college staff

Damo is one of the original the co-founders of the Xian Tian College, and teaches on the Acupuncture and Chinese medicine diplomas, as well as heading the Qi Gong modules.  Damo has been involved in the Eastern arts for his whole life. He was born into a family or martial artists and thus began his formal training in the martial arts at the age of four. Since this time, he has studied various systems across Europe and the far East. Damo’s Chinese medical training began with Tui Na massage. He studied this form of therapy alongside his martial arts training while studying Taijiquan (Tai Chi) in an effort to keep the traditional balance between learning how to fight and to heal. These studies expanded into classical Chinese medical practices and acupuncture which he has studied for many years in the West as well as in the far East.  Damo completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Acupuncture, and he now continues his study with two highly skilled practitioners of classical Chinese medicine in Asia, and practices Chinese medicine at his own private clinic.  Damo is also the director of Lotus Nei Gong International, and is author of Several Books on Daoism, Nei Gong, and Chinese Medicine, including Heavenly Streams: Meridian Theory in Nei Gong.

The Classical Medicine training of Damo Mitchell was in medicine based upon time and phases of Yin and Yang. It was heavily focused upon understanding a person’s connection to the wider environment and viewed humanity as simply an extension of Heaven itself. The channel theory and environmental movement teachings of this type of medicine were its foundational principles.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine study undertaken by Damo was in line with the majority of syllabuses taught by Universities across both China and the West. This system of medicine is developed largely from herbal theory and the inter-relations of the Zang and Fu organs.  This is a great system of medicine for newcomers to Chinese medicine study as it provides a rounded and complete view of human health and healing presented within a well-formed conceptual paradigm.

Alongside these two trainings, Damo’s studies in China and South-East Asia have continued with various Daoist and Buddhist teachers. These esoteric studies have included further ways of developing Acupuncture treatments, bodywork and Qi emission derived from several different traditional linages. These studies continue with true masters of the craft and Damo continues to train in medicine alongside his alchemical cultivation practices.

Linda is a senior student of Damo and long time Practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Nei Gong and Taiji Quan. She has studied and practiced Chinese Medicine and the Internal Arts full time for over 13 years. Meeting Damo whilst studying Traditional Chinese Medicine at University Linda has a BSc (Hons)in Acupuncture and has since continued to study Classical Chinese Medicine with Damo. She runs a successful Chinese Medicine Clinic and teaches regular Nei Gong classes and retreats.

Linda has a life time experience of Health Care and teaching. First training as a Registered General Nurse before progressing on to do Midwifery and Health Visiting, she then took a further
qualification in teaching to become a Tutor for both Nursing and Health Visitor students. Having always been passionate about health care believing there were more natural ways to prevent illness or heal the body her life path eventually led her to Chinese Medicine Studies and the Internal Arts. She now brings her knowledge and experience of Chinese Medicine to teach within Xian Tian College.

Kirsty was born in the UK, and had lived in 5 different countries and 12 different houses by the time she was 18. Kirsty studied biochemistry at Manchester University but then decided that she didn’t want to work in a lab! She then worked in marketing for brands including Cadburys, Sainsbury’s and MacDonalds, which led to her teaching Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, while studying for her Chartered Marketing exams, PGCE teaching qualification and a Masters. With a family, a dog and 2 guinea pigs, she needed something to help cope with the stresses of life!

Kirsty began studying Taiji and Qi Gong with Damo Mitchell in 2012. She studied Tuina at Bodyharmonics center in Cheltenham for a year, and after 3 years of acupuncture studies at Xian Tian college, she qualified in 2019 — just before the pandemic hit! She opened a clinic in Chester for a year and then moved to Wirral where her current clinic is located. She also offers mobile acupuncture. 

Kirsty loves lists, can’t tolerate rudeness and is terrible at parking. That’s Kirsty in a nutshell. 🙂

Bio coming soon