Tuesday, 18 April 2006

Shang Shung Institute announces Summer Intensives and opens Tibetan Healing Center

Conway, MA – The Shang Shung Institute of America is happy to announce its Summer 2006 Intensives series and the opening of its Tibetan Healing Center in nearby Northampton. Under the direction of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, the institute’s Traditional Tibetan Medicine certification program, now in its second year, is the only full-time, four-year curriculum taught in the West and the first-of-its-kind in English.

“Tibetan medicine is an ancient living knowledge that is beneficial for many modern diseases,” said Phuntsog Wangmo, director of the Traditional Tibetan Medicine certification program at the Shang Shung Institute of America. “In today’s society it is easy to become unbalanced, and Tibetan medicine can effectively prevent and treat these imbalances at both the mental and physical level. The Shang Shung Institute is helping the future of Tibet by preserving our culture and making the wisdom of our ancient lineage available to the world.”

Dr. Wangmo earned her advanced degree in Traditional Tibetan Medicine from Lhasa Universtiy. Working on behalf of the ASIA organization, she has helped set up hospitals and training centers throughout her homeland.

Summer 2006 Intensives

Hosted at Tsegyalgar in beautiful Western Massachusetts, retreat-style intensives offer introductions to Traditional Tibetan Medicine with course credits that can later be applied toward the certification program. Taught by Tibetan-trained faculty, the Summer 2006 series includes lodging in dormitory-style accommodations and a communal kitchen.

Intensives range from $375 to 500, and lodging and vegetarian-optional meal plans are only $34 per day with discounts for both for institute members.

Tibetan Healing Center

The insitute’s new Tibetan Healing Center in Northampton offers Kunye massage as well as traditional consultations covering diet and lifestyle and offering herbal and other therapeutic treatments for a host of common imbalances and modern public health challenges.

Kunye is a massage therapy unique to Traditional Tibetan Medicine. “Ku”, to anoint with oil, and “Nye”, to massage key points, is an ancient healing practice that involves the application of medicinal herbs through specialized massage techniques that focus on muscles, nerves, tendons and other external body points. Dating back to 8th century texts, Kunye massage has been proven effective for range of acute modern health issues including anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and other nervous system disorders.

Appointments for consultation and massage can be made by phone on (413) 585-1081.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine Certification Program

Founded at Tsegyalgar in 1994 by Chögyal Namkai Norbu, the Shang Shung Institute of America currently offers the only full-time, four-year Traditional Tibetan Medicine certification program in the West. The certification program, now in its second year, follows a recent revival of Traditional Tibetan Medicine in the East and marks one of the most significant advances for its preservation and practice in the West.

The first-of-its kind in English, the innovative program is already attracting new students from throughout Europe and the United States. Graduates will be among the first Western-trained certified practitioners and will help put the institute on the path of becoming the first fully accredited school of Traditional Tibetan Medicine in the West.

The four-year certification program closely parallels traditional training rooted in the Gyud Zhi, the fundamental text of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, better known as The Four Tantras in English. The ancient Tantras classify an amazing 1600 types of disease and corresponding treatments using more than 3,000 medicinal plants.

The institute is currently accepting new student applications for Fall 2006 enrollment. For detailed program information and to apply online, please visit ShangShung.org. For other new student inquiries, please call (413) 369-4928.

Traditional Tibetan Medicine

With a history going back over 2,500 years, traditional Tibetan medicine is one of the oldest continuously practiced healing systems on Earth. Regarded as science, art and philosophy, it is an ancient form of holistic heath care indigenous to the Tibetan people that integrates the core Buddhist principles of altruism, karma and ethics. Traditional Tibetan Medicine has evolved into a synthesis of thousands of years of accumulated empirical knowledge from China, Persia, India and Greece. It was practiced continuously in Tibet until the Chinese invasion in the 1950s and is still practiced today wherever Tibetans live in exile.