Mastering Embodiment for Total Wellness – An Interview with Kellie Winzinowich and Kelly Whelan-Enns

Kelly Whelan-Enns is the Founder and Head Instructor for Academy of Embodiment Arts. He has over 35 years of experience teaching & training in the martial arts, qigong, meditation, and has been a yoga enthusiast since the age of four. As a kid, Kelly was severely hypoglycemic, had asthma that almost killed him numerous times, suffered regularly from bronchitis, and had many food allergies. He learned the Ba Duan Jin, 8 Pieces of Brocade, and Zhan Zhuang basics when he was 13 and cured himself of his asthma and bronchitis by the age of 15. The rest, as they say, is history.

To deepen his understanding of how and why the 8 Pieces of Brocade worked so well, Kelly dove into both qigong and martial arts training, spending over twelve years studying Kenpo Karate, Xinyi Liu He Quan, and Yang style Taijiquan, meeting his first Baguazhang teacher at the age of 24. He has trained with such master teachers as Andrea Falk, learning the rare style of Ma Gui Baguazhang.

Alongside all the martial arts training and conditioning, Kelly has over 20 years of studying the Medical Qigong system of Grandmaster Peng Jiu Ling, a combination of old Shao Lin Waidan moving methods and Luohan Neidan Zhan Zhuang methods. This system specializes in developing the meridians and sensitivity to qi flow inside and around the body. A rare method of training neuro-differentiation that accelerates and deepens the mind-body connection.

Combined with this depth of physical training, Kelly brings an equal level of experience and training in Taoist, Zen Buddhist, and Tibetan Buddhist meditation and internal alchemy that spans 30 years. 

Co-owner and administrator for Academy of Embodiment Arts, Kellie holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Manitoba and has spent 30+ years as a coach for elite gymnasts, preschool, recreational, and adult athletes. She is also a Certified Hypnotherapist with the International Association of Counsellors and Therapists (IACT). In addition, she spent many years as a learning facilitator/coach developer with the National Coaching Certification Program and as an instructor in the Kinesiology department at the University of Manitoba.

Kellie’s passion for movement literacy led her to learn the 8 Pieces of Brocade Qigong and Ma Gui & Jiang styles of Baguazhang. After giving birth to four children, Kellie found a gap in her movement literacy as she tried to heal from birth injuries. During her search, she stumbled across Kelly’s classes, and the teachings resonated with her healing process. Her desire to help others and to facilitate physical and emotional healing processes led her to becoming an instructor with Academy of Embodiment Arts.

In addition to her many years of physical training, Kellie has been practicing and studying internal alchemy for over two decades. In addition to Hypnotherapy, she is experienced as a clairvoyant medium, and has received certification in Naturopathy, Spiritual Coaching, Reiki, and received Light Weaving Attunements. She uses her intuitive abilities along with the body’s wisdom to work with individuals on many levels. 

Kellie Winzinowich and Kelly Whelan-Enns, Active Embodiment Coaches

What inspired you to create the Academy of Embodiment Arts and specialise in physical, emotional, and spiritual self-mastery?

After studying Qigong for decades, Kelly found a lack of authentic and credible information about Qigong and the Chinese healing arts in the modern world. In his experience, there seems to be confusion about the true nature of Qigong and what is required to heal mentally and emotionally through physical embodiment. Very few understand how to use their awareness to align with one’s Heartspace in a mindful fashion.

Qi is a basic concept of energy around us, often referring to blood flow within the human body, our life force, and the life force energy of humans, nature, and all that surrounds us. Gong means skill acquired through long practice. Combined, essentially, Qigong is skill with your energy acquired through long practice.

Kellie’s background in Kinesiology gave her a different framework to work with, and when she began Qigong and energy work, she found it opened up a whole tapestry of wellness she hadn’t considered before. The body is the key to healing, and when you can learn not only how your body works on a physical level, but an energetic one, it truly transforms your life from the inside out.

How do you define “embodiment” and why is it essential for everyday health and wellness?

Embodiment is the expression of the physical, bodily elements of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. A lot of wisdom that has come out of the East and interpreted by the West has led to a misunderstanding that the mind is all and is the only important aspect of healing and spiritual evolution. In reality, a person needs to understand how the layers of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual realities are interwoven and connect to form our personal realities. It is essential for everyday health and wellness because hearing the body’s messages improves our health in every way.

What are the most common challenges your clients face before working with you?

