Meet Faith ... The Roots and Lineage Behind TaijiNature
Growing up in suburban Boston, I was being groomed for corporate America. Coming from a family of administrative assistants, it seemed inevitable I'd follow that path. But, deep down, I knew it wasn't aligned with who I was or what I wanted. As I finishied high school and looked towards college.I felt lost - unsure of what I wanted, but certain it wasn't that. Maybe yo've felt that way too - like the life you are heading toward isn't the one you are meant for. - And then, life threw me a curveball I didn't see coming.
My boyfriend is taking classes at a local kung fu school. He keeps inviting me to join him, but I keep saying no. One day, he brings home a uniform for me - black baggy pants and a t-shirt. I stare at it thinking, 'You want me to wear that?' I'm 17 living on junk food and 2-liter bottles of Pepsi, with zero awareness of health or fitness. Exercise? Not a chance. I'm about as far from an athlete as you can get.
One day my boyfriend leaves a copy of the Dao De Ching on the table. I don't know it yet, but opening that book will spark a journey that changes everything - how I see myself, how I move, how I connect. I flip to the second verse - the verse of opposites - and something clicks. I feel a quiet peace and sense of intrigue. Suddenly, so much makes sense. When he tells me this is the philosophy behind what they are studying, I finally say yes. I walk into the school for the first time, uncertain but curious. Have you ever had a moment like that? A moment where you say yes to something new, even though it feels strange? Those are the moments where transformation begins.
I step into the school and into another world - a dark room with candles flickering and incense curling through the air. A young instructor with a shaved head greets me and I can't help but think, 'This is so far from my world. What am I getting myself into?' And yet, something about it calls to me. Despite my doubts, I join. I have a lot of things to overcome.That first step into the school isn't just the start of learning kung fu - it's the start of a journey that will transform my body, my mind, and my entire way of being.
When I start classes, I can't bring myself to join a group - I'n too shy, too afraid of being judged. Even then, I feel completely out of place. My coordination is a mess, my balance is shaky, and my legs feel like they're on fire. Every movement leaves me breathless, my muscles screaming, and my mind struggling to keep up. It's hard. It's frustrating. It feel like I'll never get it.
It is spring and my instructor begins taking me outside for classes. One day, under a sprawling tree we are practicing Taijii in a field where the deep grass sways gently around my legs. The sun is shining and warms my skin, and then, as a light mist begins to fall, something shifts.This is THE moment. Everything changes. There's no going back. In that moment of clarity, I know - this is my path. Taiji isn't just movement - it's a connection to myself, a way to find balance and harmony in a chaotic world.
History and Lineage
When I first began studying Taiji, I had no idea I was stepping into a tradition that spanned centuries. My teacher would often share stories of their teacher, and their teacher's teacher, tracing a line back into the origins of this art. It felt like being handed a thread in a tapestry that connected me to something far greater than myself. This lineage isn't just history - it's alive, passed down through practice, through breath, through intention. And now, I have the honor of sharing it with others.
Every movement I teach carries the essence of that tradition and the lineage behind it. But, what makes it truly special, is how it's evolved to meet the needs of today. My mission is to honor that history while helping people find their own balance, strength, and harmony in the modern world.
My lifelong dedication to Taiji (Tai Chi), Qigong, and the Internal Martial Arts began when I was 17, a time when I was searching for something deeper - a way to connect with myself and the world around me. Over the years, this journey has evolved into a rich tapestry of study, practice, and teaching. As our lineage becomes a way to embark on our studies of these ancient arts, understanding our lineage becomes a way to honor the history, wisdom, and the incredible teachers who have passed these traditions down to us. It's about respect, connection, and carrying forward something timeless.
My journey began just outside Boston, Massachusetts where I studied Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Tai Chi under Master Art D’Agostino. It was a transformative time - the same year the National Wushu Team toured outside China for the first time, showcasing the potential of these arts. This was my very first exposure to the martial arts, and it planted the seeds of a lifelong passion. Those early years were about more than just learning movements, they were about building a solid, unshakeable foundation. I paid attention to every detail knowing in my heart that one day I would pass this knowledge on to others. It was here that I began to see myself not just as a practitioner, but as a future teacher.
