, to have the opportunity to be able to constantly revisit the information is a wonderful part of being a Long White Cloud student.
I have completed all three instructor courses and so find myself dipping in and out of all them. There’s no end to the teaching….
– Bertie Miller
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This practice has been life changing. With the Wuji practice, for example, which is the first series of movements that we learn – they’ve helped me uncover and release deeply rooted, and conditioned unhealthy behaviors or just emotions. Past trauma that has been stuck in my body – particularly my lower back and connective tissue. I feel more centered, and I feel that I have more control over my well-being. I know how to better manage stress and hit the pause button when things get overwhelming. I feel more energetic AND I feel more chill!
With the 5 elements we learn how to interpret what may be out of balance. That can be something weakened or in excess and how to incorporate certain types of movement(s) that will work to harmonize our energies. That didn’t focus just on movements other elements and practices in our lives we can incorporate like food, flavors, etc. The same theory can be applied to relationships, projects, our health It’s a way of looking at what is not right, or feeling right and helping to make it right. It’s very empowering.
This has been my 3 course with John/Long White Cloud and they’ve all made such a tremendous impact on my life. I Feel very grateful and fortunate to be a part of the community that John created. I feel that I have an entire box of wonderful tools to draw from that I can share with others and also help me live my best life.
– Rose Wippich
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This is my third 15 week course with John Munro and I can’t recommend them highly enough. I am in awe of his attention to detail and the amount of complex material he manages to bring across with such clarity, easily understood without being overwhelming. This is due to the gradual weekly step by step approach in both video and text format. The many follow along videos and the morning and evening live practice sessions also allow for great attention to detail to the experience and quality of our practice work.
The supportive morning and evening question and answer sessions as well as the possibility of asking questions in the course platform are a brilliant addition to learning. And the support of the Instructors community who meet online monthly is an added bonus.
Personally I found this Elemental Alchemy course lifechanging. The foundation of the resetting Wuji practices, the energising Taiji practices and the balancing Wuxing practices mean I am fitter, stronger, connected to my body and more balanced physically and emotionally than I have ever been.
It is a tribute to John and his brilliant courses that I am continuing on to study Chinese Medicine!
Thank you John and Tihana also for your efficient administrative support.
– Clare O’Sullivan
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The Elemental Alchemy course takes your qigong practice to another level and I can’t recommend it highly enough! I now feel a strong connection to the practices of Wuji, Taiji and Wuxing, all expertly demonstrated and explained with incredible attention to detail! The theory supporting the practices is extensive, interesting and opens up many pathways of experience and discovery with further practices included to help deepen your understanding and experience. Weekly practice and Q&A sessions, allow plenty of time for detailed discussions and the support received is incredible. Practicing Elemental Alchemy has really helped me to connect and get my energy flowing with an increased knowledge and focus on the energetic quality of each of the five elements, brought to life through wonderful descriptions throughout the course. I have absolutely loved learning about the Five Elements and how we can recognise and work with them in everyday life. I feel very fortunate to have discovered John Munro and Long White Cloud Qigong. All the courses offered are accessible on an easy to navigate online platform, well structured and delivered to fully engage and encourage you in your qigong journey.
I wanted to feedback some observations to you from my first couple of times teaching parts of the Wuxing practice. I included the Earth and Metal sequences in a seasonal sequence I’ve now taught at two workshops. We had time in Wuji to observe our energy at intervals through the practice and the difference the participants could feel was astonishing. I know how hard it can be to learn to feel the different qualities of energy but so many in the class really felt the changes and shifts instantly and the way they described how they felt at the end made me realise they really had strongly connected to their energy. I was so happy that so many had such a good experience and had really enjoyed the practice. I really just wanted to let you know how good Wuxing is to teach and how accessible it has made the connection to different qualities of energy for people who haven’t done qigong before! So lovely to be able to put the last 15 weeks into teaching practice so quickly!
Thank again for a great course and hope this feedback is helpful!
– Sarah McCurdie
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Taking part in the Elemental Alchemy Course was a great, enriching experience. The course included profound theoretical knowledge but also, we also learnt many effective and beautiful practices to experience and harmonize the different stages in your body and life. There were many interesting discussions on philosophical questions, underlying principles like yin & yang and therapeutical use and benefits of different practices. For me personally the most outstanding part was to deepen the understanding of the primordial, undefined state Wuji and the respective practices. There were plenty of further fascinating practices like Moon bathing or working with sounds in context with five elements which added to broaden and deepen my understanding.
