Khenpo Tsenam Rinpoche was Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo’s primary teacher. She mentioned him by name countless times and often told us that she was teaching us exactly as he taught her. His biography is included here as a tribute to my Tibetan Medicine lineage. His biography and accompanying interview is a glimpse into the extraordinary life and insights of a traditional scholar-physician.

Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo was born and educated in Tibet. At the request of Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, she came to the US and became the director of the Shang Shung School of Tibetan Medicine, the first Tibetan Medicine school in the West. Dr. Wangmo has championed the lineage and tradition of Tibetan Medicine as it has been taught for generations. Neeshee began studying with Dr. Wango in 2016 and formally completed his studies in 2021.

Vaidya Mishra was a modern Ayurvedic master who championed the classical teachings of Ayurvedic medicine. He transmitted his family lineage of Shaka Vansya Ayurveda through oral tradition. Neeshee studied with Vaidya Mishra from 2013 until his untimely passing in 2017. Shortly before his passing, Vaidya formally acknowledged Neeshee as a practitioner within his lineage.

Emmett Hutchins was one of Ida Rolf’s first students and the founder of the Guild for Structural Integration. Nicole learned directly from Emmett and completed her training under his tutelage. Neeshee also had the good fortune to experience the Rolfing ten-series from Emmett.

Jane Yang and Paul Litchfield are Qigong Masters and devotees of Avatar Adi Da Samraj, currently living in Melbourne, Australia. Jane Yang received the transmission of a unique mode of medical qigong known as Wuji Qigong from her teacher, Master Li. From 2006-2008, Jane and Paul’s work underwent major transformations when they began offering healing treatments to Avatar Adi Da. He clarified and expounded on the nature of their work. Neeshee and Nicole trained with Jane and Paul in 2016. Rather than learning via didactic instruction, Jane and Paul instructed them via direct qi transmission. They acknowledged Neeshee and Nicole as the only students to have successfully trained and practiced their unique form of qigong healing. Jane and Paul’s teachings and practice have become the energetic core of Neeshee and Nicole’s healing practice.