Having been introduced to Asian spiritual practices in early childhood, Gideon spent his teen years intensively studying yoga, music, meditation, and martial arts. He later moved to India, where he spent the next 5 years studying and refining these arts with yogis and teachers throughout India, Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
While he spent much of his time living and training with various little-known yogis and ascetics in the Himalayas, Gideon also studied yoga at world-renowned ashrams such as the Sivananda Ashram, the Omkarananda Ashram, and the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram; he also received a teaching certificate in yogic studies from the Bihar School of Yoga.
While living in the Himalayas, Gideon was drawn to the formal study of both Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine through training in traditional massage and herbal therapies. When he returned to California, he studied at the International Institute of Medical Qigong, where, after six years of academic and clinical training, he was awarded a doctorate in Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy (DMQ) from the Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in China. He is currently studying advanced herbology at the East-West Herbal Academy under the tutelage of founder Michael Tierra.
(see medical training details)
From 2000 to 2003, Gideon deepened his understanding of meditation and enhanced his energetic skills with a comprehensive three-year clairvoyant training program through the Berkeley Psychic Institute. Afterwards he returned to intensively study various Asian mystical traditions, eventually becoming a Daoist priest through the ancient Long Hu Shan Monastery in southeastern China.
(see spiritual training details)
Trained in shaolin gong-fu and shotokan karate as a youth, Gideon specializes in Chinese internal gong fu (kung-fu). He is a Master Instructor (Shifu) in Chen and Yang family taijiquan (tai-chi), and is currently studying hua jing (metaphysical boxing) and ba gua zhang (8 trigram palm). Gideon also teaches Primordial Chaos Qigong, a secret martial system passed to him by Master Duan Zhi Liang, an elusive master of both medicine and martial arts who was born and raised inside the Imperial Palace before the fall of the Qing dynasty.
(see martial training details)
Gideon is the chief editor of the five-volume textbook series used in the Master’s and Doctorate degree programs of the IIMQ, having worked together with founder Jerry Alan Johnson to produce the first comprehensive account of the history and practice of medical qigong. He has also edited and contributed to more than half a dozen other books on qigong and Daoist mysticism.
In addition to teaching local and international classes and workshops, Gideon maintains a Chinese Medicine Clinic in Los Gatos, California. He also brings groups to Asia to study medicine and mysticism, and himself travels regularly to further his skill and understanding of ancient martial, medical, and spiritual training systems
(travel with Dr. Enz to China in 2010!)

Advanced Kundalini Yoga Balyogi Prembarniji -
Rishikesh, Uttaranchal Pradesh, India 1998, 1999, 2008
Advanced Kriya Yoga Swami Narayana Das - Rishikesh,
Uttaranchal Pradesh, India 1998, 1999, 2008
Kriya Yoga (in lineage of Babaji, through S.S. Ramaih and M.
Govindan) Rudradev - Hayward, CA.
Advanced Hatha Yoga Kofi Buscia - Santa Cruz, CA.
Returning to the Source: Journey to the Heart of Yoga T. K. V. Desikachar & Kausthub Desikachar - Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite, CA. 2002
Deepening Your Practice Retreat White Lotus Foundation Founders
Tracey Rich & Ganga White - Los Gatos, CA. 2000
Yoga Asana (forward bends & backbends) Patanjali Yoga Center -
Ganga Sadan, Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1998
Yoga Asana (Foundation & Intermediate) Sharat - Himalayan Yoga
Center, Dharamsala, India 1998
Bhakti Yoga (two months) Vrindavan - Uttar Pradesh, India 1997
Hatha Yoga (one month) Safedwala Brahmachari - Sivananda Ashram,
Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Pranayama, Mudra, & Bandha Swami Samarthparananda – Rishikesh,
Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Yogic Studies—Four-Month Certificate Course Bihar School of Yoga - Munger,
Bihar, India 1996
Tantric Yoga & Shaktipath (three months) Kutta Baba - Rishikesh,
Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Yoga Integrated with Ayurveda, Herbal Therapy, & Nature Cure
Various instructors - Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Iyengar-Style Hatha Yoga Intensive Rudra Bramachari - Yoga Studies
Center, Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Hatha Yoga (three months) Swami Sivanandakhanabananawala -
Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Bhakti Yoga (two months) Vrindavan - Uttar Pradesh, India 1996
Iyengar-Style Hatha Yoga Pune, India 1996
Hatha Yoga (one month) Udawella Meditation Center – Udawella, Sri
Lanka. 1995
Hatha Yoga (one month) Various Instructors - Sivananda Ashram,
Rishikesh, Uttar Pradesh, India 1994
Hatha Yoga Staff Instructors – Yoga Niketan, Rishikesh, Uttar
Pradesh, India 1994
Bhakti Yoga (two months) Vrindavan - Uttar Pradesh, India 1994
Bhakti Yoga (one month) Kainchi, Uttar Pradesh, India 1994
Iyengar Yoga: Various Instructors Lama Foundation, San Cristobal,
NM. 1992
Kashmiri Shaivite Tantra, Ritual, and Meditation: Initiation & Advanced Instruction
Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson & Lama Larry Short - Temple of the Celestial
Cloud, Pacific Grove, CA. 2007-2010
Bon Tantra, Ritual, and Meditation: Initiation & Advanced Instruction
Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson & Lama Larry Short - Temple of the Celestial
Cloud, Pacific Grove, CA. 2007-2010
Tibetan Nyingma Tantra, Ritual, and Meditation: Initiation & Advanced Instruction
Lama Larry Short - Temple of the Celestial Cloud, Pacific Grove, CA.
