Workshop Leaders Bios & Details
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Laoshi Violet Li
12th Generation Chen Inheritor and an indoor disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei and trained many Tai Chi & Qigong instructors Taught and performed the healing art to universities, hospitals, large corporations, health institutes, gyms, health retreats, museums and senior centers in many US cities as well as overseas Interviewed by Planet China and selected as one of Top 12 Chinese Women in the world in 2022 One of the Top Five Presenters at Global Qigong Summit hosted by the Shift Network Founder of "Free Daily Online Tai Chi & Qigong Lessons with Violet & Friends" with viewers from over 30 countries "Best Reporter" honored by the "World Congress of Tai Chi, Qigong & TCM" and "Tai Chi Gala". Written more than 700 articles mostly in English and some in Chinese to bring the awareness of Tai Chi/Qigong to the world. Publisher of http://www.VioletLiTaiChi.com, top ten Tai Chi site with global readership Interviewed by "National Public Radio in Columbia"(MO) Featured on "Show Me St. Louis"(KSDK) and CBSWorkshops:
Tai Chi Walk
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
The Tai Chi Walk has become extremely popular in recent years, with hundreds of videos circulating on social media. However, few of them offer a clear definition of what it truly is or explain its key elements. In this workshop, Master Violet Li—12th Generation Chen Style Tai Chi inheritor and a Qigong master—will guide participants in understanding how to walk correctly in the Tai Chi way, helping you maximize its health benefits. 
Laoshi CJ Rhoads
Dr. CJ Rhoads has been a pillar of the Tai Chi community for many years. She started studying T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) almost thirty years ago, and has been involved in all aspects of the martial art and integrative health practice. Rhoads has studied with the following teachers (in alphabetical order) each between four and ten years: Betsy Chapman, Sara Gellhorn, Janet Louise, Rick Marth, Maggie Newman, and Yang Yang. She has also traveled extensively to attend Tai Chi workshops and camps with some of the world's foremost experts including: Li Deyin, Ben Lo, Nick Gracenin, Ma Hailong., Yang Jwing Ming, Wolf Lowenthal, Zeng Nailiang, David Chen, William CC Chen, Bill Phillips, Jou Tsung Hwa, Peter Warr , Wu Wenhan, Wu Kwong Yu , Sun Yongtian, Cheng Xianhao, Yang Zhenduo, Chen Zhenglei, Steve Higgins, and many others. She has been running her own Tai Chi Festivals and Symposiums since 2002. Rhoads is one of the founding members of the Taijiquan Enthusiasts Organization, a worldwide virtual organization of health and martial arts players and advocates dedicated to spreading the health benefits to everyone, now a program of Health, Prosperity, and Leadership (HPL) Institute. She works closely with Bill Douglas and Angela Wong, founders of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day and board members for HPL Institute. She was advisor for the Tai Chi Club of Kutztown University for over ten years. She is also the developer of Pacem In Vita, a leadership and self-development curriculum for children and adults based upon the principles of Taijiquan. In 2010 she was named Taijiquan Promoter of the Year and admitted to the Martial Artist Hall of Fame by the Fellowship of United Martial Artists in Philadelphia, PA and served on their advisory board for over ten years. In 2018 she was awarded by Tai Chi Gala for Excellence in Spreading and Teaching Taijiquan. Dr. Rhoads holds certification at the Instructor II level in the Canadian Taijiquan Federation, one of the few organizations in the world that certify Taijiquan teachers independent of style. She is a professional member of the American Tai Chi Association, and has been a professional member of the National Qigong Association (NQA) and a member of the NQA Research and Education Committee (which she chaired for many years). She has been certified as a teacher by her current Sifu, Betsy Chapman. Recently she has been working with the International Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association on certification, and is going through the process of certification for all the major certifying organizations as part of that responsibility. Furthermore, she's been certified by D'Youville College in the Tai Chi/Qigong for Veterans program. Rhoads has firsthand experience regarding the transforming powers of the gentle art of Tai Chi. In 2002 she was injured in a devastating car accident. In 2004 she was told by doctors that she had gotten "as good as she was gonna get" – but was still in severe pain, suffered memory and other brain injury problems, and could not work effectively. Just a few years later, with the help of a team of doctors and pain management specialists, and through a combination of Taijiquan, Pilates, Massage, and Myofascial Release she was able to mitigate her injuries. She was not only able to return to work, but was able to exceed all expectations. She was named by Governor Rendell's administration one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2009, and awarded the coveted Athena Leadership Award by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce in 2011, named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the Lehigh Valley in 2013, and Top Faculty Researcher of the Year in 2014, the same year she was promoted to Professor at Kutztown University. Rhoads is a prolific and well-known author, with dozens of books, and hundreds of articles published over the years, many on Tai Chi topics. Ten years after her accident, she revised her business plan and dedicated her business (HPL Consortium, Inc.) and non-profit organization, (Health, Prosperity, and Leadership Institute), to building an infrastructure that would support the needs of people who need integrative health services and to help community organizations utilize Tai Chi and other integrative health practices. She also started a research group called Asklepios that publishes studies on Tai Chi and Qigong. They have supported and promoted eleven highly regarded articles in the field of integrative health, eight of which are on tai chi or qigong. In the past, Rhoads has competed in the International Chinese Martial Arts Tournament circuit including traveling to Periguix, France, [where she lost to a tiny elderly woman from the Bronx], but taking multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in regional tournaments in Florida, Baltimore, and Washington DC. In October 2009 she was named the United States National Champion and Gold Medal winner in Female Push Hands [admittedly because no one else in her weight class showed up to compete that year ].
Workshops:
Pain Freeing Qigong
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
How Would You Like To...
• Decrease back pain, neck pain, knee pain, joint pain, tendon pain, or any other kind of pain?
• Decrease the stiffness and pain from arthritis?
• Understand the pain mechanism in the body?
• Know what increases pain and what decreases pain?
• Regain the energy and flexibility of youth?
• Feel less tired and depressed?
• Increase strength and stability?
• Prevent falls and regain your balance?
• Feel less annoyed when dealing with difficult people?
• Increase your memory and fend off the effects of dementia and old age on the brain?
• Live a longer, healthier, happier life?
New Health Research Shows Daily Qigong Is An Effective Answer to These Age-old problems.
Join this workshop for Pain Freeing Qigong. CJ Rhoads has lived in chronic pain since November 5, 2002 when she was injured in a devastating car accident. But she doesn't let her chronic pain stop her. She cracked the code of how pain works, and learned to short-circuit the pain mechanism so that she can completely ignore the pain and live a full, productive, successful life. The lessons she has learned can help you deal with any and all your pains, both small and great, whether caused by muscles, joints, or nerves. The qigong she developed serves as a mnemonic to the activities necessary to stay out of pain and live a healthier, fuller, life.
