About Us
Training and Practice
Traditional Medicine
I am a doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, licensed in the state of NY, with a diverse background in various Asian Medical systems.
Growing up, traditional Asian medicine was a part of daily life – from food, martial arts, and meditation to healthcare. Chinese Medicine has become a home after decades of studying the diverse traditions of Asian medicine from India, Japan, Korea and Tibet.
Following years of living in Asia and meeting and training with clinicians and healers abroad, I completed formal academic training in TCM, Classical acupuncture and medical herbalism. Following graduate studies that included Chinese, Japanese and myofascial trigger point treatment, I completed post graduate degree studies in Kampo.
I completed an Acupuncture Fellowship in hospital-based care, along with another degree in Integrative health services, with a focus on Ayurveda, women’s health and psychology.
I completed my doctoral degree with a focus on medical research, orthopedics and oncology. My areas of research included trauma, mind-body interventions, clinician self-care and self-cultivation traditions in Asian medicine.
I have had the fortune of serving thousands of patients through our outpatient, community care project. (CAP). Our services are available through our private practice, among the longest standing in the area.
My practice is constantly updated in lieu of clinical research as an evidence base, returning to traditional medical archives and drawing upon personal experience, and that of generations of masterful physicians and medical thinkers.
My experienced clinical work is continually referred by physicians, therapists, manual and physical therapists and cherished colleagues in the field. My clients range from long-standing, community members and local families, to noted politicians, the film and fashion industry, clinicians and therapists, professional athletes, dancers and performers and those in the service and culinary fields.
Mindbody Medicine
Over twenty years of Yoga and contemplative practice inform clinical care and processes of self-healing. My primary mentors of traditional medicine and healing have all emphasized this integration of mindbody and self-care practices for well being.
Through formal programs of study in contemplative psychotherapy, and innovative applications of psycho-emotional healing derived from medical classics, I continue to develop effective and meaningful strategies of care. Affective neuroscience continues to be a primary area of research
TIBETAN YOGA
Dr. James is a teacher and specialist of Tibetan Yoga, including tsalung trulkhor and Tummo. He has received completion stage teachings (which include the Six Yogas of Naropa) from most schools of Tibetan Buddhism, but primarily in several Nyingma and Kagyu lineages.
James is authorized to teach Tummo and Tibetan Yoga (Tsalung Trulkhor) by a number of these traditional lineages. He offers private and community retreat, intensives as well as continuing educaiton around trauma-iinformed and Yoga therapy education. He is often referred as the 'bodily practices' specialist - in particular the theory, anatomy/physiology and methodologies of Anuyoga and the Great Completion.
In addition, he has completed extended personal and group retreats in these disciplines and continues to lead retreats, intensives and courses.
James primarily teaches the Yuthok Nyingthik tradition of tsalung and Tummo. He also teaches various Nyingma and Kagyu lineages at the request of different teachers, and for different sangha communities.
It has been his work to receive and constantly train in all extant traditions of Anuyoga or Annutara-yoga-tantra.
As an educator on instructor he offers both traditional instruction and retreat formats, as well as more open and accessible trainings for those with less of a background in Vajrayana.
Dr. James also seeks to promote trauma-informed approaches to Tibetan Yoga, and works toward diversity, equity and inclusion - making these rare and often innaccessible to specific, marginalized communities.
Writing and Research
I am an independent researcher and author, have published over ten books, contributed to journal articles and edited various publications and curriculum at the graduate level. Following traditional scholarly study in Asia, I worked under Georg Feuerstein at YREC, 2002.
Medical knowledge and the contemplative education field are evolving. I aim to support the next generation of clinician and practitioner, and have supported interdisciplinary work. I believe modern research can interface with traditional scholasticism; Yoga and meditation can provide a phenomenological wing to the study and practice of clinical medicine.
Medical humanities and anthropology enrich my clinical practice. My research focus includes the interface of culture, science, religion and traditional healing. Through community education initiatives (Samaya Education) and interviews (YOM) with physicians, healers and top educators, I promote an extended medical gaze - acknowledging plurality in E. Asian medicine.
I am finishing work on my latest books on “contemplative medicine and healing.” I also love teaching and have spoken at universities, at yoga teacher trainings, led retreats, workshops and classes - nationally and internationally - for the last fifteen years.
The interface of art, traditional medicine, dharma and contemplative practice (yoga) have been a lifelong passion and the continued direction of my work.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Independent Research Initiative
Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing