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"Constantine Darling has been one of the most influential people in my life. I have known Constantine for 30 years as a teacher, co-creator, guide, helper and friend. I was drawn to enter his studio of investigation and discovery in the realms of spirit, body, mind, heart and soul. Within the forms he teaches including; yoga, martial arts, dance, massage, energy work, healing, creative development and expression is a powerful experience of self discovery. Constantine has enormous resources to share and does so in the most generous, imaginative and exciting way. He creates an atmosphere of discipline, enhanced energy, undiluted creativity and fun. I was so used to his ability to integrate the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of all the forms I was surprised that when I took classes with others in similar disciplines that so much substance seemed lacking. Constantine has the charisma and heart to open new realms of self-investigation and expansive living to individuals and groups, all ages and all backgrounds. As a theatre director, writer, actress and teacher for over thirty years, I cherish the experience with Constantine in countless workshops, rehearsals, classes and journeys as alive and well and constantly transforming within my ongoing creative expression as a person and teacher. The work we have done together has its own life and continues to find relevance and applications in day to day creative living. I love his multi-dimensional approach to learning and expression and I love that much of his work is based in the body, for soul resides in the body. The body work releases old worn out and wounded energies and accesses new revitalized and dynamic life force. Constantine is extremely well read and constantly learning from old and new masters…from every moment that life offers him he finds a way to transform and appreciate the depth and breadth of his experience on this planet at this time. As such a student of life he is a generous and gifted teacher, offering others that possibility. I loved the theatre/dance experience with Constantine as he would access and integrate so many levels of awareness within the beauty and excitement of his stage shows. He enjoys constructing and deconstructing to the emotional, physical and spiritual level, every movement of the piece, the relationship of the players to each other, to the audience and to the space itself. He constructs with the precision of an architect, the instinct of a wild animal, the intuition and empathy of a deep human being, pieces that moved from heaven to earth and earth to heaven…with journeys into the deep underworld (subconscious) and presents them in such a way that any one in the audience is able to appreciate and resonate with the performance. I love our times of co-creation. We have worked together in workshop or rehearsal to bring our creative energies into the mix, offering the participants new perspective and creative challenges and opportunities. He would always reflect me in the most positive and expanded vision of myself…offering me that support and possibility. I have continued to dance within the creative mirror even though we have spent years apart and sometimes only touch base by telephone or a few hours to catch up…Constantine is forever alive within my heart, my art and soul and I am grateful for such a powerful and joyful presence in my life. I have much respect for his ongoing work in the fields of creativity and healing. He offers countless students, groups, individuals and communities opportunities for new perspective, depth and awareness as well as extraordinary adventure and transformation. He is deeply in love with his life, respectful of the lives of others and deeply in love with Mother Earth. He offers vision quests and journeys to hold and heal and come into playful interaction with Mother Earth and Her Children. Constantine, to his name, is a constant presence in my life and I know my life is enhanced because of knowing and sharing with such a gifted and loving teacher, healer and artist. Thank you Constantine! The Force is with you! Love Barbara" Barbara Poggemiller has worked in Canadian Threatre for over thirty years as a writer, director, teacher and actress. She lives and works in Victoria, British Columbia where she currently teaches for the Canadian College of Performing Arts and has directed the last three seasons for the Victoria Shakespeare Society. She is the mother of three beautiful daughters; Kaia, Sophie and Emelia. |
"Constantine is one of the biggest Blessings in my Life. He has given me many wonderful gifts... a conscious connection with Mother Earth, an awareness of Space, tools to powerfully use Empathy rather than be at affect of it, alertness to my somatic/ kinesthetic reality and an introduction to the Void. He models physical and spiritual Mastery. And he does everything in the most endearing and playful way. Constantine has taught me how to go deeper into Inquiry and pay closer Attention to Life. He has taken me on sacred journeys through the different fields of consciousness and provided an enriched and enhanced Learning Landscape for me to explore. He has brought out the Warrior and the Dragon within me. I highly respect him as my Teacher and deeply love him as my Friend." - Sameer Gupta - San Francisco, California
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"I am so grateful to have been touched by Constantine. Through working and playing with him he has created a space for me to expand in all areas in my life. I am more powerful yet calmer, happier yet more feeling, My senses are sharper and more useful to me. I love more deeply and am not thrown off balance by romance or illusury love. He has given me the places and spaces, opportunities to grow my Self further than 3 dimensions. My world, and my tools now include the dream world, the intelligence of the space between me and anther or others (membrane), the resourcing, rejuvinating energies of the Earth, Chien Lung, self defense techniques, and deep levels of acceptance/joy. Yeah Constantine, I'm bringing my Son around to be with you some more !"