Laoshi Isse Elston
Marie Louise Elston has been teaching Tai Chi and Qigong for over forty years. She and her late spouse, David Elston-Phillips, were founders for the Taijiquan Enthusiasts Organization and its parent organization, HPL 501c3 Institute (main hosts of the Symposium of Integrative Health, Tai Chi, and Qigong). She is the principle of Complete Mind Body Spirit Tai Chi Association which offers four tai chi and qigong classes every week in Middletown and Falls Township in Bucks County, PA.
Workshops:
Healing Chi
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Need long description 
Laoshi Betsy Chapman
Betsy Scott Chapman has been a Martial Artist since 1980 and a Harpist since 1988. After a long corporate career she retired to follow her passion, opening a Wellness Center in 1995 which she sold in 2008. She continues to pursue Wellness practices, teaching Tai Chi and related topics at Ursinus College and elsewhere. She is certified as a Senior Coach (Black Sash/Instructor) by the Wu Kung Federation (UK), and holds additional Black Sash ranking from Nick Gracenin's Martial Arts Center (US) and the International Wushu SanShou Dao Association (China). She is certified as a Chief Judge for Chinese Martial Arts competition in the US. As a Certified Clinical Musician she uses harp music in hospital and hospice settings to positively affect patient well-being. She is also a VAHT (Vibro-Acoustic Harp Therapy) Practitioner, Shiatsu therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She has coproduced a CD of music and spoken word specifically for use with hospice patients, and another CD of music for relaxation and meditation. You may find more information about Betsy on her website, www.betsychapman.com
Workshops:
Sun Style Comparison
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Need long description 
Allen Remde
Alan Remde MD is a clinician-researcher in Mind/body medicine. He is faculty and Research Director at SLUHN Family Practice residency – Warren in Phillipsburg, NJ and is board certified in Family, Integrative and Sports medicine. He is a certified medical acupuncturist and has 40 years’ experience as a student of Tai Chi. He studies under Susanna DeRosa of Inner Space Tai chi.Workshops:
Tai Chi and Autonomic nervous system balance – a key to happiness and health
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
We will explore through meditation, Qigong and Tai Chi practice how to optimize our autonomic nervous system (ANS). Our ANS contains an ancient evolutionary-honed threat detection system that unconsciously surveys our environment (called neuroception – an unconscious analog to our more familiar conscious perception). Optimizing and balancing this threat detection system can improve our health and well-being on individual, relational and societal levels. Understanding the effects of this threat detection system will also help us understand why we so often get ‘blocked’ in our progress in Tai Chi, and how to overcome this. This foundational shift towards a more balanced ANS is a key to resilience, happiness, health and long life. 
Laoshi Mark Gallagher
Workshops:
The Magic of Bagua Qigong Applying Circles to San Jiao
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Baguazhang (the Art of Change & The Art of the Circle) is the practice of directing Qi flow through circular patterns to create and release energetic transitions.
When performed slowly, Bagua is known for meditative health cultivation and graceful palm changes; and when performed fast, circle-work improves agility and martial awareness.
As a Qigong practice, Bagua creates a joyous, meditative and relaxed state of awareness. The gentle circles stimulate Qi flow to specific organs and meridians, relax the body and calm mind and emotion.
Class will demo circular patterns that awaken Qi flow into the three zones of San Jiao (Triple Burner) and provide insights into using spiraling energy as a healing practice.
As time is limited, we’ll minimize circle walking and focus on coiling and silk reeling from stationary, spiraling postures.
Join Mark S. Gallagher for a fun and informative workshop exploring Bagua energetics. 
Laoshi David Vanadia
David developed his fun and friendly teaching style in gyms, health clubs, wellness studios, retail stores, acupuncture clinics, corporate settings, and in 55+ communities on the east and west coast. He’s taught people of all ages, and has extensive experience working with senior citizens. As someone who suffers from OCD (and recently had a health scare), David is especially interested in discovering new ways to employ Tai Chi to improve the lives of everyday people to cope with neurodiversity, physical challenges, and the weight of the world.
Workshops:
Tai Chi Walking x10
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Please note: ‘Tai Chi Walking x10’ has nothing to do with the YouTube ads. However, this workshop was inspired by the curiosity about Tai Chi walking that came from those ads.
On February 8, 2026, the New York Times published an article titled, “The Very Real Benefits of Tai Chi Walking.” The inspiration for the story was an AI-generated ad campaign on YouTube.
In one of the ads, a handsome, muscular Asian man sits shirtless before an attractive, white woman who asks him podcast-style questions.
“My dad can’t lose weight with Tai Chi. So it’s a scam?” the woman says.
“Oh, no, no. He’s probably just doing it wrong,” the man replies. “The gym breaks you. Tai Chi will make you lose weight faster than in your twenties.”
Another ad features an attractive Asian woman wearing a sleeveless half-shirt that highlights her visibly strong abs as she walks along a snow-covered stretch of the Great Wall of China. The ads guide viewers to a website form that asks personal questions about your height, weight, age, and fitness goals. Then you are instructed to download a phone app.
In our Tai Chi Walking x10 workshop, we’ll progress through ten different types of Tai Chi walking exercises that you can do without downloading an app, or paying a subscription fee.
The exercises are fundamental, meditative, and they progress from easy to difficult. Tai Chi walking won’t “make you unrecognizable” at the end of the workshop, but you will feel results if you do any or all of these free walking exercises for 100 consecutive days.
Bruce McCarter
Bruce is the founding teacher at Swimming In Air T’ai-Chi. He began his study of T’ai-Chi Chuan in college (1979) while doing a combined major in dance, exercise science, and psychology. Bruce broke his back at age 15 which has resulted in a life time of chronic pain, but the silver lining has been that it led him to T’ai-Chi and many other movement arts. His main teachers, in order, have been: Paul Gallagher (1979-’82), Dr Leung Kay-Chi (1982-’92), Master Harn Lin Lin, and, more recently, Great Grand Master William C.C. Chen (2017-present). During his 10 years of study with Leung Kay-Chi Bruce learned Chen Style, Yang Style, Chin-na, Northern Shaolin Long Fist (including weapons), and Pa Gua. Other teachers have included Master TT Liang (briefly), Jonathan Russell, Masters Stephen Asherman, Alex Hing, David Alexander, Dr Yang Jwing Ming, Sifu Ilona Bito, Terry Dunn, Marc Sabin, and others. Bruce was certified as a sifu by Master Chen in 2022, and in 2025 Master Chen gave Bruce his diploma, recognizing him as a master. He teaches Yang Style Short Form, Long Form, Sword (form and fencing), pushing hands, applications, and boxing. Bruce started studying Buddhism in 1982 and was authorized to teach in the Sakya lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in 2001 by His Holiness Sakya Gongma Trichen. He is the founder of The Ahimsa Institute for Buddhist Studies, and is the resident teacher at the Pittsfield UU Meditation Sangha. Bruce has a MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and doctorate (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology. Bruce lives and teaches in the Great Barrington area of the southern Berkshires.