Most clients are not aware of their bodies meaning that they do not know how their mind influences their behavior, emotional states, and physical body, nor do they have a basic understanding of human anatomy and physiology. This is why we not only teach the concepts, but we also teach the physical tools to embody them. Healing is a very physical experience. Our body is the interface between the spirit world and the physical one. Everything physical we do is also an emotional or spiritual experience. When we feel our bodies and what is happening inside, we have more personal insight into what is happening, and gain more control over our overall health.

How does your approach differ from conventional fitness or wellness programs?

Our approach differs because we teach listening skills that are not taught in conventional fitness and wellness programs. Listening to the body teaches authentic discernment of mental, emotional, and spiritual information inside the body in the present moment that, once learned, transcends all ego and shadow spaces. We teach basic anatomy to participants so they know where certain organs, muscles, bones, joints, etc are in the body, but also how the fascia system connects all. During practice, we focus on certain parts of the body which, over time, provides a physical point of reference for where stuck energy resides in the body.

Understanding on a physical level when our ego is at play, helps us understand how to do shadow work as well. It is a physical experience, one you feel in the body. When you shift a belief, you change your physical reality from the inside out. Everything is a reflection of what we hold inside. When we don’t know how to listen to what is inside of us, we cannot understand why reality happens the way it does.

Can you walk us through one signature class or program and the results clients typically experience?

A typical class would involve the 8 Pieces of Brocade Qigong set, Zhan Zhuang (Standing Stake) Practice, and Baguazhang mud-stepping. These sets focus the client on the body and gets them out of their head. The breathwork involved helps them to ground, release stress, and enter a more peaceful and relaxed state. The movements are designed in such a way as to strengthen the tendons and fascia while relaxing under pressure.

Qigong gives the body a point of reference for another state of being – one of peaceful observation. With the stressors of everyday life, our nervous systems can get stuck in the “on” position. These movements help regulate the blood and lymphatic fluid flow in the body while calming the nervous system. Over time and with dedication to a regular practice, people can carry this calm state into their everyday lives, thereby reducing the stress on the body all the time.

How do you integrate mind, body, and heart in your teaching, and what benefits do participants report?

Calming the mind is key because when we get out of our heads, we can feel what is happening in the body. When we are constantly thinking, planning, or suppressing our thoughts and emotions, we are taxing the nervous system and storing that energy in the body. When it isn’t released, we cause dis-ease and disharmony in the physical body.

In Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Heart likes connection, but if it’s too much, you won’t get the peace you need. For example, Joy is on the same spectrum as anxiety. It’s not a steady state. It’s meant to be a temporary experience as any other emotion. When you are in a constant state of joy or anxiety, your brain turns down the sensitivity, meaning that the “excitement” will go away, and you may get depressed when you do not get your “fix”. The arts we teach help people move into a calm state and create more peace within the Heart.

Why is longevity and internal system strength (like circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous system) an important focus in your work?

Qigong is about regulation. When you provide a solid framework of regulating fluid flow like blood and lymph, you massage all the organs and tissues from the inside out. Regulating the body this way can provide profound support for efficient functioning of all systems, and being able to build a solid toolbox for longevity and internal awareness.

How does your online platform (and your podcast, Soul Discovery Podcast) support clients who may not be local?

Our online platform provides the information that we teach in classes. In this way, we can reach a global audience interested in learning these awareness techniques. Some of the courses on our platform go into more detail than we can sometimes cover in a 10-week program. We aim to provide people with as much information as possible so they can use the tools for themselves, and refer back to it on a regular basis.

Our podcast reflects the awareness development inherent in Qigong and every other body discipline we teach. We cover a variety of emotional, mental health, and spiritual topics. We always bring it back to body awareness as that is key for our health and wellness. The reality of Qigong requires understanding how to listen to the body, and how our awareness interacts with our physical reality. We have to understand our intention through feeling. An old saying in Qigong: We need to sink the Qi to the Dan Tien. This is a trick statement because in order to sink the Dan Tien, we need to get out of our heads and into our bodies in order to hear ourselves clearly.

What kind of person or lifestyle is your work best suited for, and who should reach out to you now?

Anyone who is interested in developing a deeper understanding of themselves, their body, and their awareness is welcome to work with us. Over time, you can reach such a deep level of awareness of how your body is aligned with spirit. We combine all aspects in our teachings so that people can know themselves on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels as everything works as a whole.

What is the first step you’d like a potential client to take if they’re ready to transform their life with your help?

Contact us and speak to us about what your goals are and what you’d like to achieve. No experience is necessary, and we welcome everyone who wants to create better health in every area of their lives.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info!

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