Meet Dorena Rode, Ph.D.
Qigong Instructor, Change Facilitator, Speaker and Author

My passion is guiding people — particularly those seeking greater vitality in their later years — to release energetic and subconscious blocks so they can enjoy radiant health, longevity, and a more vibrant life.
Through Qigong, I help students cultivate energy, improve mobility, calm the nervous system, and restore natural flow. My classes blend mindful movement, breath, and awareness in a supportive, non-intimidating way.

Online & In-Person Offerings
• Live and recorded Qigong classes
• Supportive community at TESLI Circle
• Private hands-on energy healing and verbal processing sessions for deeper transformation

I operate from the belief that everyone has innate wisdom and the capacity to heal. In my private practice I combine gentle energy work with targeted verbal processing to resolve trauma, clear limiting patterns, and create lasting change.

My Journey & Qualifications
I am a lifelong advocate of holistic health approaches.  I earned my PhD in physiology from UC Davis funded by a National Institute of Health – National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH-NCCAM) fellowship. My other training includes Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western herbal medicine, behavioral health, bodywork, and meditation.

For 30 years I have maintained a daily practice of meditation and Qigong (Chi Gung), Tai Chi, and Ba Gua.  I have studied several systems and am a Kenny Gong lineage holder as well as a Buddhist teacher.

I personally overcame addiction, depression, and PTSD using the same tools — including Qigong — that I now teach. These experiences, combined with my scientific background, allow me to bridge ancient wisdom with practical, grounded support.

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my partner and when I’m not leading Qigong, I can be found in my art studio making prayer wheels and sun catchers, at my desk writing, or in my garden.