Sifu Jamee Culbertson on the Alexander Technique & Healing Art

The Alexander Technique (AT), developed in the late 19th century, has gained popularity in recent decades as more people recognize the profound influence of the mind-body connection on overall health. Sifu Jamee Culbertson, a senior Tai Chi and Qigong instructor and an experienced teacher-trainer in AT from Boston, Massachusetts, recently shared insights on this method and other healing practices during an interview.

Jamee began her Tai Chi journey in 1985 after being inspired by her brother, who had taken up Tai Chi after years of karate practice. She was taking Tai Chi classes and learning a Yang Style Tai Chi short form from the Universal Healing Tao (UHT) system. 

In 1987, she faced a serious health crisis, with surgery as a recommended option. That same year, she encountered a Lakota woman who had defied a terminal diagnosis decades prior. She shared her wisdom with Jamee and became Jamee’s mentor for the next seven years, teaching her about using food as medicine and the importance of connecting with one’s spirit or higher power to guide life choices. This mentor  later recommended Jamee to consult with Dr. Christiane Northrup, an OB/GYN. Graduated from Dartmouth Medical School and completed residency at Tufts New England Medical Center, Dr. Northrup had an unconventional approach to healing. During Jamee’s first visit, Dr. Northrup asked “What do you do for creativity?” She suggested Jamee take six months to explore holistic healing before considering surgery. Jamee’s health issue ultimately resolved without surgery or medication.

In 1992, Jamee met Sifu Marie Favorito and continued her training in the UHT System. Founded by Grandmaster Mantak Chia, UHT is very comprehensive and includes trainings on Yang Style Tai Chi, Qigong, inner alchemy meditation, and Taoism. Jamee appreciated its wisdom and movements and eventually became a senior instructor in UHT system so she could share the knowledge and benefits with others. 

In 1995, through her growing network in Tai Chi community, Jamee connected with Master Wei Lun Huang, who became her principal teacher in Yang Style Tai Chi long form, sword form, and a variety of Qigong styles. She continued studying with him for over 20 years until his passing in 2016. In case you are interested in Master Huang’s Tai Chi, you can view his performance at this link.

Alongside her Tai Chi practice, Jamee began studying the Alexander Technique in 1989, motivated by a desire to improve her singing and prevent arthritis. During the interview, she shared that AT’s founder, Frederick Matthias Alexander, was a Shakespearean actor who overcame chronic voice loss by consciously re-directing his attention to free his voice, leading to improved health and well-being. Alexander’s discoveries evolved into a holistic practice that addresses various performance and health challenges. His teachings emphasized unity of the body, mind, emotions, and spirit as a path to tangible wholeness.

Learning Tai Chi and the Alexander Technique simultaneously gave Jamee a unique experience of interconnectedness and personal integration. She reflected that her journey felt remarkably synchronous, with new teachers, mentors, and holistic practices arriving just when needed. Her deepening understanding of energetic anatomy complemented the energy flow she felt in Tai Chi, while the Alexander Technique brought an awareness that refined this flow. Over time, she developed Qigong healing abilities, enabling her to channel healing energy to others and teach them how to access it themselves.

Sifu Culbertson has taught the AT system, Tai Chi, and Qigong at hospitals, fitness clubs, women’s centers, and senior centers in the Boston area, as well as internationally across five countries. At the prominent performing art school Boston Conservatory at Berklee, she trains dancers, actors, musicians, and sometimes physical therapists in mind-body awareness, helping them move with greater fluidity, reduce strain, and enhance performance through the AT system. On Fridays, she works with injured dancers, guiding them in methods that support mind-body awareness for recovery. In her private practice, she incorporates Qigong healing with gentle hands-on adjustments as needed.

Beyond her work in the healing arts, Jamee is skilled in computers and videography. Over seven years, she created a documentary, “How it All Began: Origins of the Universal Tao System”, which captures Grandmaster Mantak Chia’s journey to the West and his contributions to sharing Chinese healing arts and Taoism worldwide. Last year, she collaborated with a friend to troubleshoot technical issues on my publishing website www.VioletLiTaiChi.com. Thanks, Jamee!