- Carrie Bachelder - San Francisco, California |
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"I met Constantine Darling and Chien-Lung in 1987 and consider myself one of those privileged to have internalized the animal archetypes of Chien-Lung. By relating a system of the body to an aspect of consciousness, the Chien-lung animals promote a mindfulness of body and behavior that as a PhD in cognitive psychology I marvel at more each day. I highly recommend if you have the opportunity to study with Constantine, that you seize it. It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend classes with Constantine Darling. I have known Constantine Darling since 1987 at a workshop which, very much like himself, was multidisciplinary, heart-felt, dynamic, and foresightful. I had found in Constantine a mentor in the art of embodying ones values through physical practice. I went on to study under him for ten years in Chien-lung, dance, including Feldenkrais and Pilates, as well as partaking in spiritual journeys, Vision Quests in the Grand Canyon, developing relationships with the Havasupai tribe there. Constantine has always been one around whom the talented gather, presenting spectacles, classes and workshops offered by other world-renown experts, from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, the Bolshoi Ballet to Udo Erasmus, Dr. Michael Colgan, and Cory Holly; from the Western approach in nutritional science and weight-training to the Eastern devotions of Yoga and Tibetan Buddhist Meditation. The result of this vast exposure to physical training means that now as I near the age of 40, people still stop and express what an inspiration it is to see my performances of the Chien-lung animal forms. Constantine’s sincere quest is to facilitate compassion amongst the people of the Earth; to promote physical health and awareness; to teach people that both an astute mind and empathy complement one another; to help people unlock the mysteries within their own bodies and minds, so that we may live up to our creative potential, bringing wholeness to the Earth.
Following my time with Constantine, I returned to the University of British Columbia and earned a B.A. in Psychology, and pursued a Master’s and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology at the University of California in Santa Cruz, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at NASA Ames in Mountain View through the San Jose State University Foundation. The Chien-lung animals were responsible for peaking my curiosity in neuroscience and cognitive psychology and Constantine Darling’s ideas still to this day inform my approach to science" -Steven Macramalla, Ph.D. |
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"I have found the practice of Chien Lung under the
tutelege of Constantine Darling to be a most challenging and
rewarding experience. His in-depth interpretation of the Chinese martial arts is intuitive and profound. It blends all of the five elements into a cohesive interplay of animal form and spiritual awareness.
I have studied other Chinese styles in the past, among them Sil Lum, Northern Shaolin and Southern Hun Gar. However, all
seemed to lack the depth and vibrancy that they most certainly must
have possessed in an era so long ago, diluted through the generations into rote form without flow and substance.
I feel certain that there remain few qualified proponents who possess the intuitive ability to convey the true essence
and spirit of the martial arts. I can recommend only one in who the
ancient martial wisdom appears to flow through as effortlessly as water running its natural course, unimpeded in its resolute path of return to its Source. That teacher (sifu) is: Constantine Darling."
-Irwin Rosnel San Francisco, CA |
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"Constantine's masterful facilitation, beauty of
form and empathic leadership create fun learning environments where embodying the lessons effortless. I love his kinesthetic awareness and
willingness to share his work and presence. His approach builds
community." - Kim Atkinson -Sebastopol,CA |
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| "I deeply respect Constantine's mastery to facilitate expansive states of awareness within a normal state of consciousness. He is a natural leader & passionate Visionary with an uncanny ability to gather diverse groups from all walks and get us working & laughing together in no time and with seemingly no effort. Another notable quality is the many gifted & authentic folks Constantine attracts--which always equates to "BIG FUN". The many journeys' I have co-facilitated with Constantine have been some of my greatest adventures thus far!." - René Jenkins -Sonoma,CA | |
My name is Terry Carlson, and I am a practicing attorney in California and the Federal Court System. I started working with Constantine Darling in early 2004 after suffering a soccer injury resulting in double plantar fascitis making it painful to walk and very difficult to run. Constantine was teaching Chien Lung, Yoga, Qi Gong, and Feldenkreis, and it helped tremendously. I stayed with this work for 3 ½ years and found it to be extremely beneficial for increasing strength and stamina in all respects, especially running. I noticed over the years that all of my older injuries were clearing up, including a dislocated left shoulder. The result made me feel-injury free with no residual effects from other foot injuries, ankle problems, and a leg injury. I think that Constantine has a great healing course that has the wonderful additional benefits of learning martial arts, yoga techniques, Qi Gong and other interesting skills. - Terry Carlson - San Francisco, California |
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"Connie's work, starting many years ago with dance, but more specifically Chien Lung, continues to play a mischievous and welcome role in my life. Simple yet pragmatic, the lineage of the system has provided me with many tools to understand and grasp a world where so many other philosophies failed to answer my tougher questions. The system is a work of art; figuratively and literally in the body of the beholder. For some it will enlighten, others awaken, will invite you to ask questions and most of all, it will challenge you in whatever way you need. It is inclusive; inviting. Embracing equally the polarities and the subtle layers of perception. Those frequencies often missed in the frenetic "doing" so ingrained in our modern world. Connie as a teacher, mentor, friend and shit disturber has stood beside me to hell and back as I've struggled to lift the lid on my own Pandora's box. I invite anyone who has unanswered questions and is willing to be at least a little uncomfortable as they travel down the rabbit hold of their internal world, to see if the tools Chien Lung offers can assist. Don't expect easy answers, for the answers will come from within yourself. Good luck." - David Rabby -Vancouver, BC Canada |
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TESTIMONIALS 