2007-2010
Buddhist Meditation:
Daoist Mysticism Abbot Zheng & monastery staff - Lung Hu Shan (Dragon-Tiger Mountain) Monastery, Jiangxi Province, China:
Daoist Mysticism & Spirituality Classes Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson - Temple of the Celestial Cloud, Pacific Grove / Monterey, CA:
Daoist Mysticism & Spirituality Intensives Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson - Temple of the Celestial Cloud, Pacific Grove, CA:
Ancient Daoist Original Form Qigong Training Tian Shi Tutti - Santa
Cruz, CA. 2001
Landmark Education San Jose, CA.
Berkeley Psychic Institute - Berkeley, CA
Krishnamurti Studies
Sufi Mysticism
Psychic Training Rev. Susan Baldwin, Santa Fe, NM. 1993-1994
Psychic Training & Esoteric Meditation Roger Son Szu, PhD. - Gila,
NM. 1990-1992
Native American Shamanism Andrew Fiedler – Gila, NM 1990-1994
East-West Herbology Dr. Michael Tierra & Dr. Leslie Tierra - Ben
Lomond, CA.
Medical Qigong Therapy-Clinical Internship Grandmaster Duan Zhi
Liang - Beijing, China. 2007, 2010
Primordial Chaos Qigong (Healing Applications) Grandmaster Duan Zhi
Liang- Beijing, China. 2007, 2010
Hua Shan Lineage Daoist Healing Qigong, Levels 1 & 2 Eva Wong - San
Francisco, CA. 2007
Doctor of Medical Qigong: Awarded by the Western District Medical
Qigong Science & Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute
(Beijing China) & the Henan University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine 2004
Medical Qigong Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson - International Institute of
Medical Qigong, Pacific Grove, CA. 2000-2004
Medical Shen Gong (Daoist Meditation training for healing & medical
purposes) Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson - International Institute of
Medical Qigong, Pacific Grove, CA. 2000-2003
Daoist & Buddhist Healing Qigong Sifu Nicholas Dibona –
Silver City, NM. 2000
Professional Internship in Acupuncture, Herbal Therapy, Moxibustion,
& Traditional Chinese Medicine Dr. Michael Burton - Green Eyed Tiger
Oriental Medicine, Santa Cruz, CA. 1999-2000
Zen Shiatsu & Chinese Medicine Sakkis Sensei - Dharamsala, India
1998
Reiki Level 1 Zefat, Israel 1997
Wilderness Survival & Native American Medicine Gila & Santa Fe, NM.
1990-1994
Macrobiotics & Natural Medicine Gila, Silver City, Santa Fe, & Taos,
NM. 1990-1994
Chen style Taijiquan
Yang style Taijiquan
Ba Gua Zhang:
Martial Qigong
Brazilian jiu-jitsu: Lotus Jiu Jitsu Club, Ipiranga, Sao Paulo,
Brazil. 2008
Liu Hu Ba Fa Water Boxing: Sifu Nicholas Dibona– Gila, NM.
