Joyce Thom - Practitioner and Teacher

With more than 20 years of experience in high-pressure environments, Joyce understands the importance of actively managing stress and creating a balanced lifestyle amidst the fast pace of modern life. Prior to opening The PATH, Joyce was a senior executive in general management, strategy, product management, and marketing at leading companies such as eBay, Intuit, Monitor and SRI International. In the 1990's, she also co-founded and was CEO of a technology infrastructure company in Silicon Valley. From 2006 to early 2009, she was Chancellor of Gauden University -- an educational institution devoted to the evolution of consciousness. Joyce has a B.A. summa cum laude from Yale and an M.P.A. in Public and International Affairs from Princeton.

Joyce began studying meditation, acupressure points, and Qi cultivation as a student of martial arts in 1979.  Since 1986, she has focused on the healing aspects of these ancient Eastern practices through the study and practice of acupressure, medical qigong, yoga and various forms of energy work. Trained in several modern Western healing arts as well, Joyce incorporates and integrates the best of both worlds into her sessions and classes.

Eastern Arts:
Often described as "acupuncture without the needles," acupressure stimulates points along energy pathways to address illness/injuries, reduce stress, boost the immune system, and increase vitality.  As an Acupressure Practitioner and member of the ABMP, Joyce has studied Tui Na, Zen Shiatsu, Ashiatsu, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and Thai bodywork in the US and Asia. She is on the faculty and holds advanced certification in Traditional Asian Therapies at Berkeley's Acupressure Institute.  She has completed teaching apprenticeships in these arts and offers seminars upon request to interested students.

Medical QiGong therapy combines breath, physical movement, meditation, and conscious intent to improve health and increase one's sense of harmony. As a Medical QiGong Therapist trained by and holding a Masters in Medical QiGong from Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Joyce works with clients to strengthen, balance, and improve the flow of Qi throughout the body. She has also benefitted greatly from practicing Wind & Waters and Yang-style TaiChi at the Acupressure Institute and TaiChi Berkeley. Additionally, Joyce has immersed herself in the KUNLUN NEI GUNG™ System and is a certified apprentice. She teaches workshops and private classes to those interested in awakening more of their potential through these arts.

Joyce became a Reiki Master & Teacher in 2006 after she received Advanced Reiki Training and both the Usui and Tibetan Reiki Master attunements from Paths of Light. She offers Reiki classes and attunements.

Additionally, Joyce practices and teaches an integrative style of Yoga called Meridian Flow Yoga that draws upon her knowledge of classical Chinese medicine and focuses on yoga as a therapeutic way to promote healing and improve overall health. Her teaching style draws from many yogic traditions and interweaves her knowledge of traditional Asian healing modalities and acupressure with hatha yoga postures. Joyce's holistic approach brings together breath, postures, movement, imagery, and deep relaxation. 

Her yoga background includes teacher training in Hatha Yoga under Sherry Han, completing the Integrative Yoga Therapy intensive Therapeutic Teacher Training program, training in Thai-Yoga with Thai Yoga Healing Arts, and receiving certification as an Acu-Yoga teacher from the Acupressure Institute. She is recognized by the Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher and teaches Meridian Flow Yoga workshops internationally.

Western Arts:
Joyce has completed certification in Visionary Craniosacral Work with the Milne Institute where she is one of the instructors. She enjoys sharing this subtle and transformative modality and incorporates the visionary approach into all of her sessions. She has also studied Cranio Sacral Therapy and Bio-Dynamic Cranial Touch with the Heartwood, Upledger, and Dynamic Stillness Institutes. Joyce teaches seminars on cranial flow basics, cranial self-care, and visionary craniosacral work.

She has also been trained in Bowenwork and Cellular Response which combine Western approaches to health with energy work. She is a practitioner of both Flow Alignment & Connection (FAC) and Physical Atomic Cellular Evolution (PACE) -- forms of transformative energetic body work developed by RoseLight. Much of this work builds on her foundation of studies into expanded consciousness with LuminEssence where she is qualified to teach Awakening Your Light Body-- a powerful course in accelerating personal and spiritual growth.

Joyce enjoys helping people on their PATH to greater peace, awareness, transformation and health. She offers in-person sessions at her Los Altos and San Leandro offices as well as appointments for long-distance Qi Gong, FAC, PACE, & Reiki sessions. In addition to teaching at the Acupressure Institute and Milne Institute, Joyce teaches private seminars in consciousness studies and meditation, CranioSacral Therapy, Kunlun Nei Gung, Meridian Flow Yoga, Tui Na, Zen Shiatsu, and Awakening Your Light Body in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

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Acknowledgements

With the deepest respect and gratitude, Joyce wishes to acknowledge the many teachers and organizations who have shared their knowledge and support. Click on the pictures or logos for more information.