An email from Canada

Hi Tom, Mauro and Lily -

Thought it might be interesting to add up all the "guinea pigs" we have treated in Tong Ren groups in Nanaimo/Parksville (Vancouver Island) since Tom came to Nanaimo in September 2003. Took all of our sign in sheets and added up the numbers...

Tong Ren guinea pig classes have been held at the Ramada on Long Lake and Pat's house in Nanaimo and the Best Western Bayside and Lily's house in Parksville. Have held classes on Sunday afternoons, Thursday evenings and even tried a Sunday evening (did not draw as many people as other weekend times). Slow and steady growth as people tell their friends about their results.

Oct 2003 = 31
Nov 2003 = 7
Feb 2004 = 72
Mar 2004 = 35
Tom's weekend at the end of March 2004 = 141
Apr 2004 = 79
May 2004 = 112
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Subtotal = 477

so far in June 2004 = 36 (with 3 more guinea pig classes scheduled)
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Total = 513
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Not too bad for the 6 months that we have had classes (no classes held in Dec 2003 or Jan 2004).

General comment I have received is that people love being able to access energy treatments for free. If they want more in depth work done, then they book with one of us. Many people are returning and they are experiencing positive health changes. Then they bring their friends.

When we want to run a Qi Gong class, we rent a hotel meeting room, charge for the Qi Gong class ($10) and then we also offer a Tong Ren class at no charge. Seems to work well. Of course, at Lily and my homes, we have only done Tong Ren GP classes. May try Qi Gong in our back yards in July - then won't have to worry about how many show up (already noticing a drop in June). Still charge the $10 and replenish our emergency fund to cover hotel rentals where Qi Gong is registration is low for that session.

Also, from late Sept 2003 to end of May 2004, I have done over 250 private Tong Ren treatments with my clients. Many are also having back massage or just neck massage with the Tong Ren and some are having treatments over the telephone. Clients end up very relaxed - best healing happens then! So results are good for many of the clients!
Thank you Tom for taking the time to come to Nanaimo in Sept 2003 and March 2004 to show us your system of healing and for making it easy for me to inventory your books to educate people here. These are long trips to Vancouver Island and we really appreciate that you are prepared to come here.

Thank you Mauro for supporting our fledgling Tong Ren group on the Island, for supplying the background info from the TCM system and for teaching the Qi Gong, Tui Na and acupoint theory classes. I have learned so much from you I can't begin to thank you for your support! We all look forward to seeing you on the Island more regularly by the Fall.

And last, but not least, thank you Lily for working so closely with myself in Nanaimo/Parksville with the Tong Ren GP classes and for bringing your experience in energy work to our groups. It is wonderful to work with you every week and I continue to learn from from you as well!

Tom - we have a terrific group here on the Island and we all look forward to seeing you again soon! Come play with us.

Bye for now,
Pat