Muriel Agnes is an educator and auricular acupuncturist. Her PhD (Energy Medicine, 2002) dissertation focused on the international use and experience of the Vascular Autonomic Signal, and a clinical trial that proved the reliability and validity of the VAS. Muriel also has a Masters of Adult Education from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia (1987).
Since attending the International Conference on Auricular Medicine in Las Vegas in 1999, Dr. Agnes has apprenticed with several doctors of Auricular Medicine. She brought Dr. Beate Strittmatter to North America in 2003 to teach Auricular Medicine, and was then mentored in teaching the curriculum used by the German Academy of Auricular Medicine by Dr. Strittmatter and Dr. Peter Gross.
Muriel’s involvement in Sheng Zhen Qigong began about the same time, with trainings in Toronto and then Manila. Her love of this form of healing, and of Teacher Li, prompted her to bring Teacher Li to Nova Scotia in 2002 and 2003, and is now planning for his return in 2010 and 2011.
Besides establishing and developing Vital Principle Institute as a continuing education school for health practitioners, Muriel has recently assumed the duties as the Director of Education Curriculum for the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute through which she is delighted to be working with another organization committed to the development of professionals of the Healing Arts.
Beate Strittmatter, M.D.
Dr. Beate Strittmatter is a German medical doctor whose practice emphasis is on pain management through acupuncture. For the last 12 years, Dr. Strittmatter has been Director of Education of the German Academy for Acupuncture and Auriculomedicine. She has published widely (numerous articles, 2 textbooks for MDs, an interactive computer-learning program) and has been instrumental in developing the methods of focus diagnosis practiced today in the field of auricular therapy.
Dr. Strittmatter has published her Pocket Atlas for Ear Acupuncture (2003) in English, and a second book, Identification and Treatment of Blockages to Healing (2004). These books, and Dr. Strittmatter’s engaging teaching style, now make this medicine as it is practiced in Europe accessible to North American health practitioners.
Dr. Strittmatter is a board member of the ACI (Acupuncture Certification Institute, Los Angeles) and teaches in Germany and Switzerland. Teaching with Vital Principle Institute is an avenue through which she is bringing her work in Auricular Medicine to North America.
Peter Gross, M.D.
Dr. Peter Gross was born in Germany in 1936. He graduated in medicine in Stuttgart, and continued his studies to become an urologist specialist. Dr. Gross had a private clinic in Stuttgart as an urologist for 25 years, during which time he and his wife Inge raised two sons.
Dr. Gross began learning acupuncture in the mid-1980’s in Munich, achieving a diploma in 1989. He has practiced acupuncture since that time
and has continued to attend further training in medical acupuncture in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, including training with Dr. Beate Strittmatter. This training also includes an annual weeklong international professional convention in Switzerland.
In 1996 Dr. Gross and his wife moved to Nova Scotia, where he has an acupuncture practice. He is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Strittmatter and Vital Principle Institute here in Nova Scotia by assisting in teaching what he has found to be so clinically rewarding.
Rose Johnston, M.D.
Dr. Rose Johnston graduated in medicine in 1980 from the Dalhousie Medical School in Halifax. She worked as a family physician in rural practice for fifteen years, after which she refocused her practice for psychotherapy clients. In the mid-1990’s Dr. Johnston became ill with fibromyalgia, and began a deeper healing journey. This search led her to auricular medicine, qigong and homeopathy training, and to some of the best teachers of the world in these fields, including visiting the clinic of Dr. Strittmatter in Germany in 2000.
Dr. Johnston returned to practice in psychotherapy, homeopathy and auricular acupuncture in 2000 after completing her training in homeopathy for medical doctors and her certification in auricular acupuncture. Dr. Johnston is also certified in psychosynthesis, transformational leadership, spiritual guidance and is certified as a teacher of Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong qigong by Master Li Jun Feng. In 2006, Dr. Johnston completed a medical residency in palliative medicine, and became certified in Imago relationship counseling. Currently, Dr. Johnston lives with her partner, Muriel Agnes, in Mahone Bay. She is instructing Sheng Zhen Qigong, and is acting as a consultant to Vital Principle Institute.
Instructors
Muriel Agnes, PhD.
Since attending the International Conference on Auricular Medicine in Las Vegas in 1999, Dr. Agnes has apprenticed with several doctors of Auricular Medicine. She brought Dr. Beate Strittmatter to North America in 2003 to teach Auricular Medicine, and was then mentored in teaching the curriculum used by the German Academy of Auricular Medicine by Dr. Strittmatter and Dr. Peter Gross.
Muriel’s involvement in Sheng Zhen Qigong began about the same time, with trainings in Toronto and then Manila. Her love of this form of healing, and of Teacher Li, prompted her to bring Teacher Li to Nova Scotia in 2002 and 2003, and is now planning for his return in 2010 and 2011.
Besides establishing and developing Vital Principle Institute as a continuing education school for health practitioners, Muriel has recently assumed the duties as the Director of Education Curriculum for the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute through which she is delighted to be working with another organization committed to the development of professionals of the Healing Arts.
Beate Strittmatter, M.D.
Dr. Strittmatter has published her Pocket Atlas for Ear Acupuncture (2003) in English, and a second book, Identification and Treatment of Blockages to Healing (2004). These books, and Dr. Strittmatter’s engaging teaching style, now make this medicine as it is practiced in Europe accessible to North American health practitioners.
Dr. Strittmatter is a board member of the ACI (Acupuncture Certification Institute, Los Angeles) and teaches in Germany and Switzerland. Teaching with Vital Principle Institute is an avenue through which she is bringing her work in Auricular Medicine to North America.
Peter Gross, M.D.
Dr. Gross began learning acupuncture in the mid-1980’s in Munich, achieving a diploma in 1989. He has practiced acupuncture since that time
and has continued to attend further training in medical acupuncture in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, including training with Dr. Beate Strittmatter. This training also includes an annual weeklong international professional convention in Switzerland.
In 1996 Dr. Gross and his wife moved to Nova Scotia, where he has an acupuncture practice. He is delighted to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Strittmatter and Vital Principle Institute here in Nova Scotia by assisting in teaching what he has found to be so clinically rewarding.
Rose Johnston, M.D.
Dr. Johnston returned to practice in psychotherapy, homeopathy and auricular acupuncture in 2000 after completing her training in homeopathy for medical doctors and her certification in auricular acupuncture. Dr. Johnston is also certified in psychosynthesis, transformational leadership, spiritual guidance and is certified as a teacher of Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong qigong by Master Li Jun Feng. In 2006, Dr. Johnston completed a medical residency in palliative medicine, and became certified in Imago relationship counseling. Currently, Dr. Johnston lives with her partner, Muriel Agnes, in Mahone Bay. She is instructing Sheng Zhen Qigong, and is acting as a consultant to Vital Principle Institute.