Workshops:
Yang Style Applications in William Chen’s Tradition
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
In this workshop we will explore general principles and specific techniques as emphasized in the teachings of Great Grandmaster William C.C. Chen. William Chen was an inner door student of Professor Chen Man-Ch’ing and has continued to develop his own approach to T’ai-Chi Chuan. Some of these are emphasized in form practice while others are more specific to pushing hands (tui shou), and boxing (san shou). Areas to be covered:
1. Establishing structure and base (three nails, spiraling, etc).
2. Fingers and toes (finger dancing).
3. Breath, activation and release, (falling asleep & waking up, tilt and un-tilt)
4. Sticking and listening, (push then pull, pull then push).
5. Four ounces & drawing silk. Lines of balance, force, and the geometry of deception.
6. Substitution.
7. Following step (& the bounce).
The above may be common to other approaches to Taiji, however, we will be exploring specific nuances of them as delineated in the teachings of William Chen. If time permits we will also discuss Bruce’s perspective on:
A. Invest in Loss. Working with habits and patterns of reaction.
B. Nervous system & trauma. Sympathetic/parasympathetic, Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn.
C. Proximics, kinesphere, & body sovereignty.
Laoshi Jill L. Basso
Jill is a second-generation teacher in the Cheng Man Ching lineage. She is a senior student to Master William C. Phillips of Patience Tai Chi and a Certified Tai Chi Teacher. Jill started studying Tai Chi in Brooklyn, NY in 1995 and began teaching tai chi form classes in 1996 in the Hudson Valley. She has earned several gold, silver and bronze medals in form and push hands in competitions in NY, Taiwan and MD. She has been a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) since 2008 and blends her knowledge of body work with her students and clients to improve health, well-being and inner balance for healing. Some of these modalities include structural integration, cranio-sacral therapy, reflexology and somatic (body-based) approaches. Jill received her Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) certification and is a Somatic Coach, which has deepened to her practice. Jill has been living in Santa Fe, NM since 2007 and teaches tai chi classes year round in the park; Beginner – Advanced Yang Short and Long forms, Qi Gong, The Eight Brocades, Swimming Dragon, Push Hands, Self – defense applications along with the CMC Yang Sword Form, Stick form and punching forms in her Women’s Weapons class. Find more information on her Desert Sage Tai Chi website; www.desertsagetaichi.com and same named Facebook page.
Workshops:
Fascia and Leverage: Using Sensitivity and Biomechanics for Push Hands
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Fascia, the beautiful web of connective tissue that holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. Fascia is loaded with sensory cells and it is highly responsive to touch. It is the primary web of sensitivity and flexibility in the body.
Leverage is a bio-mechanical principle of physics. We will explore tai chi’s approach to the use of leverage for rooting, minimizing tension and generating power. We will explore how the sensitivity of connecting with fascia, combined with the use of leverage applies to improve your push hands. We will practice several 2-person exercises to learn the “right amount” of touch. This is in part the exploration of one of Cheng Man Chings famous quotes “Four ounces dispels a thousand pounds”. This workshop is suited for both women and men; women will learn to go around muscle and men will learn to let go of muscle.
Laoshi Simone Kraus
Simone Kraus studied under Master Jou the first year Tai Chi Farm opened in Warwick NY . She was involved with the first 3 years of the Chang Fen Seng festival there. She was part of the early days of the farm creating the workout areas and refurbishing of the Chang Building.Her time studying under Master Jou laid the foundation to the other martial arts she studied after leaving the farm in 1988 . She returned to study under Bruce LaCarubba at Taichi Park in 2020 and there learned Master Jou's refinement of silk reeling.
Workshops:
The SpiralPath: Legacy, Geometry & Power in Silk-Reeling
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Simone Kraus began her journey in 1984 at the legendary TaiChi
Farm in Warwick, NY. Her very first lesson was Chansujin (Silk-
Reeling). For four years, every weekend began with a ritual: Master
Jou leading the class down a dirt road, tracing the curves of the
Yin/Yang symbol with every step, from the training field past his home
to the waterfall at the back of the farm.
It was here that Simone learned to integrate the entire body into a
single, fluid spiral. She later carried this foundational power into her
other disciplines, becoming a 5th dan in Aikido and a 1st dan in
Iaido (the art of the Japanese sword). In 2020, Simone returned to
her roots at TaiChi Park to study with Bruce LaCarruba, discovering
the significant teaching advances Master Jou had developed for the
Chansujin.
Seminar Curriculum
1. Foundational Geometry: Mastering the individual right and
left paths of the Yin/Yang diagram using the "cat step" to build
rooted, directional power.
2. Integrated Rotation: Merging these paths into a continuous,
unified movement. We will focus on the "Three Internal
Harmonies": the center Dantien controlling the hips and chest,
the hips directing the legs, and the chest governing the arms.
3. Dynamic Application: Engaging in unique full-body drills
utilizing the TaiChi Diagram—advanced techniques passed down
through Bruce LaCarruba to bridge internal theory with martial
reality.
Laoshi Harry Legg
There’s a good chance you have heard Harry - he has voiced for NBC Sports and is heard on Radio & TV stations around the world. He is the Founder of New Jersey Tai Chi and teaches Clear Style Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Nei Kung, Clear Internal Push Hands, and Self-Defense at his Verona, NJ studio. He is an advanced Fa Kung energy healing practitioner and also teaches corporate wellness programs. Harry is a Senior Instructor and the NJ / NYC Regional Organizer for Clear Tai Chi. Harry also holds a black belt ranking in the Body Mind Studios system of 8 Martial Arts.
Workshops:
Awakening the Internal Engine: Drills for Contraction, Expansion, and Spirals
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Many practitioners know the external choreography of their forms, but the true essence of Tai Chi lies beneath the surface. In this 30-minute interactive workshop, we will bridge the gap between physical movement and internal power. We will explore the fundamental mechanics of internal energy, focusing specifically on the dynamics of contraction and expansion, as well as the generation of spirals.
Discover the Internal Engine: Learn how to consciously engage contraction and expansion. Harness Spiraling Energy: Practice drills that unlock the power of spirals in your body. Feel the Mechanics: Move past theory with experiential exercises designed to help you physically feel the energy working.
Join us to gain practical tools that will instantly deepen your daily practice.
Rather than just discussing theory, this session is highly experiential. You will be guided through targeted, accessible drills designed to help you physically feel and cultivate these energies within your own body. Whether you want to deepen your solo practice or better understand the internal engine driving your movements, you will leave with practical tools to bring your Tai Chi to life.