– Alexandra Schultheiss
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From the inside-out, John Munro’s Elemental Alchemy course is truly transformational. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this course, more than any other study so far, is one of the greatest blessings that I’ve ever experienced in more than 7 decades! In my opinion, there is no greater gift for anyone to receive than that of connecting with one’s breath which connects us naturally with the body. In Elemental Alchemy, John guides students through a much deeper dive into the state of Nothingness, or Wuji, towards connecting with breath on a more intimate level in Primal Pulse, and, ultimately, emerging with both internal tools and external movements that offer the opportunity to palpably loosen and shift personal imbalances and/or generational patterns. How deeply one dives into this amazing course is completely self-driven. There is something for each and every student to gain and enjoy! As always, the depths of John’s knowledge and Wisdom is boundless. His teaching, writing, and mentoring talents never fail to fascinate one’s mind, body, and soul. Each building block of understanding is thoughtfully placed inside a convenient online program consisting of weekly written texts, self-paced video lectures with pictures and diagrams, as well as weekly practice sessions and Q&A both led by Master John. No matter where in the world one resides, the ability to practice Qigong with John Munro for 15 consecutive weeks is yet another Gift embedded inside Elemental Alchemy. Putting all of the pieces of John’s course together is akin to putting together pieces of an exquisite puzzle and having great fun in the process! John Munro’s Elemental Alchemy program is profoundly empowering. Whether one is looking for a lovely swim or a deep dive, the treasures within this course are Rich! On a physical level, experiencing the polarities in each movement strengthens flexibility and balance. The option of faster paces in some movements increases strength, balance, heart rate and metabolism. A deeper understanding of the qualities within the Five Elements offers a new perspective on other important dynamics in our lives, facilitating ways to create better flow within each. I am inexpressibly grateful for the blessings of knowing and being taught and guided by John Munro, and forever blessed by his extraordinary understandings of Qi.
Thank you, John.
– Judy Chancey
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The Elemental Alchemy course is a must for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the fundamental principles and foundational philosophy of Qigong. The sequences are accessible and really pleasurable to do, and the depth of knowledge contained within the course is phenomenal. The course is structured really well to allow the intricacies of the practices sink in and as ever the weekly practice and Q&A’s enable you to reinforce your learning and take your practice to the next level. This is my favourite of John’s courses so far – definitely recommend!
– Margaret Kelly
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Elemental Alchemy – yet another fantastic course from Long White Cloud Qigong.
This involves some very, very nice practices. Starting with Wuji into Taiji and then Wuxing (The Five Elements). It has been a joy learning & delving deeply into these practices & exploring the different ways of working with our energy. Going deeper into these practices creates ways of bringing them into your everyday life. Enabling you to live more harmoniously with all that surrounds you. Understanding the influence of the phases within us & all that surrounds us – gives us the ability to weave them into our everyday lives in a balanced & simplistic way. Not only natural environments the home environment, projects & even personalities you interact with.
These courses do have a vast amount of content. Which has been cleverly paced allowing you to create a solid foundation without ever feeling overwhelmed. I do feel fortunate to have discovered this amazing Qigong School. It is a privilege to be part of this wonderful community as it grows & unfolds.
John is an incredible teacher with a vast depth of knowledge. Which he delivers in a kind & supportive manner throughout the course. Cannot recommend these courses enough, whether you wish to deepen your own practice or share with the community around you. Yes, it is a certificated course – however, there is absolutely no pressure to teach on completion.
Although, you may just find that you simply can’t resist!
Thank you all at Long White Cloud
– Jude Arnfield
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I’ve said to a lot of people that post course I’ve felt a real sense of calmness, is this because its my third course with John and I feel comfortable with the proven process and how well the courses are run? Maybe some of that, but I believe that my sense of calmness is driven by personally finding more balance and serenity over the run of the course.
At the course meet and greet I shared that I was looking forward to the group weekly practices and delving further into five elements. Well, I’ve deepened my superficial understanding of the five elements and had the pleasure of regular practise with a lovely group of people some I’ve now known for over three years.
I thought I had a reasonably well balanced body through previous qigong practices, but when you’re working with Taiji any physical imbalances become more apparent, using the movements and the variations John teaches I was able to explore the polarities of the forms and begin to move energy more easily through areas I could now feel were less free.
I love the Wuji practise and was intrigued that John started with moving Wuji at first that seemed so contradictory to what I thought of Wuji, but always trust the teacher, as learning these forms enhanced my Wuji and enabled me to settle into the still state more easily.
The Elemental Alchemy course moves more into the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Qigong than previous courses Id attended and its given me the base to delve further into these aspects in my own private study.
John asked what my favourite part of the course was, I find it truly impossible to choose. I will always love the Wuji practise, and I grew to love the challenge of the Windmill, but the whole course is a wonderful experience. One which Id wholly recommend.
– Karen Myers
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The Elemental Alchemy Qigong practice course took my practice to the deepest level I have yet experienced.
I feel more connected and aware of my true center of being, and where I was still holding long held tension and blockages that I had compartmentalized and ignored.
This course helped me become more in sync within myself, and to be able to pause and respond to myself and my surroundings, using wisdom, rather than reacting to it.
I often reflect about how we live in a world of constant stimulation, and how as I have gotten older, I have lost touch with appreciating the natural flow of nature and my part in this flow.
This course helped me deepen my qigong practice and be more in tune with the phases and qualities of nature. When I completed the course, I was able to look more deeply at the qualities of the different types of energy that are happening within and around me, and how they all support and work together to make things complete versus choosing to experience things as separate, fragmented, and not part of a cycle.
I highly recommend this course because of the depth of knowledge and practices that you will walk away with when completed.
