ABSTRACT

This chapter presents author's introduction of Chinese Medicine into a graduate course in an education faculty as a way of disrupting the mind/body divide foundational to Western liberal and critical education. It begins with authors' own experience as an antiracist, materialist, and feminist scholar who has been trained and steeped in the Western scholarly tradition. The chapter describes authors' personal healing journey that led her to Chinese Medicine, and through it to reclaiming part of the her cultural roots. 'Health, Healing and Knowledge of the Body' is designed to disrupt Western academic knowledge that privileges intellectual and critical thinking over other forms of knowledge construction. The chapter focuses on the philosophy and principles of Chinese Medicine and its adjunct practice of Qi Gong to illustrate how we may challenge Western knowledge construction and reconceptualize scholarship using insights and practices derived from this ancient healing system. 'Health and the Body' begins with gentle stretching and breathing.