Laoshi John Loupos
Sifu John Loupos, M.S.Psych, C.H.S.E., began studying martial arts in 1966. At the unlikely age of 15 John inherited a school of his own and has been teaching martial arts ever since. His studies have included; Okinawan Karate, Chinese Kung Fu (Bak Sil Lum, Choy Lay Fut, and Praying Mantis), Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, Liu He Ba Fa, Xingyi, and Bagua, along with various Qigong and energy oriented disciplines. With over fifty 1st Place championships John was the reigning N.E. Forms Champion from 1979-1981. John also has a background in Classical Homeopathy and currently maintains a private clinical practice in Hanna Somatics. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Hanna Somatic Education. John has authored multiple books, including several on Tai Chi, as well as assorted other media. In 2012 John was named a Master Tai Chi Consultant by the lead Tai Chi Researcher for Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital for his contributions to ongoing research. John currently lives by the shore in Hull, Massachusetts. Outside of martial arts and health care his other passions include; tennis, ping pong, swimming, writing, and organic gardening.
Workshops:
Your Tai Chi Knees: How to Protect Them and Use Them to Your Best Tai Chi Advantage
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Tai Chi is supposed to be good for your knees, but only if you use them in the correct way. Join John Loupos for a Zoom session this year as he guides Tai Chi’ers in the subtle intricacies of proper knee positioning, both stationary and dynamic. 
Bob and Jean Klein
Bob Klein studied Tai-chi-Chuan with Grandmaster William C. C. Chen in the 1960's ad 1970's. He was a zoologist, working with hundreds of species of animals and considers them to also be his teachers. Mr. Klein is the author of the books, "Movements of Magic - the Spirit of Tai-chi-Chuan", "Movements of Power - Ancient Secrets of Unleashing Instinctual Vitality", and "Heal Yourself and the World with Tai Chi". He has produced over 70 instructional videos on Tai Chi and related subjects. Bob is a co-host of the three-times monthly International Tai Chi Teachers Discussion Group online. He was an original teacher at Master Jou, Tsung Hwa's Tai Chi Farm in Warwick, N. Y. Jean Klein studied Tai Chi with Bob Klein and Grandmaster William C. C. Chen since the 1980's. She was a physical therapist assistant and is a Tai Chi teacher and Pilates teacher and teaches on several instructional videos.
Workshops:
Fluidity in Tai Chi forms
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Using Grandmaster William C. C. Chen's 60 movement short form, Bob Klein will introduce the principle of "all the joints move at all times in relationship to each other" and "the form begins with the dynamics within the lungs". This approach requires strengthening the consciousness of the body so it can take over the movements and being willing to let go of behavioral programming.
Bob will teach how to transform attention into a fluid state, rather than the single-point, condensed attention used by the thinking mind. The result is a return to the original, natural, animal state. He will use principles that can be incorporated into any form or chi-gung set. Additionally, he will discuss and demonstrate the difference between competition and traditional push hands, using these same principles.
There has been a tendency, in recent years, for Tai Chi to become more rigid and to be initiated from the head. This workshop is an attempt to stop this trend.
Laoshi Marc Sabin
Marc Sabin practices and teaches Taijiquan and Push Hands as a body/mind/spiritual practice. His studies began 1976 as part of a professional acting program. Before focusing solely on Taiji, Marc earned two black belts. He was awarded one in Chinese Kempo and another in Chu’an Fa. He also earned an Advanced Degree diploma in Filipino Escrima from Angel Cabales. His research into the principles and applications of Yang and Chen styles of Taiji, plus his extensive explorations in the dynamics of Push Hands and meditation, have guided Marc’s approach to the depths and intricacies of the art. Marc had the good fortune of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he spent years studying under several extraordinary teachers. Throughout that time, he met with everyone he could find who could help him glean a better understanding of the principles and applications. Marc further enhanced his Taiji education on international travels where he attended classes, workshops and one-on-one meetings with other instructors. After relocating to New York, his teaching career took his studies into new heights. It is by instructing others that Marc has applied the instructions he was given and where he has grown most of all. He continues to share his love of Taiji, in the hopes of making a small contribution to this marvelous discipline. In addition to his devotion to Taiji, Marc is the chief marketing and chief sustainability officer of Advanced Resilient Biocarbon, a company with a mission to solve the global problems of climate change by creating renewed resources by repurposing waste. As an ordained Interfaith minister, Marc performs weddings and non-denominational spiritual counseling. His regular classes are held New York’s Hudson Valley. Contact him to schedule workshops or visit his website: MarcSabin.com/taijiquan.html.
Workshops:
The Way of Harmony: Peaceful Push Hands Workshop
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
This workshop welcomes participants of all levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners, who wish to explore the transformative power of non-competitive Push Hands. No previous experience in Taiji is required—just an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a spirit of curiosity.
Step into the world of Taiji Push Hands, a dynamic practice rooted in the principles of balance, connection, and harmony. Join us for a transformative workshop focused on non-competitive Taiji Push Hands, where the emphasis lies not in winning or overpowering your partner but in cultivating awareness, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to the art of Taiji, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding and experience of this profound practice.
In this experiential workshop, you will:
1. Explore the Directions of Energy Flow: Gain a deeper understanding of the nature of energy, and how it can be used to inaugurate physical movement.
2. Work with Non-Physical Energy Movement Techniques: Discover a variety of techniques to move and direct energy without physical movement.
3. Cultivate Awareness and Sensitivity: Fine tune the ability to detect and work with energy through guided exercises and practices.
4. Enhance Body Mechanics and Structure: Optimize body mechanics for efficiency, stability and fluidity. Receive force and return power with ease and grace.
5. Delve into Taiji Principles: Refine the ability to relax and respond. Maintain center and integrate whole-body connectivity.
6. Distinguish Intention from Agenda: Explore give and take by upholding the intention to push without the imposition of forceful tactics.
7. Focus on Accurate Listening and Precise Interpretations. Excise reactive impulses and expand the range of calmness before fear gets incited.
Laoshi David Ritchie
Sifu David Ritchie began training in the martial arts in 1969. His first taijiquan (tai chi chuan) instructor, Master Ben Wong, invited him as a special guest to join the Sabah Tai Chi Association of Sabah, East Malaysia. In Sabah, Sf. Ritchie’s instructor was Master Wong Li Sung, under Grandmaster Huang Xing Xian, who was a senior disciple of Grandmaster Cheng Man Ching. Sf. Ritchie then studied under Master Wong Yi in Hong Kong, the Thai Elders (former Cheng Man Ching students) in Bangkok, Thailand and throughout the years with well-known masters in the US. Sf. Ritchie has formally been teaching taijiquan since 1983, and founded Central Connecticut Tai Chi Chuan (CCTCC) in Meriden, CT in 1989. This was the first taijiquan school in New England to offer complete year-round taijiquan programs with 10 instructors and over a dozen classes each week. Sf. Ritchie has also taught taijiquan in several corporate settings such as ESPN, the Ntl. Arthritis Foundation and the Ntl. MS Society of CT. Sf. Ritchie was an assistant professor at Quinnipiac University where he taught taijiquan in the PE dept., and medical qigong lab for students in the Dept. of Health Sciences.