John Munro is very knowledgeable and has a way of presenting unfamiliar or even complex philosophies and theories that are attainable for everyone.
– Jennifer Eash
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– Christie Arends
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The course has reframed my understanding of qigong and its fundamental principles. It has helped me to understand the ‘why’ behind my qigong practice and made me a better Practitioner.
For those that are new to qigong, it will aid your understanding of the different states of your energy and improve the quality of that energy as you develop your ‘gong’.
For the seasoned teacher, the course gives an extensive repertoire of new material to incorporate into your teaching practice. Many of the moves are short and simple but require some skill to execute them well.
As with all LWC qigong courses, the structure is well planned and develops in an organic way as the course unfolds. The course has been challenging but also great fun, in equal measure.
– Tania Coombs
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I have just completed the Elemental Alchemy course offered by Long White Cloud Qigong. It is a fantastic program. John’s understanding of qigong is truly remarkable. The materials in the course have deepened my understanding of qigong. The Wuji portion allows me to reset my energy by clearing out ingrained patterns. The Taiji brings me into a heightened awareness of the polarity of Yin and Yang and how to incorporate them into my practice. The contralateral movements coupled with the polarity creates a very balanced approach to fully engaging in the movements. The WuXing (five elements) is an immersion into the fundamental theory connected to the five elements. John’s attention to detail in his structure and the presentation of all of the study materials is interwoven with HOW you integrate this into your practice and applying therapeutic application to assist students you might teach. I will be referring back to the materials on a constant basis to continue my own personal development. This is a WORLD CLASS program and I encourage anyone with interest to sign up. You will complete the program having a deeper understanding of your energy and how this energy interacts with many other aspects of your life.
– Clayton Crosley
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I have just completed another extraordinary course beautifully put together by John Munro @longwhitecloudqigong. Challenging at times the profoundly powerful practices of Wuji, Taiji and Wuxing take you through, wiping your slate clean of energy patterns; to moving you through building up a healthy, dynamic, free flowing energy; to finally delving deeper into the intricacies of the Five Elements. Your awareness of the world around you, your energy, personality, even the food you eat, the people you interact with and the job you do, reaches a level I never knew possible. The course will enrich your life in a truly magical way. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!!
– Jo Morgan
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I can’t recommend highly enough the Elemental Alchemy course.
It has given me such valuable insights not only through learning the practises of Wuji, Taiji and Wuxing but by also how to apply the principles in all areas of my life. John has given me not only the tools to understand how to manage my own energy, working towards finding harmony and balance, but also the real gift is that I now get to teach it to others and pass this on.
The course is so well organised and put together with amazing content and videos to watch, weekly Q&As and group practise sessions. There is also the wider LWC teaching community once you’ve qualified. This all ensures you have the support and more as a newly qualified teacher or easy to access guidance to further your own practise.
If you’re thinking about doing it you won’t be disappointed!
– Melissa Cliff
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Elemental Alchemy offered by Long White Cloud Qigong is an experiential journey exploring the fundamental states of energy that exist within our own selves and within the universe: Wuji (the formless), Taiji (the great polarity), and Wuxing (the five elements or phases). For me, it also allowed certain beliefs and patterns I had about Qigong to fall away. John’s almost utilitarian approach to Qigong, his ability to simplify and cut away embellishments, guided me to the essence of Qigong practice. Freed from distractions, I found myself equally guided to the essence of my own self and able to feel clearly the original state of my own energy, Wuji. I encountered and released parts of what I thought were myself but I now saw were only patterns shaped by my journey through life.
Having experienced Wuji with greater clarity then allowed me to appreciate Taiji and Wuxing more fully. With Taiji I learned to trust myself to allow the infinite potential of Wuji to express itself through me: to allow my energy to expand, move dynamically within me, and exchange freely with the environment around me. I found strength and abilities I did not know I possessed.
Wuxing offered me further appreciation for the many different manifestations of original energy and here I would like to thank the other instructors on the course and my fellow trainees. They all embodied and expressed different combinations of the elements, which helped me understand the teachings even more fully. I gained the ability to see how the elements can manifest as different viewpoints and personalities. I learned tools to relate to the differences in harmonious ways, including guiding stuck energies towards constructive resolutions.
The applications of the teachings of Elemental Alchemy extend far beyond Qigong practice itself, reaching every curve and corner of my life. I look forward to continuing my exploration of these principles beyond the course – through my personal Qigong practice, within the Long White Cloud instructor community, my consulting work, personal and professional relationships, and teaching these powerful practices to others.
– Marketa Foley
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– Janine Seldenthuis
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I just wanted to thank you again for putting together and guiding me through this truly fantastic course. The information is so comprehensive and clearly laid out, and I found the balance of video and written instruction to be ideal. I also found your personal input during all the practice classes and weekly Q&A’s invaluable. The Elemental Alchemy course content surpassed all expectation, in both breadth and level of detail. I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of the process, and feel a deep sense of gratitude to be part of the Long White Cloud Community.
– Hannah Droy
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You can find the details of the Elemental Alchemy Qigong program here.