Anaid Hernandez

The summer after my first year of college, I felt a profound call to explore Eastern spiritual arts and dreamed of traveling to Asia to study under great masters. However, significant responsibilities at home made such a journey impossible. Undeterred, I began practicing on my own, focusing primarily on sitting meditation. In time, I discovered a Soto Zen monastery nestled in Northern Iowa, just a few hours away from my home. I started visiting regularly and participating in their sesshin sessions, dedicating countless hours to sitting and meditating. Yet, despite my efforts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something essential was still missing.

In 2015, I joined a 2.5 year Qi Gong Certificate program thought by Damo Mitchell, the head of Lotus Nei Gong. Since then I have continued to study diligently by maintaining a personal practice as well as visiting Damo on a yearly basis, attending workshops in Sweden, Portugal and USA. The continued years of diligent study and practice have allowed me to develop the essential qualities necessary to understand and embody the internal arts and allowing me to merge deeper into the spiritual path.

In 2024, after nearly two decades of dedication, I finally traveled to Asia! I visited Bali, Indonesia, to deepen my studies in martial arts with Damo. This transformative trip marked both the culmination of a long search for answers and the beginning of a new chapter in my cultivation and practice.

Through my own experience of perseverance and growth, I have come to understand the profound potential of these teachings to strengthen the body, calm the mind, and nourish the spirit. I am passionate about sharing these practices with others, offering accessible and enriching Qi Gong classes and workshops to support others on their own journeys of self-discovery and transformation.

Anaid Hernandez is proud to be affiliated with Lotus Nei Gong, an internationally recognized school dedicated to the internal arts. Under the guidance of Damo Mitchell, she has studied and practiced diligently to develop a deep understanding of Qi Gong and Nei Gong.

For more information about Lotus Nei Gong, visit Lotus Nei Gong's website.