APRIL CROWELL

AOBTA® Certified Instructor & Practitioner

Diplomate, Asian Bodywork Therapy (Dipl. ABT NCCAOM)

Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN)

Who am I?  Why am I here? How shall I live?

It’s interesting how these three little questions have come up constantly in my life,  slightly different forms – but they have been ever present.  First they came from my grandfather, a minister of more than 50 years, presented these questions to me several times in my youth. They appeared again from a man who taught the business and ethics class for the Amma Program I was in. I carried these questions into my practice, teachings and mentoring.  They are essential questions.

I believe in humanity’s infinite potential.  We have the ability to do the greatest good for all life on this planet and and beyond.  I know love and hope to be universal truths. It was imperative for me to find a line of work that embodied my core beliefs – I know I have found that in Holistic health, Nutrition, Herbs and Asian (Chinese) medicine.

My goal is to inspire and teach healthier living through Integral Asian medicine. I am here to create and I love my work. I am blessed to be able to say this.

Growing up on my paternal grandparent’s farm instilled a deep love of nature and living with the season in me. Gratitude, life skills, honesty and the ‘color of our soul’ were far more important to my parents and grandparents than whether my clothes were the latest fashion.  Sure, at times, I may have resented having to weed and hoe endless rows of green beans, can jars of beets or process tons of corn – but there were fresh berries, apricots, pumpkins and flowers blooming everywhere.  There was more be amazed with and grateful for – and wouldn’t change any of it now.  The knowledge and skill I gleaned as child are the foundation of my career and my lifestyle.

I began studying and practicing Aikido and Asian philosophy, medicine and meditation in 1989.  I moved to studying KungFu and Karate a few years later. In 1993, I had stumbled across Amma Therapy. A highly refined system of whole living and preventative medicine.  Perfect!  I had found what I was searching for.  Chinese medicine at its finest is not static, ever evolving, ever deep levels of knowledge that can benefit every aspect of life if you let it.  From 1995-2011, I worked at The Wellspring School for Healing Arts serving in many capacities including administrative, advertising and as the Boise Lead Amma Therapy Instructor.

After a much needed break, I started a small apprenticeship in Amma therapy in 2016.  Teaching is one of my true passions.  With each new group or class there are new faces, new challenges, new ideas and deeper levels of knowledge to be gained.  It is amazing to see students not merely learn techniques, but more importantly embrace a holistic lifestyle and evolve their own lives.  I limit the size of my classes and apprenticeships to be able to provide the much needed one-on-one necessary for successful training in Chinese medicine.  Teaching small workshops for clients, public and for continuing education is also a delight.

I enjoy working with a varied clientele from infants to elderly; from healthy, maintenance minded clients to those with debilitating diseases.  I never cease to be amazed at what Amma Therapy, Chinese Medicine and Holistic Nutrition can treat – literally everything.  Having other practitioners to work with on a daily basis means that we can provide more for our clients, support each other with our own unique skills, and maintain healthy practices on all levels.

Recognizing that self-improvement is fundamental to being able to serve others as a healthcare provider, continuing education is important to me.  As I have evolved, so has my practice. I now refer to what I offer as Integral Asian Medicine, as I honor and recognize that what I practice descends through several different Asian cultures and lineages - Chinese, Korean and Japanese. I also have integrated several other theories and practices including the states and stages of development and spiral dynamics to name a few. I believe that Integral Medicine and Holistic Healthcare are excellent avenues evolving a healthy and sustainable existence on our precious and fragile planet.  I also believe that life changes and present opportunities – I look forward to exploring them.

Be well!

April