Workshops:
Expanding Your Qi Awareness
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Qi is the life force found in all things. Being able to sense qi in yourself and others is an important goal towards advancing one’s taiji practice. In this workshop, Shifu David Ritchie of Central Connecticut Tai Chi Ch’uan will teach you effective techniques to help you expand your awareness of qi. You will learn the power of “mind intent” and the role it plays in qi development. You will discover the power of sensing and rooting qi. You will also discover the importance of proper structure to aid qi flow, and be taught relaxation activities that can be practiced at home. This workshop will teach valuable techniques for beginners to advanced enthusiasts. 
Laoshi Jano Cohen
JANO COHEN has been a student of Margaret (Maggie) Newman since 1977 (with a 12-year break between 1984 and 1996). She was given permission to teach in 1998. Maggie was one of the six senior students of Professor Cheng Man Ching who were given permission to teach at the Shr Jung school in New York City. While Maggie is her primary teacher, Jano has also learned a great deal from classes or workshops with Lenzie Williams, John Crouse, Jeff Herrod, Weiming Yuan, Tom Daly and William Bengochea. Jano is one of six teachers designated by Maggie to carry on teaching in her stead in Philadelphia since she retired. As they rotate teaching, Jano also learns from her fellow teachers Susan Heineman, Russ Mason, Michael Ward, Jean Zimmermann, and Janet Louise. She is also one of the teachers at Maggie’s Legacy camp held once a year in Geneva, NY. As a previous dancer and choreographer Jano brings her ability to break down choreography for her students and a passion for movement. As an Alexander Technique teacher, she can share ways to release tension, enhance physical alignment, and improve movement flow.
Workshops:
Cheng Man Ch'ing with One Chi
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
T’ai chi walks, chi kung and repeated postures from the form will be presented as a way for practitioners of all levels and any lineage to practice the T’ai chi principles and cultivate chi together. Then we will do a slow Cheng Man Ch’ing form together with one chi. The first third is easy enough for everyone of all levels to join, but those who are at least somewhat familiar with this form will be welcome to do the whole form.
Laoshi Ramsey Yunan
Sifu Ramsey Yunan has been training martial arts for over 40 years and teaching for the last 25. His arts include Yang Style Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Hsing-I Chuan as well as Kuntao, Silat, Cimande, Black Dragon, Mantis and Monkey Kung Fu. His teachers include Willem de Thouars, Don Ethan Miller, Bruce Walker, Duan Zhi Liang, Waysun Liao, William C.C. Chen, Jou Tsung Hwa and Sydney Austin. He is a multi-time national push hands champion in several weight classes and now coaches for taiji competition. His current teaching focus is on Old-Hand Taiji and Kung Fu training methods.
Workshops:
Expanding and Contracting: Finding the Yin and Yang in Qigong, Tai Chi, and Pushing Hands
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Many writings about Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong discuss expanding and contracting, but how are they practically developed and used in qigong and push hands? This workshop will describe the physical mechanics of expanding and contracting and how to develop these skills and use them in everyday practice for health and for martial applications.
We will talk about the Yin and Yang channels in the body and how to properly direct Qi along them as well as how to practice and develop this ability. We will also describe how energies such as Peng, Song, and Liu are generated and expressed and how to use them in daily practice. Next, we will learn specific Qigong exercises that cultivate these energies. Finally, we will show how they can be used in Push Hands and martial applications.
Laoshi Roger Jahnke
Dr. Roger Jahnke, O.M.D., has dedicated his professional life to sharing the powerful ancient healing traditions of China. He is the director and chief instructor of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, Santa Barbara, California; and a cofounder and recent chairperson of the board of the National Qigong Association. With almost 30 years of clinical practice as a physician of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and eight research tours to China, Dr. Jahnke has emerged as a key spokesperson for Tai Chi (Taiji) and Qigong (Chi Kung) and is a master teacher of these arts. He has studied hundreds of forms of Qigong with master teachers and visited numerous hospitals, institutes, training centers, temples, and sacred sites in China, focusing on the cultivation of Qi (Chi). Dr. Jahnke has presented at major conferences on advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) throughout the United States. He has lectured on self-healing and emerging trends in health care and medicine to numerous hospital systems and health care associations, including the HealthCare Forum; the Catholic Health Association; the American Medical Association; the National Wellness Institute, Stevens Point, Wisconsin; and the American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago, Illinois. He is a contributing author to numerous books on health promotion methodologies for both clinical providers and health care administrators. Dr. Jahnke's first book. The Healer Within: The Four Essential Self-Care Methods For Creating Optimal Health, published by Harper San Francisco in 1997, delivered the Qigong and Taiji revolution to a broad and general audience in the Americas and the European community. In 2002, Roger's second book, The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi, published by Contemporary Books, a division of McGraw-Hill, distills the best and most important lessons gleaned from master Qigong teachers, with guidelines for tailoring a self-healing regimen for any age or medical condition. The workshops and training sessions that Dr. Jahnke conducts at retreat centers such as Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California; the Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, New York; and Kripalu in Lenox, Massachusetts have inspired health care professionals and citizens throughout North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Canada, and Asia. In 2005, Dr. Jahnke was appointed to co-convene a National Expert Meeting on Qigong and Tai Chi in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the National Blueprint for Active Aging.
Workshops:
HeartMind Qigong – Merging Jing and Shen in the HeartMind Dan Tain.
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
How do Heaven and Earth merge in a human? Check out how simple this can be. It’s one of the amazing things about Qigong.
First, though, notice the complexity of this statement which is quite accurate relative to the knowledge base of Chinese Medicine. Yang descends through the Portal of 1000 Gatherings (Governing Vessel (GV) 20, Bai Hui) at the Heaven / Shen Dan Tian, Yin Tang, Third Eye. Yin ascends through Bubbling Well (Kidney 1, Yong Quan) and Earth Convergence, Hui Yin (Conception Vessel 1 - CV 1,) at the Physiological / Jing Dan Tian, Guan Yuan, CV 4 Guan and Qi Hai CV 6. Yang Qi of Heaven and Yin Qi of Earth merge in the HeartMind -xīn (心) - Dan Tian – at Sea of Tranquility, CV 17 Dan Zhong.
