Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Berger.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I had an interest in Asian culture and martial arts from a very early age, and enjoyed watching the television series “Kung Fu” and “The Green Hornet”. When I was about 12 years old, my family moved from California to Utah, and shortly thereafter my Dad enrolled our entire family in a meditation course, Transcendental Meditation, which was relatively new to the United States at that time, about 1971. I was really drawn to the whole Asian culture, and during the off-season as a college wrestler, I became involved in Judo and Karate. After graduating with a degree in English, I was offered a full time job in Japan teaching English. My real motivation in going was to continue my study of martial arts. In 1984 I received my black belt in karate from the Chief Instructor at the World Headquarters in Tokyo, then competed in the All- Japan Tournament, and subsequently several World Tournaments as part of the US National Team. During my training at some very rough and high level programs, I had a number of injuries, and happened upon acupuncture for treatment. It was miraculous ! It made so much sense to me, as it was based on the universal and timeless laws of nature, on mathematics, astrology, seasons, yin and yang, and so much more. I found the field so intriguing and deep, but it wasn’t until many years later that I would finally attend school. After returning back to the USA from Japan, I began teaching karate as a profession, while also teaching school , and tried several other professions. Eventually, I started studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Master’s degree program in Santa Monica, California, but after about three years I realized that I wanted more, and I understood the value of studying at the source. In 2008 , after seeing a photo at an art show of the mountain “Huang Shan” in China, I decided to go there for my birthday and spend it on top of the mountain. My brother and I went, and then as we were traveling, I asked someone to write a note for me in Chinese indicating that I was interested in Chinese Medicine, and asking that someone please teach me something. Eventually, I was in Hangzhou, in the very old part of the city, and happened upon a very old Chinese Medicine clinic, a very famous one from the Qing Dynasty, called “Hu Qing Yu Tang”. I went in and saw the fantastic and ornate old lobby, and people putting together formulas of raw herbal prescriptions to make into teas for the patients. I handed someone my note, and they told me to follow them, where I met an old man sitting behind an old wooden desk with about 100 people gathered around him. In the same room where he was seeing patients, there were cages of ducks and chickens that people had brought him for payment. The doctor introduced himself in perfect English ! His name was Dr Wu Boping,, and he was a very famous doctor. He let me follow him to learn for several days, and then told me that if I really wanted to learn Chinese Medicine, I needed to move here to Hangzhou, where there was a famous university, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. After visiting there and speaking with staff, they told me that my 3 years of studying in the USA would meet the requirements for me to enter the Masters program there. Well, I went back to Los Angeles, sublet my apartment, asked someone to take over my karate school, packed my bags, and two months later arrived in Hangzhou. This is the beginning of what would become a very fascinating, action packed, challenging and yet rewarding adventure in my life… ( to be continued by interview !) Now I operate my own private clinic and treat patients in SLC and along the Panhandle cities in Florida.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, before I arrived in China, I had reserved a room in the dorms of the university, since I did not speak Chinese and I knew it would be nearly impossible to find a room on my own. After about a 15 hour plane flight, struggling with heavy bags and taxi drivers, etc,, I finally arrived at the school in the late afternoon, and went up to the admissions office. I met them and told them that I was very tired, and I would just like to get the keys to my dorm room so I could take my bags there and get some rest. The office worker, ( head of the International Program) looked at me with a confused look on his face, and told me that were no more rooms, and that I would have to find my own room. I was shocked ! I told him that I had reserved a room , and that I could not speak Chinese , and where was I to go ! I wound up going to a youth hostel for several days while trying to find a room to rent ! This was just the beginning of the many problems that I would encounter …
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Licensed Acupuncturist, Acupuncture Physician , and practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes many components, such as herbal medicine, cupping, qigong, and other therapies. I am Board Certified and spent over 8 years living and studying in China and Japan. I am one of few foreigners to have completed the full time Masters degree program in China, and completed the curriculum portion of the PhD program in China. I have been the US Delegate for World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, and a former President of the Utah Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I am a Subject Matter Expert for the NCCAOM (National Board), and am also licensed in Florida. I have spoken at numerous national and international conferences and have authored or co-authored many books and articles, have appeared in many publications and on television and news programs. I offer the entire realm of Chinese Medicine, and some of my specialties include, but are not limited to, insomnia, shingles, back/neck/shoulder/ knee pain , and all types of pain, digestive issues, IBS, fibromyalgia, psycho-emotional disorders and difficult disease patterns that western medicine has no answer for. Additionally, I am an elite level martial arts instructor,specializing in both Chinese and Japanese arts, and am a Zen Buddhist who teaches meditation.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think you have to find the best person to mentor you, and go for it, using whatever it takes. Be coachable and humble and work hard and never give up your dreams. Believe in yourself but always keep a beginner’s mind .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.classicalchinesehealing.com
- Instagram: classical_ways
- Facebook: Michael Berger’s Classical Ways
- Twitter: warriorwisdom
- Youtube: Classical Ways
