Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

64 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION A n expert on qi gong, Hilda F. Booth has had a versatile and rewarding career in spiritual and mental health. Qi gong is the practice of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing and meditation used for the advancement of health, spirituality and martial arts training. Rooted in Chinese medicine and philosophy, qi gong is also used to increase one’s qi, translated as “life energy.” Through cultivating one’s qi, an individual can attain higher levels of awareness, awaken their true nature and develop human potential. A certified qi gong instructor since 2002, Ms. Booth received a certification in continuing education from The Dragon’s Way in 2008 and 2009 and in advanced qi gong training for women’s health in 2012. She holds a BA in history and religion from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and an MS in clinical psychology from Valdosta State University. Prior to becoming involved in her spiritual practice, Ms. Booth lent her expertise to Palmetto Hospital as a clinical intake coordinator for the psychiatry department in the emergency room, a role she held for 22 fruitful years. As a result of her dedication in a previous position, she received the Employee of the Year Award from the Costal Empire Mental Health Center with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health in 1990, which she cites as a highlight of her career. In addition, she served in the U.S. Navy for nearly three years. Ms. Booth has visited China four times over the past few years and thoroughly enjoys instructing senior citizens on the fundamentals of qi gong, allowing her students to remain active even in old age. Toward this end, she is steadfast in the belief that aging is a state of mind and should be faced with grace and fortitude. She also believes that success is the amalgamation of doing what you love and loving what you do. HILDA F. BOOTH, MS INSTRUCTOR, CLINICAL INTAKE COORDINATOR (RETIRED) Hilda Qi Gong Columbia, SC