1992-1994, 1999-2000
Shaolin Gong-fu: Sifu Nicholas Dibona– Gila, NM. 1990-1994,
1999-2000
Shotokan Karate: Sifu Nicholas Dibona– Gila, NM. 1990-1994,
1999-2000
SF BAY AREA
Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 1999 to present
Temple of the Celestial Cloud, Pacific Grove, CA. 2005-2010
Reformation Studios - Almaden, CA. 2004-2010
Hakone Foundation - Saratoga, CA. 2007-2009
Hindu Swayam Sevak - Sunnyvale, CA. 2005, 2006
Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club - Los Gatos, CA. 1999-2006
Dancing Yogi - Saratoga, CA. 2003-2005
Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Center - Los Gatos, CA. 1999-2004
Los Gatos Athletic Club - Los Gatos, CA. 1999-2003
CORPORATE LOCATIONS:
OTHER TEACHING LOCATIONS
California Polytechnic State University, CA. 2009
Boulder Creek, CA. 1999-2007
River Oaks - Houston, TX. 2004
Cotuit - Cape Cod, MA. 2003
Amirim - Zefat, Israel 1997
Dharamsala - Himachal Pradesh, India 1997
Rishikesh - Uttar Pradesh, India 1996, 1997, 1998
Vasanta Vihar Krishnamurti Center - Madras, India 1996
Udawella Meditation Center – Udawella, Sri Lanka 1995
Amritapuri Ashram - Karunagappally, Kerala, India 1995
Anandashram - Kanhangad, Maharastra, India 1995
Lama Foundation - San Cristobal, NM.. 1992-1994
MARTIAL ARTS TEACHING
Neigong (Assistant Instructor): Temple of the Celestial Cloud -
Pacific Grove, CA. 2004-2008
Taijiquan:
Shaolin Gong-fu: Lama Foundation - San Cristobal, NM. 1992-1994
Wilderness Survival, Plant Identification, and Primitive Tool
Making: Lama Foundation – San Cristobal, NM. 1992-1994
YOGA AND MEDITATION WORKSHOPS
AND LECTURES
Chanting in Yoga: Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2008
Yoga for Sleep: Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2008
Beginning Meditation: Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2008
Partner Yoga:
The Yoga of Breathing: Reformation Studios - Los Gatos, CA. 2004
Deep Yoga: Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2003
Using Yoga and Qigong in the Modern World: Ergonomics Symposium -
San Francisco, CA. 2003
Total Yoga: Los Gatos Athletic Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2001, 2002
Natural Health in a Modern World: Longs Drugs International
Headquarters - Walnut Creek, CA. 1999
Indian Yoga for Chinese Meridians: Dharamsala - Himachal Pradesh,
India. 1998
Meditation and Stress Relief: Golf Country Resort - Chiang Mai,
Thailand. 1995
MEDICAL QIGONG WORKSHOPS
Introduction to Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 1:
University of East-West Medicine
– Santa Clara, CA. 2010
Master of Medical Qigong Training Course (Assistant Instructor in
Practitioner, Therapist & Masters levels):
International Institute of Medical Qigong – Pacific Grove &
Monterey, CA. 2003-2010
Medical Qigong, Supervising Doctor, MQP Clinic: Sao Paulo, Brazil 2009
Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 4: Sao Paulo, Brazil 2009
Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 2: Sao Paulo, Brazil 2008,
2009
Introduction to Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 1: Sao Paulo,
Brazil 2008, 2009
Introduction to Medical Qigong: Courtside Club – Los Gatos, CA. 2008
Introduction to Qigong: Core Movement Center – Nevada City, CA. 2008
Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 3: Sao Paulo, Brazil 2008
Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 3: Sunnyvale, CA. 2008
Medical Qigong, Practitioner Level 2: Sunnyvale, CA. 2008
Qigong for Healers: East-West Herb Seminar - Ben Lomond, CA. 2008
Medical Qigong Therapy for Oncology (Assistant Instructor): Sao
Paulo, Brazil 2007
Medical Qigong Treatment of Internal Organ Diseases and Prescription
Exercises, Practitioner Level 4: Harbin Hot Springs - Middleton, CA.
2007
Medical Qigong Treatment of Internal Organ Diseases and Prescription
Exercises, Practitioner Level 4 (Assistant Instructor):
International Institute of Medical Qigong - Palm Desert, CA. 2007
Medical Qigong: Harbin Hot Springs - Middleton, CA. 2005-2006
Qigong for Relaxation and Stress Relief: M3 Learning - Saratoga,
CA. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Introduction to Taijiquan: Courtside Club - Los Gatos, CA. 2001
LANDMARK EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
Production Assistant: Landmark Education - San Jose, CA:
Medical Qigong Therapy
Shiatsu Therapy
Associate Minister, Church of Divine Man - Berkeley, CA. 2003-2005
Professional Aura Reader, Berkeley Psychic Institute - Berkeley
Campus & Mountain View Campus, CA. 2002-2003
Psychic Healer, Berkeley Psychic Institute - Berkeley, CA. 2002-2003
Chief Editor and Contributing Author: with author Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson - Temple of the Celestial Cloud, Pacific Grove – CA
The Microcosm and the Macrocosm: The Doctor-Patient Relationship in
Modern Medical Qigong Therapy Doctoral Thesis under Professor Jerry
Alan Johnson – International Institute of Medical Qigong, Pacific
Grove, CA. 2003