About Cicily Thomas
Certified Taiji Quan and Qigong Master, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Vital Force Taichi Academy LLP is a mind and body wellness academy started by Cicily Thomas, a certified Taiji Quan and Qigong Master, trained in China by Grand Master Fu Sheng Yuan and Master Fu Qing Quan, representing the fifth and sixth generations of the Yang family. Cicily also honed her Qigong skills, training with several teachers including the renowned Dr Yang Jwing Ming in California.
I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) based in India, trained with Efu Nyaki and Berns Galloway. I assist in several trainings in India as well as in the US. I am qualified as an SEP to provide personal sessions for Beginning and Advanced levels. In the SE sessions that I offer, I look to support the autonomy of the practitioner, help in enabling wellness and health in a relationship based on safety, trust, respect, curiosity, openness, kindness, compassion and acceptance.
My spiritual journey began more than 25 years ago through self-inquiry and a deep search for purpose and meaning for my very existence. For several years, I explored and practiced techniques including vipasana and zen. yoga, tai chi chuan, qigong, counselling, NLP, Gestalt Therapy, cranio-sacral Therapy, traditional Chinese as well as ayurvedic acupressure. I have drawn in the essence of ancient wisdom from these practices and blended them with the modern-day holistic healing approaches. For over two decades, I have been teaching tai chi chuan and qigong and, in the past couple of years, I have integrated Somatic Experiencing into my practice. I work with adults, adolescents, children and dogs and it has been an amazing journey.
My other joys and passions include hiking and playing with my dog Tao, mountaineering, swimming, tennis, singing, reading, listening to music, watching movies, marvelling and protecting nature, traveling, gardening, cooking, intercultural work in responsible alternative practices including sustainable tourism with a French association, meeting and having meaningful exchanges with wonderful people across the globe!
I am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) based in India, trained with Efu Nyaki and Berns Galloway. I assist in several trainings in India as well as in the US. I am qualified as an SEP to provide personal sessions for Beginning and Advanced levels. In the SE sessions that I offer, I look to support the autonomy of the practitioner, help in enabling wellness and health in a relationship based on safety, trust, respect, curiosity, openness, kindness, compassion and acceptance.
My spiritual journey began more than 25 years ago through self-inquiry and a deep search for purpose and meaning for my very existence. For several years, I explored and practiced techniques including vipasana and zen. yoga, tai chi chuan, qigong, counselling, NLP, Gestalt Therapy, cranio-sacral Therapy, traditional Chinese as well as ayurvedic acupressure. I have drawn in the essence of ancient wisdom from these practices and blended them with the modern-day holistic healing approaches. For over two decades, I have been teaching tai chi chuan and qigong and, in the past couple of years, I have integrated Somatic Experiencing into my practice. I work with adults, adolescents, children and dogs and it has been an amazing journey.
My other joys and passions include hiking and playing with my dog Tao, mountaineering, swimming, tennis, singing, reading, listening to music, watching movies, marvelling and protecting nature, traveling, gardening, cooking, intercultural work in responsible alternative practices including sustainable tourism with a French association, meeting and having meaningful exchanges with wonderful people across the globe!
Tai Chi and Qigong
Cicily’s passion for health, wellness and vitality saw her establish the Vital Force Tai Chi Academy in Bangalore. Since 1998, she has been conducting Tai Chi and Qigong classes at four centers, imparting instruction to students of all ages and making a transformational change in their lives and lifestyles. The relaxing yet powerful movements of Tai Chi and the therapeutic benefits of Qigong have a restorative effect on all participants as they experience the balance and harmony resulting from a combination of breathing, aerobic and meditative exercises that teach one to embrace mind, body, soul and spirit.
Cicily’s passion for health, wellness and vitality saw her establish the Vital Force Tai Chi Academy in Bangalore. Since 1998, she has been conducting Tai Chi and Qigong classes at four centers, imparting instruction to students of all ages and making a transformational change in their lives and lifestyles. The relaxing yet powerful movements of Tai Chi and the therapeutic benefits of Qigong have a restorative effect on all participants as they experience the balance and harmony resulting from a combination of breathing, aerobic and meditative exercises that teach one to embrace mind, body, soul and spirit.
Somatic Experiencing
‘Trauma does not have to be a life-sentence’- Peter Levine
Pioneered by Dr. Peter A. Levine, Somatic Experiencing (SE) takes an organic approach to trauma and stress disorders by addressing their root causes and releasing trapped energy as well as uncomfortable sensations from the body.
