About the American Bioenergetic Therapists from Wassim Nehme - posted by Elisa Mamiani

The arrival of Wassim Nehme and the American therapists that he taught and qualified, who spent 10 days with us in theoretical and practical study, moved many of the Italian therapists to write about their impressions from this experience. I've been asked to share their writings on my blog, especially as we have more than 800 readers in the US, in addition to Wassim's students.

In the next days, I will try to satisfy all their requests.

“There once was a young man…he lived in the east…far, far from here…he left his land and his home and arrived here. He studied medicine and martial arts. He came to know his Master. His Master spoke of Tao, of Chinese Energetics, of Bioenergetics…and spoke also of Shen, and of love… The young man came to know his lover and with her he left. He went far, far to the west…and there he spoke of Tao, of Chinese Energetics, of Bioenergetics, and of Shen: the young man had become a Master.”

This that you have just read is not a made-up story: it is the story of Wassim Nehme, Bioenergetic and Shen Therapist, originally from Lebanon, who heard this message from his Master Pino Ferroni, here in Italy and took it to the USA. In Vermont, he and his wife Elisabeth founded “Green Mountain Shen & Bioenergetics”, where the work he started here continues.

Recently we, the Ego Center therapists and I, had the opportunity to know our American colleagues: together we shared days in which we all listened to various theoretical lessons from Pino about Shen, and exchanged “Emotional Sensitivity” massage. 

Most of the Italian therapists didn't speak English and the American therapists didn't speak Italian - during the theoretical lessons, Wassim interpreted, yet during the massage, we all spoke the same language. Our hearts opened to each other, and our souls spoke, without needing to open our mouths.

Over many years I've heard infinite definitions of the word Shen, but only in this occasion did I really learn the significance: Shen is the warm welcome from Pino that forms the base of his work; Shen is the pledge and the will of Wassim, and also his courage, to share this teaching he received in another part of the world; Shen is me, my colleagues (and future colleagues), Italian and American, that believe in what we do and who work to be this small flame that Pino always speaks of - that one day will become a huge blaze that illuminates the darkness of our days.

For me, Shen also means THANKFULNESS to Pino and Wassim for all their work that has given me the inspiration to grow further in my work in humanistic naturopathy, as a therapist in Emotional SensitivityË, and as a teacher in Shen TrainingË. I want to also thank Virginia, Jill, Christina and Laurie for giving me the chance to know their experiences that have reinforced in me the knowledge that this is the right path.

With all my heart, Elisa Mamiani