Local holistic health practitioner Virgil Mayor Apostol, who has been practicing massage, manual medicine and spiritual healing locally since the fall, will teach a free workshop series on Filipino healing practices at the library this month. The workshops kick off with a lecture on the healing traditions of Phillipines at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the meeting room of the Yellow Springs Public Library. (Photo by Megan Bachman)
Library hosts healing workshops
- Published: February 14, 2013
Local holistic health practitioner Virgil Mayor Apostol practices the three A’s of Filipino healing—apprus, a form of massage; ablon, manual medicine focusing on the neurovascular and musculoskeletal systems; and aglupos, spiritual energetic work dealing with the auric body, chakras, and soul-consciousness. Those who have yet to experience his healing touch can now learn the secrets of these Filipino healing traditions at a free workshop series this month at the Yellow Springs Public Library.
“It’s a no nonsense approach to health and healing, combining both indigenous science and shamanic or metaphysical practices,” Apostol said of Filipino healing.
The series begins with a lecture at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, on the healing traditions Apostol learned from his maternal grandmother, father, and while traveling around the Philippines. Apostol is also the author of Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions, published in 2010.
According to Apostol, the talk features many photos, introduces various healers, and explores the concepts of animism and “indigenous science,” the latter of which Apostol describes as “a science that is endemic to an area, with the people.” A question and answer session follows the talk.
Then over the course of two Saturdays Apostol will teach a hands-on workshop covering self-stretching, triangle breathing, manual medicine, exercises from the Filipino martial arts and wooden club swinging practices from India. Participants can attend one or both workshops, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16th, and Saturday, Feb. 23rd.
“I’ll be introducing simple techniques and movements that everyone can learn,” Apostol said. Some exercises will be done alone, others with a partner. Triangular breathing involves the breath, energy, and spirit, he said.
“It will be both relaxing and energizing,” Apostol said of the workshop exercises. “Once they start applying the techniques on each other, they may be surprised to discover sensitive areas that they were unaware of.”
Apostol has given comprehensive workshops in Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Kettering, and has charged upwards of $125 per participant. However, the library series is free to the public; it’s sponsored by the Greene County Public Library. Prior registration is required and those interested can register at http://www.greenelibrary.info.
Apostol, who lives just outside of Yellow Springs, started seeing clients at Yellow Springs Chiropractic last fall for ailments involving the lower back, neck, hips and knees, poor circulation, past traumas, and nerve conditions. In addition, he is now offering massage, manual medicine, and energetic work by appointment at Wavelength Aveda Salon and Spa, and chair massages on Thursday mornings from 9 to 12 p.m. at the Emporium. Apostol also teaches a free class at the Yellow Springs Senior Center, titled “Swing Your Way to Health,” on Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. using sticks to aid joint range-of-motion, eye-hand coordination, balance, and brain stimulation.
Visit Apostol’s website at http://www.rumsua.org for more information.
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