Glenda Hesseltine, M.A., entered the world of Tai Chi through the “back-door” of her own health breakdown.
Unmanaged chronic stress levels finally resulted in adrenal dysfunction to the point of what is now termed “the near death experience”. At one point in her life, Glenda weighed less than 100 pounds and was unable to keep any food down. One day, her breathing mysteriously stopped completely, and she experienced what is now commonly referred to as an “out of body experience.” She eventually recovered from this strange and startling experience, but with no help from traditional Western medicine.
In fact, Western medicine had no explanation nor remedy for her steady decline. Experiencing the chronic pain of severe fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia, Epstein-Barr, CFS, insomnia, IBS, chronic edema, and migraine headaches, Glenda was soon removed from her formerly active life and was mostly reduced to being bedridden until examined by a visiting Chinese physician named Dr. Sau-Wa Chan.
The unorthodox methods of traditional Chinese medicine practiced by Dr. Chan produced an immediate, almost miraculous result, and Glenda recovered enough to begin her 7-year training in Tai Chi Chuan with Dr. Chan, a 40-year Tai Chi practitioner and teaching physician from China. In the beginning of the training, Dr. Chan spoke almost no English. Glenda learned anyway. She had to—her life depended upon it.
Ultimately Glenda became symptom-free and began to teach other westerners the unique healing techniques she had learned from Dr. Chan, resulting in a 19-year career as a Tai Chi teacher that culminated recently in seven years as a health educator and stress-reduction teacher, including service as a core teacher for Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia classes for Kaiser Permanente in California’s Central Valley.
There is some irony in the fact that the woman who was once bedridden with chronic pain and weakness of the “yuppie” diseases became the teacher of those who suffered with the very same condition.
Eventually, with the help of Dr. Paul Lam, who certified Glenda in Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi as a Prescription became a reality in her community. Over 5,000 students went through Glenda’s stress-reduction training program in a 12-year period, learning to lower blood pressure naturally, regain balance, strengthen muscles, protect joints, lower pain levels, improve sleep, breathe better, calm the mind, and reduce stress overall. Glenda continues this work in Northern California, where she currently resides.
Consequently, Glenda has worked with all ages and many conditions and health challenges.
One student, Geri Bagby, made Kaiser newsletter headlines with her ability to use Tai Chi breathing and relaxation techniques instead of anesthetic during surgeries. Due to allergic reactions to anesthetics, Tai Chi breathing enabled her to manage pain and complete the procedures successfully.
Other students have lowered blood pressure—sometimes as much as 40 points in five minutes. One student increased breathing capacity despite Lou Gehrig’s disease. There are no guarantees with Tai Chi, because each individual is unique, but there is one common claim: all who practice Tai Chi faithfully each day will eventually benefit in some way. That is the promise of Tai Chi.
In Glenda’s classes, that promise—combined with her expertise and experience—results in a healing modality that is eclectic in nature.
With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, specializing in guided imagery (Psychosynthesis), she often includes visualization and “gold light meditation” in her teaching and practice.
Certified by Dr. Paul Lam in two levels of Tai Chi for Arthritis, as well as Tai Chi for Diabetes, and recognized as a teacher of Tai Chi for Arthritis by the American Arthritis Foundation, she addresses chronic pain management with acupressure techniques and strengthening of joints and muscles.
She worked for 3 years as the Tai Chi teacher for an innovative drug rehab program using acupuncture, Tai Chi, and herbs. She also worked for 3 years in a pioneer program called “Wellness Works”, which encouraged participants to get off welfare and back to work, with Tai Chi and Yoga as key components of stress-reduction training.
In addition to traditional Yang Style and Sun Style Tai Chi, she is trained in Shibashi Chi Kung, Swimming Dragon Tai Chi, breathing techniques, body scanning, visualization, “gold-light meditation”, T.M., Centering Prayer, and acupressure massage.
Although she is traditionally educated and professionally certified, Glenda says her best credentials are her life experience and her recovery from a condition that was humiliating, debilitating, and considered quite hopeless at the time.
Learning to activate the “healer within” restored her health and vitality, and she has dedicated her life to passing that knowledge along to others. One of her favorite Tai Chi quotes is: “I intend to die as young as possible, as late as possible.”
She now lives in Northern California near her grandchildren and is actively engaged in life coaching (Prime Force Life Coaching), teaching Tai Chi for Kids, and continuing her schedule of stress-reduction training and healing classes for adults.
She is available for private lessons, individual coaching sessions, and public speaking engagements.
