Energy within: Hanover man teaches about ancient Chinese healing arts - Qigong


By LAURA BRUNO • STAFF WRITER • April 12, 2010


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MADISON — Growing up in the 1970s, Bruce Lee was Sal Canzonieri's inspiration for studying martial arts. But over time, just learning the moves was not good enough.

For the past 30 years, Canzonieri, now 50, has researched the origins and philosophy of ancient Chinese healing arts in his free time, when he was not working as a technical writer for Bell Labs or playing guitar in his punk rock 'n' roll band, Electric Frankenstein. Since being laid off two years ago, Canzonieri has decided to share what he has learned melding various forms of kung fu, Qigong, Neigong and yoga into classes at several locales around Morris County.

"I want to help people balance their energy, either emotional or physical, and help them heal themselves," Canzonieri said Sunday after a class in Madison.

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Canzonieri, of Hanover, said he moved to East Hanover in sixth grade and graduated from Drew University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in behavioral science. He said he kept meeting Chinese healers who taught him the movements that allowed him to feel the energy coming from his hands.

"I felt magnets coming out of my hands," he said. "Then I saw white light coming out of my hands."

He calls his method the Jindao system, which he translates as "the way of internal energy and strength."

He's offering classes in Madison on the upper floor of Sages Pages, in Denville at Health-e-Motion and in Hanover at the recreation center in town hall.

Glenn Keller began learning from Canzonieri five years ago, when Canzonieri used to run a kung fu club for fellow Bell employees. Keller, 53, of Randolph, said he has practiced martial arts since he was 5 years old and continues to learn something new through Canzonieri.

"It's about health and longevity," Keller said. "If you open your mind, relax and allow yourself to be receptive, at the end of class you can feel the wellness."

During his Madison class, Canzonieri told his three students that the hardest part of learning Qigong is clearing one's mind. In addition to teaching specific movements, he also talked about breathing exercises, which together can help balance one's life, he said.

Helen Clear, 60, of Mendham Township said she began working with Canzonieri a month ago to improve her understanding of energy, as she uses it in her Reiki practice. Susan Novick, 44, of Randolph said she had sought out Canzonieri to improve her massage therapy practice.

Canzonieri said anyone at any age or level can use his program. His goal is to help people through phsyical conditioning and meditation to achieve balance in their lives, he said.

"This is about mind-body awareness," he said. "It's a way of life."

Laura Bruno: 973-428-6626; lbruno@gannett.com

Contact for classes:
Sal Canzonieri 973-752-4739 ; salcanzonieri@att.net

Morris County NJ New Jersey Classes:

Qigong Weekday Morning Energizing Class:
Whippany NJ
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:00-10 am

Mind Body Awareness - Qigong and Chinese
Internal Marital Arts:

Hanover Township
Thursdays 7:15-9:15pm

Qigong - Self Healing Energy Exercises:
Denville
Tuesdays 6-7:00pm

Qigong - Taichi - Bagua:
Morristown, Whippany, and elsewhere - outdoors
weekdays and weekends

Qigong for Health Practitioners:
Mendham
Fridays 10:00-11:00 am

Qigong Natural Healing:
Roxbury Township - Succasunna Kenvil area
Wednesday evenings 7:30-8:30 pm

 

Madison, April 11, 2010 -- Sal Canzonieri teaches a class in Qigong in a room over Sages Pages Sunday morning. From left, Susan Novick of Randolph, Helen Clear of Mendham Township, and Glenn Keller of Randolph. Sal Canzonieri is at right. Karen Mancinelli/Daily Record 76695

Madison, April 11, 2010 -- Sal Canzonieri teaches a class in Qigong in a room over Sages Pages Sunday morning. From left, Susan Novick of Randolph, Helen Clear of Mendham Township, and Glenn Keller of Randolph. Sal Canzonieri is at right. Karen Mancinelli/Daily Record 76695

Instructor Sal Canzonieri demonstrates a position that works on releasing anger. Sal (STAFF PHOTO: KAREN MANCINELLI)

Madison, April 11, 2010 -- Glenn Keller, 53, does an exercise in predicting movement with instructor Sal Canzonieri. Sal Canzonieri teaches a class in Qigong in a room over Sages Pages Sunday morning. Karen Mancinelli/Daily Record 76695