5-Day Comprehensive Introduction in Saint Louis, Missouri

November 15th and 16th, February 6th, 7th, and 8th

In-person 9 am - 5 pm each day

People of the Global Majority/BIPOC Equity Rate: $1187.

Early Bird Rate: $1,247 paid by September 31st

Full Tuition: $1,400 *

* Students who have already taken an Introductory Seminar with Stephen or Melinda can qualify for up to a 50% discount, space permitting. Email us to let us know if you’re interested, and tell us a bit about what you’re hoping to gain from re-taking the seminar!

Course Description:

When you take a Comprehensive Introductory Seminar, you’ll learn the complete fundamentals of the Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis system. You’ll receive an in-depth overview of everything from taking a simple pulse rate to pulse interpretation and treatment planning. Our dedication to small student-teacher ratios means that you’ll receive 1-on-1 guidance from Certified Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis Instructors and will have lots of opportunities to practice and gain comfort in immediately applying these clinically-relevant palpation skills.

Course Objectives:

• Recognize fundamental pulse qualities

• Learn the typical and derivative interpretations of various pulse presentations

• Learn how to properly palpate and interpret findings on large segments of the pulse

• Learn how to palpate the principal and complementary positions

• Gain a solid foundation in pulse diagnosis, enabling you to embark on a journey toward tactile and didactic mastery of this or any other pulse diagnosis system

Course Prerequisites:

This course has no prerequisites and is appropriate for students and practitioners who have not yet taken an introductory seminar. This course is for you if you've never taken an Intro Seminar and would like to build a firm foundation in all that is Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis. This course is also for you if you’ve previously taken an Intro and you’d like to further hone your Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis knowledge and skills (we offer up to a 50% discount to students who have previously taken with Melinda or Stephen). We also teach all-levels Intermediate Seminars for those who’d like to try out a one-day offering, and weekly classes for those who’d like to immerse themselves in the Shen-Hammer system on a regular basis.

2-Day Hands On Pulse Intensive

January 10-11, 2026

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

No Pre-Requisites Required!

Regular Tuition: $600

Early Bird Discount: $540 (if payment received by November 7th)

Global Majority/BIPOC: $510

This Skills Review Seminar is open to all students interested in Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis, whether you are encountering the system for the first time or if you’re returning after completing an Introductory course to strengthen and practice your skills. This offers all levels of students the opportunity to engage in a supportive environment to review, refine, and deepen diagnostic abilities through guided practice and hands-on experience. Unlike previous Intermediate Intensives, we are opening this skills review to students of all skill levels— no pre-requisite required! It is an excellent opportunity to explore the Shen-Hammer lineage, refresh what you’ve learned in past workshops, or simply “dip your toe” into this profound system to see if you’d like to study it further.

The first day of this two-day seminar consists of hands-on immersion, wherein we revisit foundational palpation techniques, and reengage with pulse qualities and positions. The second day of the seminar offers students the opportunity to feel multiple volunteer patients’ pulses in the morning and to engage in case interpretation in the afternoon. Through guided hands-on practice and interpretation of pulse presentations, you’ll gain increased sensitivity in detecting subtle pulse variations and a confident foundation for treatment and case management.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Accurately palpate the large segments, and primary and complementary pulse positions taught in the Introductory Seminar

• Distinguish a broader range of pulse qualities, waveforms, and co-occurring qualities with greater discernment

• Assimilate multiple pulse findings to find the “crux'“ when interpreting complex patient profiles

• Improve accuracy in treatment planning based on pulse findings, both short-term and longer-term

• Increase skill in translating palpatory sensations into precise clinical language

FORMAT:

• Two full days of hands-on practice, with small group work and individualized instructor guidance

• Review of common challenges from Introductory Seminar students (what often gets “fuzzy” or “confusing”)

• Case examples and participant pulse records for group interpretation work

• Opportunity for Q&A, refinement, and feedback tailored to your current pulse practice

PREREQUISITES:

For this Intermediate Intensive, there are no pre-requisites required! Welcome to all students including students who have taken courses in the past and are looking to refine their skills or to prospective students who are looking for an opportunity to see if they’d like to further pursue their study into the Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis system. All are welcome and are encouraged to join us!

WHO IS THIS FOR:

• Practitioners and students of East Asian medicine who wish to increase their diagnostic confidence

• Those who have taken the Introductory Seminar and find they want more time to deepen their skills with real practice

• Anyone eager to sharpen pulse reading, especially in preparation for more advanced seminars or for applying pulse findings in clinical work

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS re: Introductory Seminars

Q: What’s the difference between a FOUR and a FIVE Day Introductory Seminar?

A: We’re so glad you asked! The four day course is tailored to a more rapid immersion in the foundations of Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis, while the five day course allows us to take a more spacious approach. We strongly believe that the study of pulse diagnosis can be included in a lifetime of study of our shared medicine and would invite students who have taken the four day seminar, to try out a five day, and likewise, invite students who have taken a five day to sometime try out the four day format. We believe both formats hold great value and are more offered for the purpose of creating a different type of feeling in what is a very deep and thorough dive into our system.

Q: I’ve taken an Introductory Seminar before, is it worth it to take another one?

A: Oh, good one! When we have gotten this question in the past, we recall how many Introductory Seminars we took with our teachers! Dozens! Each time learning something new! We learn by repetition. Every time you take a seminar (and in truth, every day you are in clinical practice) you can deepen into more skill and knowledge. When this is done in such an intentional manner as to dive in again, anew, your grasp of the system and your pulse taking becomes more fluid and masterful.

Q: What if I can’t attend either seminar but I want to study pulse diagnosis?

A: Thanks for asking! Please send us an email at info@dragonrisesportland.com and we’d be happy to have a consultation with you to figure out what your best inroad to studying pulse diagnosis might be!