Sibylle Zumstein – Switzerland 🇨🇭
I always liked to move. When I was younger, I did lots of Judo, fitness and HIIT training and later on Thai Boxing. I’ve been riding horses since I was young and have always loved spending time in nature. During my studies and while building my corporate career, I developed back and neck pain. So I dialed back the intensity of my training and started incorporating Yoga. The pain increased during periods of stress, especially when I didn’t have time to exercise every day, and got worse when I experienced worry or anxiety. I turned to acupuncture, massage and various relaxation techniques to try and treat it.
I experimented with different yoga styles for over 10 years, all with limited success and only short-term pain relief. Then a friend recommended a yoga therapy training in Bali which focused on moving like the 5 Elements of Nature. As I had always been interested in both Chinese Medicine and Sports Science, I was intrigued. During the 1 month (300 hrs) Teacher Training, I learned how to use specific exercises to activate meridians, detoxify organs, and balance emotions through mindful movement.
Soon after I discovered White Tiger Qigong while searching for a low-impact martial arts practice. I was hooked immediately. And the differences after a short while of regular practice were dramatic: Less body pain, better sleep, and able to face everyday challenges with clarity, decisiveness and a calm mind. I feel better now at age 40 than I have in a long time. I spent over 3 months training Qigong intensively in Thailand since and have completed 600 hrs of Teacher Trainings to date. In the same time period, I left the corporate world and founded my own Marketing & Communications Agency. I now organize my day as an entrepreneur around the Qigong practice – rather than the other way around.