Clay Germano
For nearly thirty years, Clay has been deeply engaged in the healing and movement arts. In that time he has studied and trained with a diverse group of masters and elite teachers.
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A lover of science and systems theory, Clay utilizes a naturalistic approach in blending ancient and modern modalities of health, movement, and longevity. At the core of everything he teaches is the art and science of optimal breathing.
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Clay lives in Puerto Rico where he trains, teaches, and surfs.
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My Story --- it's kinda long, I've done a lot
Clay Germano began his practice of health & wellness while attending Georgia Southern University (’94--96), where he was introduced to Hatha Yoga and meditation. Struggling with long periods of study due to sciatica (hip) pain, he quickly found relief through both arts, as well as lifelong practices.
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After reading Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road, Clay dropped out of college and did just that— traveling for years and working on organic farms all across the U.S., Hawaii, and Costa Rica. After sustaining a neck injury while logging in Vermont (’00), Clay began receiving orthopedic bodywork and practicing Taijiquan— both of which not only helped to heal his injury, but also changed the course of his life.
In 2001, Clay began his advanced study of Qigong, Taijiquan, and Shaolin Gongfu under Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming, founder of Yang’s Martial Arts Association, in Boston, Ma. Clay is a certified Qigong assistant--instructor through YMAA, and was given permission from Dr. Yang to teach the Taijiquan long--form. He was also the first caretaker of Dr. Yang’s California Retreat Center, coordinating construction and co--hosting/participating in retreats. The early years
of the Center provided Clay many travels and long drives with Dr. Yang, affording one--on--one moments of spirited discussions and unique training opportunities.
“One of the 100 people who have made the greatest impact in martial arts in the past 100 years.”
— Inside Kung Fu on Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming
In 1984, Dr. Yang founded YMAA Publication Center, a global leader in martial arts education. He has produced forty--nine training videos and authored thirty--six martial arts manuals which have been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Yang has received many honorary titles and numerous distinguished awards, such as Inside Kung Fu Man of the Year (’90 & ’07), Black Belt Magazine Kung Fu Artist of the Year (’07); and in 2020, was a Hall of Fame inductee of the Martial Arts History Museum.
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In 2008, Dr. Yang initiated a group of disciples for a 10 year training program at his California Retreat Center. It was at this time that Clay left the center and moved back to Seattle, for the path of the healing arts was calling stronger than that of the martial arts— as Seattle is a ‘mecca’ for healing--arts training.
Yang’s Martial Arts Retreat Center, Salmon Creek, Humboldt County, California ca. ’06
In 2008, Clay continued his study of Taijiquan and Qigong, as well as began training Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, under Sifu Andrew Dale, founder of the Xin Qi Shen Dojo, in Seattle, Wa. Sifu Dale trained with many of the early Japanese Aikido and Chinese Taijiquan and Gongfu masters who immigrated to the Pacific Northwest during the ’70’s, 80’s, & 90’s, and is a lineage-holder of several of those masters, including Tchoung Ta Tchen (Chiang Kai-shek’s bodyguard), Madame Gao Fu, Fook Yueng (Bruce Lee’s Taijiquan and Praying Mantis teacher), and Zhang Jie, just to name a few.
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Sifu Dale certified Clay as an instructor in the lineage of Cheng Ting Hua Baguazhang. Sifu Dale stressed the importance of learning traditional forms and applications, as well as improvisation, symmetrical--forms training, creativity, and of having fun with the movements.
During his four years of study with Sifu Dale, Clay was fortunate to have weekly private lessons, sometimes focussing on forms and corrections, but most often on push--hands and other partner drills emphasizing sensitivity and softness— while practicing in tranquil parks, Andy’s garden store, Andy’s home garden, or the quiet dojo. Sifu Dale also taught Clay Baguazhang staff, crescent knives, broadsword, and straight sword forms.
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The skill, relaxed power, and unbroken--lineage embodied in Andy’s movements left Clay with a deep--felt sense of what these arts are really about, and a lifetime of reflective re--enactments of those skills transmitted.
1. Master Tchoung & Students 2. Sifu Dale at the Xin Qi Shen Dojo in Seattle, Wa 3. Master Tchoung and Sifu Dale
In 2005, Clay attended the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle, Wa., a 16--month, 1000 hour COMTA--accredited program. BUSM provided a solid foundation in medical massage, injury treatment and orthopedic bodywork; as well as in anatomy, physiology, hydrotherapy, pathology and contraindications, along with human cadaver courses.
