about us
About Us
Stefani Valadez teaches various movements, forms and specific sets of Qi Gong that enhance our life force, (also called Chi, Prana, or Ki) through breathing techniques, strengthening and stretching exercises, healing sounds and moving meditations. These classes are intended to help students enter the “flow-state” for maximum energy and less stress.
DragonSong Qi Gong was founded by the musician, singer-songwriter, Stefani Valadez.
Stefani has four decades of martial arts and healing arts training:
Bioenergetics Qi Gong Teacher’s Training” (completed 12/6/21)
2021 Advanced courses with Nick Loffree –DaoYin QiGong, 5 Animals forms
2018-present Master Dr Liu (Emperors College for Acupuncture) Big Dipper Qi Gong
2018-present Lee Holden (Holden Qi Gong)
2018-present Nick Loffree (BioEnergetic Health)
2014 Manzanita Village: 5 Changes Evolutionary Leadership (NLP)
1998-2010 Healer’s Training Circle with Medicine Woman Deena Metzger
Dare (Council) Participant with Deena Metzger and African Shaman Augustine Kandemwa “Mandaza”1995 Dr Baolin Wu (Beijing Medical Center of Santa Monica)
1994-2012 Hatha Yoga with Jasmine Lieb
1986-1987 Master Wen Mei Yu (Flying Crane Institute)
1985-1987 Master Abraham Liu, Bill Helms (Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego)
1985 8-week Residency with Master Chung-Liang Huang
Tai Chi and Calligraphy1984-1988 Tao Healing Arts Center: Student with Dr. DoAnn T. Kaneko-san
1984 Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Reiki Practitioner
1983 Tea Garden Emporium Reflexology, Deep Tissue Massage, Ginger Clark
1982-1983 Isshinryu Karate
1981-1987 Master Marshall Ho’o (National Tai Chi Chuan Association)
Stefani’s teaching experience includes:
Currently, teaching group zoom classes and privates – (zoom or in your home/yard)
- 2022 Certified Instructor for Nick Loffree’s BioEnergetics
- 1998-2017 Certified Trainer and Facilitator in The Way of Council, The Ojai Foundation
- 1988-1990 The Tao Healing Arts Center (with Dr. Kaneko-san) Tai Chi Instructor and Shiatsu Practitioner
2020 Certified Qi Gong Instructor for Holden QiGong
2017 Certified Trainer and Facilitator in The Way of Council
1988 The Tao Healing Arts Center (Dr. Kaneko-san)
Tai Chi Instructor and Shiatsu Practitioner1987 National Tai Chi Chuan Association, Assistant Instructor to Master Ho’o
How I found my way to Qi Gong ~
There is usually a good story about how someone finds their way to a practice. This is mine.
I was going through a divorce and needed exercise and to get out a little aggression so I started studying Tae Kwando at a local Dojo. I went 4 times a week, working towards my black belt. Then, six months in, I was in a bad car accident and was told “No martial arts for at least 6 months while you heal.” Thankfully, I had this very cool Physical Therapist. He knew how much I loved doing martial arts and told me to check out Tai Chi Chuan with Master Marshall Ho. I thought this would probably be okay, until could get back to the Dojo. I healed from the accident with Marshall’s help – the first acupuncture treatment I’d ever received. He taught me Yang style Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Chinese Medicine theory. I never made it back to the Dojo.
I’d found a new path. I’d found the Inner Schools of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Qi (pronounced: ‘Chi’) Gong is not itself a martial art but is one of the 5 Healing Arts in Traditional Chinese Medicine. When you enter the discipline of martial arts, you are using Qi Gong.
Over the years after Marshall passed on, I’d strayed away from Tai Chi but continued to do Qi Gong. I took many classes from several local teachers of varying styles. I had a serious Yoga practice and did Pilates for many years. Then during a Meditation Retreat I found myself getting up early to sit in on a Qi Gong class. I felt like I was connecting to the Cosmos and grounding in the Earth. I felt I was where I was supposed to be. I was at home in my body. Qi Gong was enhancing and melding with my daily practice of Somatic Meditation. I knew then I would do it for the rest of my life.
I am familiar with waking up in the morning feeling tight and noticing all the new aches and pains that come with age. I have some long-lasting effects in my hips and low back from that old car accident but now I get up and do an hour of Qi Gong. Soon I feel my body charging up with vital life force-buzzing, shimmering, juices flowing. I’m giving the body what it naturally seeks. It starts to open, gets looser and becomes vibrant. I can move with more fluidity and can get on with my day with a better attitude. I want everyone who is curious about healing themselves to experience this practice.
I teach as a wounded healer, with aches, pains and limitations that I did not have as a young person. My practice has taught me that if a specific movement doesn’t feel right for my body at any time, I can modify the exercise and tweak the position. (No, I can’t drop into “Snake Creeps Down” in high heel boots like I used to). Now I move my body with intention, good form, stability, balance, fluidity and more awareness. This makes me more resilient in response to the ups and downs of life.
When we engage in daily practice, we notice that we feel stronger, calmer and have more energy and feel less stress. We start to notice the deep energy (Qi) that flows through us and develop the ability to feel the subtler energies of our internal world and of the external world. We can fine tune our own energy to meet or respond to other people in a way that is healthy and authentic. We find ourselves making smarter and kinder choices about what we want and how we want it. We have learned to play with the Yin and the Yang of it!