Spring at the Spa

Q: Bryon, thank you for taking the time to meet with me today! You have been an instructor at Mohonk for over 20 years, before the Spa and Fitness wing was built. How did you get into Mindfulness and Qigong?

That is an interesting story. Becoming a Fitness Instructor, specializing in mindful meditation, Qigong, and Tai Chi, was not where I expected to find myself. I am a Desert Storm vet who got into advocacy work for people with disabilities. I went to an industry conference over 25 years ago and they were offering a workshop on Qigong. I took it on a whim and it was the first time I found my mind quiet and my soul calm. I was hooked from that moment forward and began learning the ways of Qigong and Tai Chi.

Q: How did you move from learning to teaching?

There was a local certification program that kept coming to my attention. My partner pointed it out, friends and family pointed it out, and one day I was in the grocery store when a wellness magazine fell to my feet with an ad for the program. I finally listened to the universe and took the program! I was lucky that my employer at the time saw what an amazing opportunity it was and not only allowed me to keep my position while I was away, but also covered the cost so I could utilize what I learned in my role as an advocate for the disabled. This was where I originally began teaching.

Q: What brought you to Mohonk Mountain House?

My partner knows our lead massage therapist, Michael Ryan. When Michael was first putting the Spa together, it was originally known as the Massage Center at Mohonk Mountain House. I spoke with him about the potential of teaching Qigong and Tai Chi. I interviewed, and the rest is history. I have now been teaching here for over 20 years and continue to expand my teachings.

Q: Speaking of expanding your teaching—you have now incorporated singing bowls into your meditation classes and will soon offer a new class on the five healing sounds. Can you tell us a little more about the new class?

Incorporating the singing bowls has had a huge impact on guests during classes. Both the singing bowls and the healing sounds come down to the utilization of vibrations to calm and heal the body. Every singing bowl has a corresponding pitch which speaks to a particular part of the body. There is a lot that goes into it, but to keep it simple: the lower pitches speak to the lower half of the body, while the higher pitches speak to the upper half of the body. The same effect is used in healing sounds. When guests first hear the term “Healing Sounds” they think of singing. However, healing sounds is not singing, it’s shaping the breath to create vibrational sounds that speak to different organs of the body. This class is an exploration/meditation on the Chinese five elements, to transform negative emotions into positive ones using marrow washing Qigong, a self-massage facial, and a six healing-sound meditation practice.

Q: That’s fascinating! I will have to come as a guest to join the class! Can you leave us with some tips for guests who are just getting into mindfulness and meditation?

Spring is the perfect time to set intentions, as it is the time we literally and metaphorically plant our seeds. Mindfulness and Meditation are wonderful tools for setting intentions and so now is the perfect time to start. Lead into your practice with an intention. It can even be something like making the choice to be present in your day. Once you’ve set your intention, you can lead your practice with that. Give yourself grace. Meditation is not about an empty mind, but about a calm mind. If you find yourself thinking during your practice, which is quite common, acknowledge the thought and let it go.