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In 2009, Brian Utting was awarded the American Massage Therapy Association’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. The world--class curriculum, teachers, and community at BUSM provided a massage education par excellence, and the school regularly hosted the best in continuing education providers, of which Clay actively partook in.
Brian Utting & Clay. May 2006
In 2006, Clay was licensed as a Healthcare Practitioner by the Washington State Dept. of Health and has accrued over 3,300 hours of accredited study and continuing education, along with hundreds of hours of tutorials and private lessons in massage, bodywork, and personal training.
Clay’s training in orthopedic massage & bodywork drew him to the techniques and philosophy of Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT). Osteopathic physicians treat disease and dysfunction through both conventional medical procedures, as well as the utilization of many highly-refined manual-therapy techniques developed for treating limitations and restrictions in the musculoskeletal system.
While many osteopathic physicians choose not to utilize OMT in their medical practices, the techniques and science of OMT have permeated deeply into the fabric of orthopedic massage & bodywork, which treats musculoskeletal pain, injury, and movement dysfunction— not disease.
Clay completed over 350 hours of advanced training in OMT with Dr. Loren Rex “Bear”, D.O. (1943--2019), founder of the Ursa Foundation, a 501c3 founded in 1976 to conduct courses in manual medicine. Ursa’s board members included DO’s, MD’s, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and teachers. Students were accepted who were licensed, registered or certified with statutory authority to apply the techniques learned. The Ursa community was diverse, warm, and welcoming, and every three--day course was a weekend filled with engaging conversations, laughter, and learning.
The Washington Osteopathic Medical Association recognized Bear’s
dedication to the osteopathic profession by bestowing him the
Distinguished Life Member and the Warren Lawless Lifetime Achievement Award.
Loren "Bear" Rex, D.O.
He also received the Founders Award presented by the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation “in recognition of a valued commitment to the principles of osteopathic medicine and to the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest.”
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The Ursa philosophy is that the body is a functional unit and should be evaluated as such. Courses were clinically oriented and scientifically based, and provided information to help improve the quality of client care and expedite the rehabilitation of athletes. It was during the course “The Biomechanical and Cardiovascular Functions of the Lower Extremity” that Clay had an ‘aha moment’ for a modern/naturalistic understanding of the health benefits of Taijiquan and Qigong; an understanding that radically changed his approach to these arts.
Rounding out Clay’s educational background is his study of Personal Training and Strength & Conditioning, with a strong focus on functional and fun training. In 2006, Clay was certified a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise, and the same year certified an “Exercise Coach” by the prestigious CHEK Institute (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology), founded by Paul Chek, a force of nature and a pioneer in functional and core training.
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In 2007, Clay completed the ten month Muscle Activation Technique (MAT) certification program, as well as the “Advanced Foot Function” training. MAT is a systematic method of muscle tests and activation techniques to treat limitations of motion by identifying and correcting inhibited muscles, and is often a missing piece to many complex and chronic--pain issues.
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From 2006 until 2016 Clay maintained a private clinical practice in such diverse places as Humboldt County, Seattle, Maui, and Puerto Rico.
West Seattle Studio, ca. 2012
In late 2015, Clay began slowly phasing out his clinical practice to begin working on the embryonic development of Breath--Spine--Core, while also returning back to his horticultural and agricultural roots by diving head--on into the newly legal medical and recreational cannabis industry.
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Clay was hired as the pioneer director of Research & Development for a Seattle--based company who consulted on various licensed medical and recreational marijuana enterprises in numerous US states. Since then, Clay has consulted on projects in Puerto Rico, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Humboldt County, California, focussing on soil and nutrient management, as well as Quality Assurance Systems for GMP & GACP compliance.
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In February of 2020, Clay was hired as Director of Cultivation for a Canadian-based agri--company to develop operations in St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Barbados. Clay also worked with the SVG Ministry of Agriculture to develop a National Organic Program, as well as an organic composting facility. After a year and a half of development, Clay left due to numerous setbacks from COVID-19 and the devastating eruptions of the La Soufrière Volcano beginning on April 10th, 2021— which ultimately buried both SVG and Barbados is volcanic ash, along with Clay’s vision.
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Clay has since moved back to Puerto Rico to focus on the further development and launch of the Breath--Spine--Core program, reopen his coaching and clinical practice, and to surf.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 2020
“Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breathing. It's the rhythm of your life. It's the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy.”
― Jaques D'Amboise