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ABOUT THE FOUNDER - AIMON KOPERA
A
registered nurse, Aimon has been described as the epitome of nurturing,
healing, teaching and motivation. She helps many others reach their
goals with maximum support tailor made to individual needs inspiring
her clients and team alike with her unique blend of calm, poise, humor
and discipline. Her clients call her "the master of laughter."
With
strong oriental roots in a Thai father and Chinese mother, Aimon Kopera
was born in Bangkok, Thailand. She completed her education and first
received a nursing degree from the prestigious Mahidol University of
Bangkok as well as a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communications from
Sukothai University, Thailand. Filled with a desire to serve the
community and a sense of adventure, she accepted a position with the
United Nations soon after her graduation. As a nurse coordinator on the
UN International Medical Team in Cambodia during its civil war of the
eighties, her responsibilities included the care and feeding of 200
malnourished children, security, staff coordination, and training of
refugees to act as Field Medical Personnel. While with the UN, she
offered her services within an active combat zone in a country ravaged
by the Khmer Rouge and a brutal civil war.
Arriving in the
United States in 1987 with one suitcase and a smattering of English,
Aimon has proven herself to be a successful serial entrepreneur, caring
health care professional and winsome cultural ambassador to Greenville,
South Carolina, her home of 14 years. Her story is one of an energetic,
self-starting individual who has strived to accomplish the American
dream through hard work, discipline, and perseverance.
Repeatedly,
Aimon has sought to serve her community as business leader and role
model. She has held leadership roles in the Chamber of Commerce, the
Downtown Business Association, and the International Center of the
Upstate. She was recognized as one of "Greenville's Best and Brightest"
in 2000, a SC Young Entrepreneur in 2001, and has been invited by the
Governor of South Carolina to participate in International Roundtable
conferences. Her life in Greenville being one of service to the
community, she was honored as a "South Carolina Woman of
accomplishment" by the Business Professional Women in 2003.
FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE
Aimon
knows how difficult it is to balance a professional career with one's
family life and also find time to maintain personal health. As a long
time health care professional and successful entrepreneur, Aimon knows
this balancing act can be difficult, yet achievable.
In 2002,
in response to the failing health of a dear friend, Aimon returned to
her Chinese heritage and early training in Tai Chi Qigong. She became a
certified Integral Tai Chi Qigong Instructor from the Santa Barbara
College of Oriental Medicine, California, a Full Instructor of the
Universal Tao System, and a HeartMath™ Stress Management Coaching
One-On-One provider. With these certifications, and her several
successes behind her, she started Qi Mountain, an Asian healing arts
center in downtown Greenville.
TAI CHI QIGONG AND BEYOND
Tai
Chi Qigong is the basis of traditional Chinese medicine and in China it
is widely believed to provide healing and personal inner balance. Aimon
and her team of instructors at Qi Mountain offer a variety of classes
and personal instruction that bring those same benefits to her clients.
Aimon's background, experience and education make her uniquely
qualified to practice and train others in Tai Chi Qigong. Aimon was
first introduced to Tai Chi in 1979. Since those early years, Aimon has
studied under several renowned masters. One of her learning experiences
includes the completion of a three-week "total darkness" retreat in
northern Thailand at Universal Tao Center under the guidance of Master
Mantak Chia. As Aimon says, "When you are immersed in darkness for such
a long period of time, your mind, body and spirit have no choice but to
unite in harmony and find their balance. This balance is what we all
seek and those who find it can truly experience a life beyond the
tangible world."
In addition to her training in these Oriental
healing arts, Aimon's experience as a registered nurse, who has worked
in the United States and served with the United Nations in various
parts of the world, has taught her to blend her Eastern philosophical
approach to life with Western pragmatism, in the practice of medicine.
This synthesis of philosophies is the underpinning of Aimon's
instruction of Tai Chi Qigong. The clarity of teaching and sensitivity
towards each client's needs is the biggest advantage to Aimon's clients
at Qi Mountain. Regardless of their age, fitness level or experience in
Tai Chi or other such Eastern forms, each individual can learn a new
way of achieving balance in life along with the resulting health
benefits through Tai Chi Qigong instruction.
Today, Qi
Mountain is Aimon's way of life, her passion; a commitment to serve the
community and a lifelong mission to guide individuals seeking the right
balance in their lives. Moving from its original location to a settings
that can offers more services in close proximity to local amenities
such as hotels and restaurants, Qi Mountain is the ultimate getaway for
a healthy body, peaceful mind and joyful spirit.
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