ABOUT US
ABOUT OUR TEACHERS & MENTORS
About Robert Leins
Robert earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, CA. (renamed California College of the Arts, with campuses in both Oakland and San Francisco, CA). During his formal education, he was introduced to Eastern art and philosophy, which eventually led him to practice and teach yoga and meditation. When he was introduced to qigong, he immediately connected with his experiences of it, in terms of both its philosophies and practices. Delving deeper into and exploring the various principles of YinYang, the Yi Jing (I Ching), Buddhism, and Taoism (Daoism), as well as other related disciplines, is a daily function within his personal discipline. These principles deepen his understanding and broaden his perspective, which in turn strengthens his practice and his life.
In 2000 Robert opened QiGong Studio in two small rooms at the Studio’s present upstairs location in the Exchange Building, Bangor, ME. Here he practiced and mentored qigong classes, as well as private instruction. As classes grew and the opportunity presented itself to expand to the current street level location in the building, he did so, more than tripling the space of the studio.
“I don’t define myself as a qigong teacher or instructor. I think that, as a qigong practitioner, the concept of mentoring better reflects the experience of my discipline. In class we share our unique individual perspectives, offering each other opportunities to open to and implement what we resonate with in the experiences of others, in terms of both the philosophy and discipline of qigong.”
For Robert, qigong is about acquiring the skills and disciplines of the qigong alphabet and arranging the letters, sentences, and paragraphs in our own unique ways. The more qigong is understood on a basic or root level, the more one can bring out our inner nature with it.
ROBERT'S BACKGROUND IN QIGONG, THAI MASSAGE, AND MORE
Although Robert grew up outside New York City, his heart was happiest at his family’s summer home in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. He did attend various schools and colleges until finally graduating from the College of Arts in California with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts. After coming to Maine, he worked with his wife, Vernita, at her health food store. He later had his own BMW motorcycle repair shop, where he began applying principles to the bikes - a real “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” He now lives with his wife, Vernita, and their dog, Josie, on a pond in Bradley, ME, where he enjoys the serenity of the area. Here was coaxed into becoming involved with their local homeowners association, and has served as it’s president for several years.
Various courses and studies:
Qigong with Master Yang, YMAA, Boston, MA; Dr. Mei, Chinese Healing Arts Center, Portland, ME; Master Wu, Way of the Dragon, Providence, RI; Grand Master Liang, Vancover, BC; Shifu Jiang, Capital District Tai Ci & Kung Fu Association, Albany, NY; Dr. Aihan Kuhn, President of Tai Chi & Qi Gong Healing Institute, Sarasota, FL
Qi Healing and Qigong Therapies with Grand Master T. K. Shih, Chinese Healing Arts Center, Danbury, CT; Lisa B. O’Shea, QiGong Institute of Rochester, NY; Jeff Nagel, MA, LAc., Golden Dragon Taoist Health Association, San Diego, CA.
Thai Massage with: Paul Cramer, Kam Thye Chow & R.D. Shandler, Lotus Palm School, Montreal; Jonas Westring, PT, Thai Yoga Healing Arts, So. Burlington, VT.
Boabom with Asanaro, Mmulargan School, Chile
Ken Nelson, PhD, LMT, & Bonnie Anne Campbell, BSc, Sacred Healing Arts, Lenox, MA.
About Vernita Leins
Vernita incorporates various disciplines into both her life and practice, which for her are one and the same:
She offers various healing arts sessions but her passion is therapeutic massage, which is an eclectic mix of many techniques. Her sessions are not governed by time, but based upon the needs of the client. She is guided intuitively, as well as listening with her hands to the information the person's energy and body structures convey.
Vernita is a Reiki Master/Teacher. She practices and teaches all levels of Reiki and Karuna Reiki®. These, along with other healing techniques, are integrated into her massage sessions.
Qigong principles and practice are fundamental within both her daily life and healing arts sessions. It provides a strong foundation in her thinking, attitude, and health. Vernita’s qigong classes are fun, informative, relaxing, and in many cases, therapeutic.
At the beginning of a healing arts session or qigong class, time is allowed for clients or students to discuss various aspects of their life or day – both the positive and the negative - before getting onto the table or starting qigong movement. The mind and body are connected, seen through different windows. You must release the blockages holding you back. Only then can there be the relaxation that allows for the free flow of harmonizing and revitalizing energy.
Vernita brings into the love of her work her life experience, compassion, and joy of learning and teaching. Vernita believes that life is a process, a journey, a moment filled simultaneously of the past, present, and future. Her moments have led her and continue to lead her on interesting adventures and discoveries.
VERNITA'S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Vernita Leins grew up on a family farm in Clifton, Maine, where she attended the town’s two, one room schools and graduated eighth grade. She graduated from Brewer High School, and earned a BA Degree at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. For ten years she owned a health food store; retired from a social service agency; and now works with her husband Robert at their QiGong Studio, Bangor, ME. She has been a Reiki Master/Teacher since 2000. She teaches Reiki at the Studio and at the Therapeutic Bodywork Learning Center, Brewer, ME. Along with Josie, her service dog (and the Studio’s therapy dog), she lives with her husband on a quiet pond in Bradley, Me.
Additional studies include:
2003 Myotherapy School of Massage, Utah (772 hours)
2011 KMI’s Structural Integration, Walpole, ME (500 hours)
Reiki with Howard MacFarland, Reiki Master, Bangor, ME; Carol Hall, Reiki Master, Bangor, ME; Kathie Lipinski, Reiki & Karuna Reiki® Master, New York City
Qigong with Master Yang, YMAA, Boston, MA; Dr. Mei, Chinese Healing Arts Center, Portland, ME; Dr. Aihan Kuhn, President of Tai Chi & Qi Gong Healing Institute, Sarasota, FL
Qi Healing and QiGong Therapies with Grand Master T.K. Shih, Chinese Healing Arts Center, Danbury, CT; Lisa B. O’Shea, QiGong Institute of Rochester, NY; Jeff Nagel, MA, Lac, Golden Dragon Taoist Health Association, San Diego, CA;
She has taken a variety of courses for her massage practice, such as, Positional Release Therapy with Lee Albert, Lenox, MA; Myofascial Release from John F. Barnes, Sedona, AZ; Cranial Sacral Therapy, Level I, Upledger Institute, Palm Beach, FL; and many other courses at KMI, Walpole, ME.
JOSIE
Vernita published two books she co-authored with her certified therapy and service dog, Josie(2011-2021), entitled: “Josie's Story – from rescue to service dog” … a handbook for dog families, potential dog families, and for all who love dogs."Fostering Marcel - the bond between human and animal". Available through your local bookstore or at http://maineauthorspublishing.com/josies-story/
