Meeting Shifu Luo in Thailand & the Birth of the Student Circle
- Jiaoshi Andrea
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Recently, we completed a beautiful trip to Thailand to meet Shifu Luo, organized by Shifu Costantino Valente. I had the joy of bringing ten of my students from different parts of the world — the U.S., Russia, and several other countries — to take part in this experience.
For many of us, it was not just about meeting a great teacher, but about coming together as a group, sharing our experiences, and spending meaningful time together.
Meeting My Teacher’s Teacher
This was actually my first time meeting Shifu Luo in person, just as last year was the first time I met Shifu Zhou. Some might find that surprising — but since the beginning of my Nei Qi Gong journey, my focus has always been on the daily work.
I’ve never believed in the idea that someone else can “do the work for you.”
True transformation doesn’t happen by being in someone’s presence for a few hours. It happens in silence, through daily dedication, sweat, and honest self-observation.
So for me, this meeting wasn’t about seeking something new. It was about showing respect to the lineage, learning, and sharing an experience with my students.
A Simple and Honest Encounter
Meeting Shifu Luo was a humbling experience.He was kind, quiet, and straightforward — very much aligned with what I have always observed in genuine masters.
Some of my students found the experience surprising, especially when faced with the cultural differences between the East and West.In China, things don’t always unfold according to plan or expectations. What matters most, however, is the spirit behind the meeting — the opportunity to connect directly to the roots of the art.
This trip also reminded me of how many modern practitioners have become used to a very different approach: they want quick results, ready-made methods, and clear promises. But Nei Qi Gong doesn’t work like that. It’s not a product. It’s a way of living.
The Real Treasure: Being Together
While the meeting with Shifu Luo was important, what touched me most was something else — the simple joy of being together.
Spending time with my students face to face, laughing, talking, and sharing meals reminded me that this path, while solitary by nature, doesn’t have to be lonely.
Many of them told me the same — that what they valued most from the trip was the feeling of connection, friendship, and being part of something real.
Why I Created the Student Circle
This realization led me to create something new: the Student Circle. Nei Qi Gong has always been an inner and solitary path. We close the door, enter silence, and work within.But it is also important to have a place where practitioners can meet, share, and grow together — not as a social group, but as a circle of sincere students.
Starting this month, we will meet twice per month, on the second and fourth Sunday, for one-hour online gatherings.These meetings are open exclusively to my students and will be hosted on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/neiqigongjiaoshiandrea
During each meeting, we will:
Review and refine practices together
Explore philosophical aspects of Nei Qi Gong and correct conduct
Share experiences and personal insights
Discuss topics related to spiritual growth and self-cultivation
Strengthen our human connection beyond the practice itself
More Than Energy Work
Energy cultivation is powerful — but without the right understanding, humility, and inner refinement, it can also lead us in the wrong direction.
True Nei Qi Gong is not only about energy. It’s about becoming a certain kind of human being — balanced, grounded, and awake.The qualities that allow us to explore the more subtle levels of energy are the same that make us better people: patience, discipline, sincerity, and compassion.
That’s what I want to nurture with the Student Circle: a group of people who practice deeply, grow inwardly, and support each other along the way.
Building a Community of Practitioners
This is a small experiment, but one that I feel very inspired about.With hundreds of students around the world, I hope that even a small percentage will join these meetings so that together we can build a real community — not based on competition or theory, but on friendship, practice, and shared experience.
If you are one of my students, I warmly invite you to join the first Student Circle meeting on the second Sunday of October.
Let’s continue walking this path together — not only as individuals, but as a living community of Nei Qi Gong practitioners.
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