All of this detail is interesting but it is not necessary. Restated in a much more accessible AND easier way to digest – My Heaven Yang Qi descends to support my awareness of eternity – my Spirit / Shen. My Earth Yin Qi rises to support my bodily function – my Jing / Subtle Physiology. They merge and potentially harmonize in my HeartMind - xīn (心). This is my own inner YinYang – myself as an expression of Taiji. Even this explanation is unnecessarily complex.
Laoshi CJ Rhoads
Dr. CJ Rhoads has been a pillar of the Tai Chi community for many years. She started studying T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) almost thirty years ago, and has been involved in all aspects of the martial art and integrative health practice. Rhoads has studied with the following teachers (in alphabetical order) each between four and ten years: Betsy Chapman, Sara Gellhorn, Janet Louise, Rick Marth, Maggie Newman, and Yang Yang. She has also traveled extensively to attend Tai Chi workshops and camps with some of the world's foremost experts including: Li Deyin, Ben Lo, Nick Gracenin, Ma Hailong., Yang Jwing Ming, Wolf Lowenthal, Zeng Nailiang, David Chen, William CC Chen, Bill Phillips, Jou Tsung Hwa, Peter Warr , Wu Wenhan, Wu Kwong Yu , Sun Yongtian, Cheng Xianhao, Yang Zhenduo, Chen Zhenglei, Steve Higgins, and many others. She has been running her own Tai Chi Festivals and Symposiums since 2002. Rhoads is one of the founding members of the Taijiquan Enthusiasts Organization, a worldwide virtual organization of health and martial arts players and advocates dedicated to spreading the health benefits to everyone, now a program of Health, Prosperity, and Leadership (HPL) Institute. She works closely with Bill Douglas and Angela Wong, founders of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day and board members for HPL Institute. She was advisor for the Tai Chi Club of Kutztown University for over ten years. She is also the developer of Pacem In Vita, a leadership and self-development curriculum for children and adults based upon the principles of Taijiquan. In 2010 she was named Taijiquan Promoter of the Year and admitted to the Martial Artist Hall of Fame by the Fellowship of United Martial Artists in Philadelphia, PA and served on their advisory board for over ten years. In 2018 she was awarded by Tai Chi Gala for Excellence in Spreading and Teaching Taijiquan. Dr. Rhoads holds certification at the Instructor II level in the Canadian Taijiquan Federation, one of the few organizations in the world that certify Taijiquan teachers independent of style. She is a professional member of the American Tai Chi Association, and has been a professional member of the National Qigong Association (NQA) and a member of the NQA Research and Education Committee (which she chaired for many years). She has been certified as a teacher by her current Sifu, Betsy Chapman. Recently she has been working with the International Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association on certification, and is going through the process of certification for all the major certifying organizations as part of that responsibility. Furthermore, she's been certified by D'Youville College in the Tai Chi/Qigong for Veterans program. Rhoads has firsthand experience regarding the transforming powers of the gentle art of Tai Chi. In 2002 she was injured in a devastating car accident. In 2004 she was told by doctors that she had gotten "as good as she was gonna get" – but was still in severe pain, suffered memory and other brain injury problems, and could not work effectively. Just a few years later, with the help of a team of doctors and pain management specialists, and through a combination of Taijiquan, Pilates, Massage, and Myofascial Release she was able to mitigate her injuries. She was not only able to return to work, but was able to exceed all expectations. She was named by Governor Rendell's administration one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2009, and awarded the coveted Athena Leadership Award by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce in 2011, named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the Lehigh Valley in 2013, and Top Faculty Researcher of the Year in 2014, the same year she was promoted to Professor at Kutztown University. Rhoads is a prolific and well-known author, with dozens of books, and hundreds of articles published over the years, many on Tai Chi topics. Ten years after her accident, she revised her business plan and dedicated her business (HPL Consortium, Inc.) and non-profit organization, (Health, Prosperity, and Leadership Institute), to building an infrastructure that would support the needs of people who need integrative health services and to help community organizations utilize Tai Chi and other integrative health practices. She also started a research group called Asklepios that publishes studies on Tai Chi and Qigong. They have supported and promoted eleven highly regarded articles in the field of integrative health, eight of which are on tai chi or qigong. In the past, Rhoads has competed in the International Chinese Martial Arts Tournament circuit including traveling to Periguix, France, [where she lost to a tiny elderly woman from the Bronx], but taking multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in regional tournaments in Florida, Baltimore, and Washington DC. In October 2009 she was named the United States National Champion and Gold Medal winner in Female Push Hands [admittedly because no one else in her weight class showed up to compete that year ].
Workshops:
Maggie Newman Legacy Panel
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Margaret Janie Newman, whose life traced a rare and graceful arc from modern dance to Kabuki to T’ai Chi, passed away on October 8, 2025. She was a singular artist and teacher, weaving together traditions of East and West into a lifetime of movement, discipline, and deep spirit.
Born in Lanett Alabama, Maggie’s early fascination with form led her first to sports, then to dance. After studies at the University of Alabama and summers at Jacob’s Pillow, she moved to New York in 1950, where she immersed herself in the Katherine Dunham School of Dance, the School of American Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School, and the Louis Johnson Company. She performed tirelessly, appearing in modern dance concerts, nightclubs, and on television, and toured internationally with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Dance critics and colleagues alike praised her as a performer of versatility, rigor, and elegance.
Yet Maggie’s genius lay not only in performance, but in her ceaseless curiosity. In the early 1960s, her path turned toward Asia’s great embodied arts. She studied meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Zen master Nakagawa Sōen Rōshi, and trained in martial disciplines including karate and aikido, earning her black belt under Sensei Yamada and Master Kōichi Tōhei. For fifty years she also devoted herself to Japanese classical Kabuki dance, a practice that enriched her understanding of theater, gesture, and presence.
The deepest of these lifelong studies began in 1964, when Maggie met Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing, the renowned Yang-style T’ai Chi master. She became one of his six senior students in New York, entrusted with carrying forward his teaching. Maggie went on to nurture learners in Rochester, Philadelphia, New York City, and beyond, teaching workshops, camps, and weekly classes for over half a century. She was widely recognized as one of the pillars of Professor Cheng’s lineage in America.
Maggie’s teaching was marked by humility and insight. She often said the teacher’s task was “not to squelch the student’s spirit,” but to create a structure in which discipline and spontaneity could meet. Students recall her precision of eye, her warmth, and her quiet humor—whether guiding them through the subtleties of push-hands, demonstrating the sword, or encouraging them to “stay awake” within the form. For Maggie, T’ai Chi was never just technique; it was the daily practice of discovering one’s body, mind, and heart anew.
In every art she touched—dance, Kabuki, martial arts, calligraphy, painting, and above all, T’ai Chi—Maggie Newman embodied balance, refinement, and openness. She carried traditions forward while leaving space for others to find their own way within them. Her students, colleagues, and countless admirers will remember her not only as a master, but as a rare presence: grounded yet light, disciplined yet free, precise yet compassionate.