Antidepressants numb symptoms of distress, psychedelics appear to turbocharge them, psychotherapy could re-traumatise when delving into the narrative over and over.
However, SE does not seek to replace any other approach. SE is a body-based therapy which brings us in touch with the parts of the brain and the autonomous nervous system that regulate basic functions including regulation of the heart rate, breathing, awareness and consciousness
As a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certified by the US-based Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
(SETI), Cicily Thomas integrates her Somatic Experiencing® training with her certified Tai Chi and Qigong
expertise, using slow, gentle and fluid movements to liberate the trapped energy caused by trauma and
enable free flow of Qi. This holistic approach helps the individual consciously attend to the uncomfortable sensations, thereby reducing stress and regaining control of their mind and body.
A Somatic Experiencing® session, which is conducted one-on-one, may or may not include Tai Chi and
Qigong movements. Integrating these techniques in a Somatic Experiencing® session will depend on the
individual’s level of comfort.
During the 50-minute healing session, the individual will be at liberty to share their impression of the physical
sensations they feel in their body, and not necessarily the actual trauma event unless they wish to.
‘Trauma does not have to be a life-sentence’- Peter Levine
Pioneered by Dr. Peter A. Levine, Somatic Experiencing (SE) takes an organic approach to trauma and stress disorders by addressing their root causes and releasing trapped energy as well as uncomfortable sensations from the body.
Antidepressants numb symptoms of distress, psychedelics appear to turbocharge them, psychotherapy could re-traumatise when delving into the narrative over and over.
However, SE does not seek to replace any other approach. SE is a body-based therapy which brings us in touch with the parts of the brain and the autonomous nervous system that regulate basic functions including regulation of the heart rate, breathing, awareness and consciousness
As a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certified by the US-based Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
(SETI), Cicily Thomas integrates her Somatic Experiencing® training with her certified Tai Chi and Qigong
expertise, using slow, gentle and fluid movements to liberate the trapped energy caused by trauma and
enable free flow of Qi. This holistic approach helps the individual consciously attend to the uncomfortable sensations, thereby reducing stress and regaining control of their mind and body.
A Somatic Experiencing® session, which is conducted one-on-one, may or may not include Tai Chi and
Qigong movements. Integrating these techniques in a Somatic Experiencing® session will depend on the
individual’s level of comfort.
During the 50-minute healing session, the individual will be at liberty to share their impression of the physical
sensations they feel in their body, and not necessarily the actual trauma event unless they wish to.
Education and training
A graduate in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College, Chennai.
Cicily has completed a P.G. Diploma for Proficiency in Counselling from The United Theological College; the NLP Master Practitioner’s course; Gestalt Therapy with Dr. Richard P. McHugh; a postgraduate program in ‘Mothers, Babies and Children’ with Body Intelligence; and a postgraduate course in ‘Craniosacral Biodynamics: Deepening into practice - Coming to cause’ with the International Institute for Craniosacral Balancing.
Additionally, Cicily has completed a Teacher’s Training Course in Hatha Yoga and holds a Certificate in Acupressure Healing Science from the Acupressure Shodh Prashikshan Evam Upchar Sansthan in Allahabad, India.
Cicily has worked as a Commercial Attaché at the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and taught French for over 15 years at The Alliance Française de Bangalore. She is also a coordinator for the French Association (Rencontres au Bout du Monde) in Sustainable Tourism.
A graduate in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College, Chennai.
Cicily has completed a P.G. Diploma for Proficiency in Counselling from The United Theological College; the NLP Master Practitioner’s course; Gestalt Therapy with Dr. Richard P. McHugh; a postgraduate program in ‘Mothers, Babies and Children’ with Body Intelligence; and a postgraduate course in ‘Craniosacral Biodynamics: Deepening into practice - Coming to cause’ with the International Institute for Craniosacral Balancing.
Additionally, Cicily has completed a Teacher’s Training Course in Hatha Yoga and holds a Certificate in Acupressure Healing Science from the Acupressure Shodh Prashikshan Evam Upchar Sansthan in Allahabad, India.
Cicily has worked as a Commercial Attaché at the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and taught French for over 15 years at The Alliance Française de Bangalore. She is also a coordinator for the French Association (Rencontres au Bout du Monde) in Sustainable Tourism.
Some corporates
Cicily has conducted sessions at multiple corporates over the years. A small list is presented below:
Cicily has conducted sessions at multiple corporates over the years. A small list is presented below:
- Infosys
- Dell (4 campuses)
- MediaTek
- Wipro
- Fuller Life