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 Master Li, prompted her to become a certified teacher in Sheng Zhen and to bring Master Li to Nova Scotia several times, including his return in 2012.
Besides establishing and developing Vital Principle Institute as a continuing education school for health practitioners, Muriel has assumed the duties of 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.
Dave Maybee, RMT
Dave Maybee has been a practicing massage therapist since 2008, and auricular acupuncturist since 2005. At his clinic in Antigonish, NS he integrates myofascial release and energy work into his treatments as he believes fully in a whole system approach to healing, incorporating the body and the mind. Dave has been involved with Vital Principle Institute since 2005, when he completed his level one training. Since then he has been practicing the medicine and, over the last 2 years, has been managing student case study reports and assisting with seminars for VPI.
“When I treat patients I take my time to find out what the deepest blockages are to their healing and work with them on many levels to move through these blockages. This is the true way to healing and German Auricular Medicine opens that door and allows us to reach these blockages and clear them. There is no such thing as disease in the traditional sense, there are only stressors on our system and once we lift them, our bodies and our minds have the innate ability to heal themselves!”Dave Maybee, RMT
Lisa Weleschuk, TCMD, RAc.
Lisa Weleschuk is a registered Acupuncturist, currently practicing in Calgary, Alberta. In 2006, she graduated from of the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she received diplomas in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as from the University of Beijing for studies completed in China. She started her journey with German Auricular Medicine in 2007, after attending a course on Auricular with Dr. Beatte Strittmatter. Her amazement and fascination with this medicine brought her to complete her Level 2 Certification with VPI in 2010.
In her practice, as well as incorporating German Auricular Medicine, Dr. Lisa works with body acupuncture, TCM and herbs, esoteric acupunture, and has a great focus on the mental-emotional, which she believes is essential for the body to heal.
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, MAEd., 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 Master Li, prompted her to become a certified teacher in Sheng Zhen and to bring Master Li to Nova Scotia several times, including his return in 2012.
Besides establishing and developing Vital Principle Institute as a continuing education school for health practitioners, Muriel has assumed the duties of 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.
Dave Maybee, RMT
Lisa Weleschuk, TCMD, RAc.
In her practice, as well as incorporating German Auricular Medicine, Dr. Lisa works with body acupuncture, TCM and herbs, esoteric acupunture, and has a great focus on the mental-emotional, which she believes is essential for the body to heal.
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.