Her legacy endures in the bodies, minds and spirits of those she knew and taught, and in the living lineage of movement and mindfulness that she helped cultivate for future generations. 
Laoshi Bill Douglas
William Douglas is the 2009 Inductee to the World Internal Arts Hall of Fame in New York, and received the "Extraordinary Service in the Field of Qigong Award" from the National Qigong Association (NQA.org), and the "Qigong Media Excellence Award" from the World Congress on Qigong (Founded by Dr. Effie Chow). He is the Founder of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day (WorldTaiChiDay.org), and Founder of The Global Transformation Project (GlobalTransformationProject.org). William is an award-winning author on Mind Body and Consciousness. his latest book's compilation of Mind Body science led to the formation of The Global Transformation Project. His books include: "The Gospel of Science: Mind Blowing New Science on Ancient Truths to Heal Our Stress, Lives, and Planet" (2nd edition), "The Tao of Tai Chi: The Making of a New Science," and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Tai Chi & Qigong" (4th edition, Penguin Alpha Books). Douglas has taught Mind Body Education (Tai Chi, Meditation, Chi Kung, Mindfulness, & Yoga) through major health networks for nearly 40 years. Discovering that students/patients can "only get the amount of transformation and healing from their practices as they BELIEVE they can." He's seen this in his teaching through hospitals that when a patient learns of the science showing that their Mind Body practice "can heal" their condition ... that is when it can. This is why Douglas's life is committed to educating the public on what profound treasures every Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness Teacher is ... and how profoundly these practices can change our lives. Douglas's research has revealed that most people have no idea how profound Mind Body practices can change lives, and that even most teachers of Mind Body have no idea. His goal is to educate the global Mind Body community of this science, so that they can educate their students ... and empower their students to understand their own self-healing power using the Mind Body practices they are already now practicing. As our vision of our art's potential expands, Douglas says, so does their ability to transform us in magical ways--and science backs it all up. Science also shows that Mind Body in Public Education, Kindergarten though 12th grade, would solve most of the major challenges of society, including economically by saving literally trillions of dollars in future health costs year after year. And science also shows that this would dramatically reduce violent crime rates, and the need for expensive police, courts, and prisons. Douglas began a Mind Body Movement to get Mind Body into Public Education, supported by leaders in our field; Dr. Effie Chow, Dr. Roger Jahnke, Dr. Peter Wayne (Harvard Guide to Tai Chi author), Dr. Paul Lam (University of New South Wales, Australia), Dr. Shin Lin (University of California), Dr. Roger Nelson (Princeton University PEAR Labs) etc. etc.
Workshops:
Opening Our Upper, Middle, & Lower Dan Tiens and Changing the World
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
The Founder of World Tai Chi Day, World Healing Day, World Yoga Day, and the Global Transformation Project will share the Nei Gong Energy Meditations that have enabled a focus that has unlocked his life on profound levels (see video of him outshooting virtually the entire NBA, and at nearly 70 years old!).
The Lower, Middle, and Upper Dan Tiens are proven by science to unleash profound potential in human beings when we go into the Song State on a regular basis, daily for optimum benefit. This Meditative Practice fits well with any style of Tai Chi or Qigong as a powerful complement that will enable even greater benefit from your current practice. You don’t need to change your practice; your current Tai Chi or Qigong practice is perfect as is, but adding this deep energy practice to your current practice is life-altering.
The Presentation will begin with a quick introduction to our energetic nature, followed by the Nei Gong Meditation, and perhaps a bit of Moving Qigong Meditation, and if time permits World Tai Chi Day Founder will share the profound science proving that our Internal Arts practices are changing the world in magnificent ways … and ultimately are the key to solving most of society’s greatest challenges. The science is in, and it is life-altering and world-altering.
BONUS CONTENT:
William Douglas offers life-altering science, Mind Body, Diet, Lifestyle content … ALL FREE … at the YouTube Channel “@globaltransformationproject”. Find Tutorials in several Internal Arts, and so much more.
Also, his life and world-altering book, “The Gospel of Science: Mind Blowing New Science on Ancient Truths to Heal Our Stress, Lives, and Planet” (2nd edition) IS FREE ON AMAZON KINDLE EBOOKS, every:
World Tai Chi Day (last Saturday of April)
World Yoga Day (June 21st)
World Silent Prayer Day (September)
World Peace Meditation Day (December 31st)
Laoshi Stephen Watson
Stephen Watson has immersed himself in Eastern philosophy for over 35 years. Taoism, the philosophical root of Taiji, is made clearer in a moment with Stephen than in poring over dozens of translations from the Classics. Stephen's martial training (the how) began in concert with his interest in philosophy (the why). His motto is: When you have enough Why's you have Wise. He specializes in transmitting a profound understanding of why. Ask a question and he will show you that you already know why. There are no hidden treasures only closed eyes. Stephen is has been featured in Inside Kung-Fu magazine and is known the world over for his engaging personality, kind-hearted approach to teaching and, of course, his world-class skill. Stephen travels the world offering workshops on various Chinese martial arts. Stephen Watson is the only person to compete in, referee at, and teach at martial arts tournaments for every umbrella organization at their national level. He is an International, 18-time US, and now World Champion in Taiji Push Hands. He operates a small martial arts school in Connecticut where he hosts masters from far and yon. His teachers include every person he has ever met. Come be his next teacher.
Workshops:
Discover the Soft Way of Zen Work
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Let's embark upon the practice of a Soft Way of Zen Work, one of the most comprehensive
routines of healthful movements practiced today. Stephen Watson of Clinton, CT’s
SomedayFarm.org leads us through Meditative Motions from across the greater world of
Tai Chi.
This internal exercise system was developed as a meditative Martial Art with an emphasis
on softness, continuity, and breath regulation. It has historically been practiced by senior
monks to preserve vitality and martial skill into later life.
The series is a form of internal reservoir cultivation that is mind clarifying and spirit
revivifying and consists of twelve movements designed to improve health, emotional
buoyancy, and vitality.
Each sequence focuses on a different structure or system of the body and helps to
promote the smooth flow of our vital life energy (our vivaciousness, our verve, and our joi
de vivre.)
The practice is gentle and can be done slowly (like Tai Chi) or swiftly - in either case with an
emphasis made on smoothness and clarity of intent. This Temple-derived series is
accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. In fact, it is primarily practiced for health
maintenance and is particularly popular among older practitioners due to its gentle nature
and comprehensive health benefits.
This enjoyable and challenging exercise series is understood to develop Qì reserves,
concentration, balance, and deep relaxation. The Softness in its title and at its core refers
to suppleness and pliability, not weakness. This makes it suitable for injury recovery and
surgical rehabilitation as well as a healthful practice for an aging athlete.
