David Burmeister tells us a little about Mary and her family…we learn how David came to be in Scottsdale and his commitment to the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu…in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter, issue Number 38, Fall 2002:

*********************

Dear Friends and Students,

I first appeared on the scene, working in the Jin Shin Jyutsu office, in 1985. My sister-in-law, Martha, who had been running the Scottsdale office before my arrival, asked if I would move back from San Diego to relieve her for a few years while she and my brother, Michael, started their family. Back then, I had recently graduated from Northern Arizona University with a major in psychology and a minor in business, and believed that I was preparing myself for a career in clinical psychology.

I spent the better part of two years working in psychiatric hospitals, while preparing for a graduate school program at California School of Professional Psychology. It seemed like the experience of working with Mary and Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc., would go hand-in-hand with my interests in humanistic psychology. What I really hadn’t counted on was how much I would enjoy being with my mom, traveling with her and looking after this incredible workhorse of a person.

It wasn’t log before I began to appreciate the demands on Mary’s time and the substantial amount of work she had accepted as her path in life. Back in the 80’s she was teaching about 10 classes a year, while also writing and maintaining a practice of approximately a dozen clients a day. She was caring for a great many people and was truly living in the flow of cosmic energy and being the “effortless reality” that we speak of in the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. Mary was and is the living example of this Art, and in those days she did not appear to fatigue. Yet, even with all of this dynamic energy pouring forth, some aspects of the organization needed to be addressed. I couldn’t help but wonder where the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu was heading, how it would be nurtured and preserved and what would happen if Mary were no longer able to teach.

Sadly, this final question was the first one that I had to address as Mary’s head injury in 1990 put an abrupt end to her active teaching schedule. Thankfully, the instructor’s training program that we have recently initiated propelled our first generation of new Jin Shin Jyutsu instructors to the forefront. Muriel, Philomena and Wayne carried the torch courageously. Jin Shin Jyutsu Physio-Philosophy as expressed and understood by Mary Burmeister would continue to inspire future generations. Putting in place an instructor’s training program was one of the first important decisions I made for Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc.

In 1985 when I first arrived at the Scottsdale office, I was just 26, fairly young to guide the course of a growing international organization. Yet, looking back nearly 17 years later, I’ve learned that (as Mary so often stated) “growth cannot be hurried”. Somewhere over the course of these many years, I have grown to feel more comfortable and at home with my role as director of Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc. I am grateful to all who stood by me and offered their steady support during some challenging times. I have also been blessed with a truly wonderful family!

I plan to continue sharing my thoughts on a regular basis, and keep everyone posted on any interesting new developments within the organization. I would also be happy to respond to questions and offer my historical perspective of the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu. Helping to bring Mary’s lifework to the world is an awesome gift!

Lovingly,

David Burmeister, Director, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc.

Thank you David,

Thank you, Mary.

DAVID: Have we told you lately that we love and appreciate you? Well, we do!

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings

All issues of The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.