Gabrielle Salerno

The practice

Qigong Instructor; Reiki Master

QIGONG Qigong is a gentle mind-body practice that improves balance, builds strength, and supports brain health. Modifications are easily applied and can accommodate individuals who need to be seated. It is a holistic part of traditional Chinese medicine and a path to overall health and well-being. The practice rests on the belief that Qi flows through energy channels (meridians) in the body, and regular, mindful movement can improve Qi circulation, supporting health, healing, and balance. During a class with me, which could be in a studio group setting or a private 1:1 in nature, you will wring and twist your fascia, massage your internal organs, and build your joint mobility and sinew strength. Qigong involves intentional focus paired with diaphragmatic breathing and mindful engagement in sets of integrated full-body movement patterns aimed at neuromuscular entrainment. It's essentially a moving meditation, which some call akin to “Chinese Yoga.” Improvement in your mental health and physical health becomes evident as you engage in this somatic body movement practice. Qigong is about self-integration, self-acceptance, and self-mastery. Moreover, Qigong is a sophisticated system of understanding the body, mind, and spirit. Qigong is about balance and permission. It’s about uncovering the profound truth within a paradox. It’s about being in the moment as much as it is about movement. Within Qigong, and in life, I ask for your presence not your perfection. I want your raw effort not your polished performance. REIKI Sessions metaphorically feel like coming out of the cold winter rain and into a warm heated blanket with a cup of tea, where the body, mind, and spirit can relax and reset. When the body, mind, and spirit are calm and in harmony with each other, your body’s innate healing powers will activate. As an intuitive energy practitioner and Reiki Master with years of therapeutic relational experience, each healing session of mine is filled with empathy, warmth, and genuine care all within a nonjudgmental safe space where you will be seen, heard, and felt. You will be embraced in the essence of love, grace, and joy. You will find ultimate relaxation as you become immersed in a tranquil meditative vibration and space. While all sessions have structural components following Reiki principles, each experience is unique and is spiritually guided to best serve that specific person at that time. Each client will have the experience they are meant to have. What can you expect from your session? Some clients report: seeing visions or colors; feelings of hot or cold sensations pulsing throughout their bodies; emotional expression and release through crying, laughing, or sighing is very common; all of the people I've treated thus far express feeling extremely calm, relaxed, and lighter. I often have energetic messages intuitively come through to me during the sessions that give me insight into the client's physical body, emotions, self-care/ relational needs, or guidance about what endeavors they would benefit from pursuing. At times, I will feel the presence of ancestors or loved ones in the spirit realm who are connected to the client. I often infuse elements of healing sound instrumentation throughout the session as well. ABOUT ME Professionally, I am a Licensed Therapist with a background in Clinical Counseling Psychology. Esoterically, I am also a Reiki Master and a Qigong instructor. And personally, I am a mother, a wife, and a steward of nature. In 2020 I survived a significant unexpected life-threatening medical event and shortly after that, I experienced a spiritual awakening. This has led me on a beautiful holistic journey of self-discovery, metaphysics, and eastern-based healing modalities that I love, live by, and offer! I am very connected to nature and Mother Gaia. Yoga is a cherished passion of mine. Animals and babies are both lovingly drawn to me. Writing and poetry are creative expressive gifts I am skilled in and blessed with inspiration about. I enjoy daily meditation and mudras. Qigong improves my overall life force energy and spiritual connection. It also strengthens my Reiki channeling abilities. For the past 5 years I have been transitioning my professional working time away from only traditionally treating clients from a therapeutic Western-based lens and delving into my pursuit, study, and application of more expansive layers and levels of healing modalities from the East.