Jennifer Steffener
Jennifer Steffener graduated from the Somerset School of Massage Therapy in 1996. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She has advanced training in a variety of massage techniques and has been involved in the fitness and holistic services since 1990. She customizes her massage therapy sessions and uses a combination of Swedish, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofascial, Sports and Stretching Techniques, Reflexology, Chinese Massage, Shiatsu, Manual Lymph Drainage, Consulting and After Care to uniquely fit the therapeutic needs of each client. Jennifer has over 21 years of therapeutic massage experience with a variety of clients of all ages and health concerns. She is an accomplished Tai Chi instructor and a senior student of the late Grandmaster Jou, Tsung Hwa. Jennifer was so inspired by Master Jou, she moved to the Tai Chi Farm in Warwick, NY to study full time with him in Chen style tai chi. At his encouragement, she began teaching and assisting with classes and events in 1994. Jennifer is a Certified Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Meditation Instructor. Her classes focus on the health, longevity, and prevention benefits of Tai Chi. Jennifer teaches Tai Chi as a life art and believes when you incorporate it’s simple yet powerful principles into all aspects of your daily activities you can enhance the quality of your life.
Workshops:
Awakening Your Qi with Meridian Massage and Acupressure
Room: To Be Determined
Day and Time:To Be Determined
Enhance your Taijiquan and Qi Gong practice with this restorative and educational 1-hour workshop designed to support the smooth flow of Qi, deepen body awareness, and cultivate greater vitality. Through the integration of traditional tapping methods, meridian self-massage, and practical acupressure techniques, participants will explore simple ways to prepare the body, calm the mind, and energize the spirit.
Rhythmic tapping along the body can help awaken stagnant energy, stimulate circulation, and bring attention to areas of tension or fatigue. Meridian self-massage offers a gentle way to open the body’s energetic pathways, release stiffness, and promote relaxation before or after movement practice. Acupressure points selected for balance, grounding, and resilience can be used to support everyday wellness and enhance internal cultivation.
This workshop is especially valuable for practitioners seeking effective warm-up and cool-down methods, greater sensitivity to energy flow, and practical tools for self-care between classes. Practices may help improve posture awareness, ease muscular tightness, support breathing, and encourage a more centered and relaxed state for movement and meditation.
Participants will learn easy-to-follow techniques that can be incorporated into personal practice routines, used before forms practice, after training, or anytime stress reduction and renewed energy are needed. Suitable for all experience levels, this session offers a grounded and accessible approach to strengthening the connection between movement, breath, and energy. Come ready to move gently, learn practical wellness skills, and leave feeling refreshed, balanced, and revitalized.
Laoshi CJ Rhoads
Dr. CJ Rhoads has been a pillar of the Tai Chi community for many years. She started studying T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) almost thirty years ago, and has been involved in all aspects of the martial art and integrative health practice. Rhoads has studied with the following teachers (in alphabetical order) each between four and ten years: Betsy Chapman, Sara Gellhorn, Janet Louise, Rick Marth, Maggie Newman, and Yang Yang. She has also traveled extensively to attend Tai Chi workshops and camps with some of the world's foremost experts including: Li Deyin, Ben Lo, Nick Gracenin, Ma Hailong., Yang Jwing Ming, Wolf Lowenthal, Zeng Nailiang, David Chen, William CC Chen, Bill Phillips, Jou Tsung Hwa, Peter Warr , Wu Wenhan, Wu Kwong Yu , Sun Yongtian, Cheng Xianhao, Yang Zhenduo, Chen Zhenglei, Steve Higgins, and many others. She has been running her own Tai Chi Festivals and Symposiums since 2002. Rhoads is one of the founding members of the Taijiquan Enthusiasts Organization, a worldwide virtual organization of health and martial arts players and advocates dedicated to spreading the health benefits to everyone, now a program of Health, Prosperity, and Leadership (HPL) Institute. She works closely with Bill Douglas and Angela Wong, founders of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day and board members for HPL Institute. She was advisor for the Tai Chi Club of Kutztown University for over ten years. She is also the developer of Pacem In Vita, a leadership and self-development curriculum for children and adults based upon the principles of Taijiquan. In 2010 she was named Taijiquan Promoter of the Year and admitted to the Martial Artist Hall of Fame by the Fellowship of United Martial Artists in Philadelphia, PA and served on their advisory board for over ten years. In 2018 she was awarded by Tai Chi Gala for Excellence in Spreading and Teaching Taijiquan. Dr. Rhoads holds certification at the Instructor II level in the Canadian Taijiquan Federation, one of the few organizations in the world that certify Taijiquan teachers independent of style. She is a professional member of the American Tai Chi Association, and has been a professional member of the National Qigong Association (NQA) and a member of the NQA Research and Education Committee (which she chaired for many years). She has been certified as a teacher by her current Sifu, Betsy Chapman. Recently she has been working with the International Medical Tai Chi and Qigong Association on certification, and is going through the process of certification for all the major certifying organizations as part of that responsibility. Furthermore, she's been certified by D'Youville College in the Tai Chi/Qigong for Veterans program. Rhoads has firsthand experience regarding the transforming powers of the gentle art of Tai Chi. In 2002 she was injured in a devastating car accident. In 2004 she was told by doctors that she had gotten "as good as she was gonna get" – but was still in severe pain, suffered memory and other brain injury problems, and could not work effectively. Just a few years later, with the help of a team of doctors and pain management specialists, and through a combination of Taijiquan, Pilates, Massage, and Myofascial Release she was able to mitigate her injuries. She was not only able to return to work, but was able to exceed all expectations. She was named by Governor Rendell's administration one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2009, and awarded the coveted Athena Leadership Award by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce in 2011, named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the Lehigh Valley in 2013, and Top Faculty Researcher of the Year in 2014, the same year she was promoted to Professor at Kutztown University. Rhoads is a prolific and well-known author, with dozens of books, and hundreds of articles published over the years, many on Tai Chi topics. Ten years after her accident, she revised her business plan and dedicated her business (HPL Consortium, Inc.) and non-profit organization, (Health, Prosperity, and Leadership Institute), to building an infrastructure that would support the needs of people who need integrative health services and to help community organizations utilize Tai Chi and other integrative health practices. She also started a research group called Asklepios that publishes studies on Tai Chi and Qigong. They have supported and promoted eleven highly regarded articles in the field of integrative health, eight of which are on tai chi or qigong. In the past, Rhoads has competed in the International Chinese Martial Arts Tournament circuit including traveling to Periguix, France, [where she lost to a tiny elderly woman from the Bronx], but taking multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in regional tournaments in Florida, Baltimore, and Washington DC. In October 2009 she was named the United States National Champion and Gold Medal winner in Female Push Hands [admittedly because no one else in her weight class showed up to compete that year ].