There is no Western equivalent to the master/disciple system in China that provides students with the achievement levels of their teachers and teachers with criteria for advancing their students. We have instituted our own rigorous certification system to fill that void.

Establishing Standards is Important

It is important to establish high standards of competence and levels of skills. This will help you choose a teacher at the level of skill that you have progressed to and for the program that interests you. The only way to become an Energy Arts certified instructor is to take the training programs.

Energy Arts Code of Ethics download
Certification/Recertification Form download

Rigorous Training

Our instructor training courses are rigorous and long, lasting from two to four weeks. Students begin with an hour’s practice before breakfast, five hours of classes during the day, and two to five hours or practice in the evening. Many participants have several years of prior experience. Most teacher trainees stay on site because it makes it easier for them to practice together before and after class.

Skill in Teaching

Most instructor courses will include separate classes for beginners, so that instructor trainees can learn how to teach and demonstrate teaching skill during the training. Beginners benefit because they have a personal coach.

Certification Testing and Awards

Potential instructors are individually tested by Bruce Frantzis during the final week of training. The certifications are not easy to pass. Instructor certification will be awarded to those who show sufficient knowledge and teaching competence.

Because students will be developing chi and personal internal growth, teachers can have a profound effect on their health, emotions and longevity. We want to ensure that students can get a high quality experience when they take classes with our teachers.

Recertification

We recertify our teachers every two years to ensure they are keeping up with their practice and answer any questions they may have.

Prerequisites for Teacher Training Programs

Many teacher training courses have prerequisites to be eligible for testing and certification. Most potential instructors have studied the material for at least three years before they take an instructor training. No prerequisites are necessary for Dragon and Tiger teacher training.

Study Beforehand

It is recommended that you study the course in workshop, evening class or retreat format beforehand, either with Bruce Frantzis or with one of his certified instructors, and practice that material for a while before taking a teacher training program for that course. You will get far more out of the experience.

Some Just Want to Learn

Some people with a little experience in chi gung/qigong, tai chi and other energy arts attend a training program because they just want to learn the material better and upgrade their practice. They do not necessarily want to receive a teacher certification.

Students with no previous experience in the material will most likely have a teacher trainee assigned to them as a personal tutor to help them understand the course and learn faster.

Best Sequence for Teachers

The ideal sequence would be training in Longevity Breathing first, Dragon and Tiger next and then Energy Gates. Dragon and Tiger is good for those primarily only interested in chi gung/qigong. Energy Gates allows you to move on to tai chi more easily.

However, at the present time only one teacher training is available each year, so most serious students simply take the training programs in the sequence that they are available. All of the work is a circle. If for example, certification in one course is a prerequisite for certification in another, you may complete that certification at a later date to complete your certification process for the original course. For example, both Energy Gates and Heaven and Earth chi gung/qigong certifications will be required to be eligible for Level Two certification in some tai chi and ba gua instructor training programs. If you are committed to becoming an instructor, the most important thing is to start by taking courses and practicing.

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