I had a dream of living in a small town, somewhere warm and inviting, where I could immerse myself in the practice of Tai Chi. One day I came across a book with a photo of Liliuokalani Gardens and its iconic red bridge. Something about it spoke to me, and soon after, I moved to Hilo, Hawai’i, where I opened my first school. But my journey didn't stop there. I continued to seek out and study with some of the most renowned masters in North America, deepening my understanding and refining my craft.
My journey took another unexpected but deeply enriching turn when I discovered that traditionally, arts like massage, acupuncture, and herbology were integral to the practice. Intrigued, I took that step and began studying Jin Shin Jyutsu® with Mary Burmeister, the very person who brought this incredible art from Japan to the United States in the 1950s. To round out my knowledge in the healing arts, I also pursued massage therapy. What started as a way to deepen my understanding of energy and the body became a profound calling - I never imaged I would go on to work as a massage therapist, helping thousands of people find relief and balance.
Master Wei Lun Huang was the first person I ever saw perform Water Style. I'll never forget that moment - the entire audience sat stunned in silence, captivated, before erupting into applause. It was early days for these arts in the U.S. and none of us had ever seen anything like it. That experience stayed with me, and I later had the honor of hosting a workshop for Master Huang in Hawaii. Years after that, I meet him again in Telluride, Colorado, where I deepened my studies in qigong under his guidance. These were formative trainings, and one of my most cherished qigong sets comes directly from those workshops.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming is a renowned authority on traditional Chinese martial arts and healing practices. I studied with him at YMAA in Boston, and it was there that I first heard of Grandmaster Liang Shouyu. I felt that impulse and knewi that I had to study with him. I followed it.
Master Liang Shouyu is known for his expertise in Wushu and Qigong. I made my first trip to Vancouver, British Columbia to meet him. There is no internet yet. I asked a qigong teacher I know, who connects me to one of Master Liang’s students in Seattle. That student then connects me to one of Master Liang’s students in Vancouver. I am invited to come over and am taken to the school. That Vancouver couple, the students who took me to the school, would become two of my dearest lifelong friends to this day.
My first summer in Vancouver, Master Fu, Sheng Long, the grandson to the famous Northern Tiger of China, Fu Chen Song, arrives from China. This is the classic story of the master working in the kitchen while teaching in the park - and I am the student studying in the park. This opportunity still amazes me. Lots of great training at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver that summer.
That summer was nothing short of transformational - training all morning with Master Fu, all night with Master Liang, and practicing in the park in between. It shaped my practice every single day from that moment forward, opening my eyes to the depth of potential within movement and rhythm. This chapter marked the end of one journey and the beginning of the next - a pathway to transformation that continues to guide me.
Moving to Colorado marked the beginning of a profound new chapter in my life and practice. It was here that I met Master Ren, Guangyi and Master Chen Xiaowang, both lineage holders who became my gateway into the rich tradition of Chen Style Taiji. Studying with Master Ren in Colorado, and later hosting him for a workshop in Hawaii, deepened my understanding of this powerful art. I was also fortunate to study privately with Chen Xiaowang and attend his Masters’ Camp in Hawaii, experiences that forever shaped my approach to Taiji and its transformative potential.
This brings me to the present. I continue to refine my practice under the guidance of Grandmaster Liang Shouyu, his daughter Master Helen Liang, and her husband, Master Chenhan Yang at SYL Wushu Taiji Qigong Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their wisdom and expertise ensures that my teachings remain rooted in tradition while evolving to meet the needs of modern practitioners. I remain wholeheartedly committed to sharing these transformative arts, helping others discover their own potential through the beauty and depth of Taiji and Qigong.
My teachings are rooted in nature and grounded in the belief that movement, breath and energy cultivation are the keys to unlocking vitality, balance, and an enduring sense of peace. These practices are not just about wellness - they empower us to focus our minds, take bold action, and live with discipline, courage, and joy.
Drawing from decades of study with renowned masters and a deep respect for ancient wisdom, I weave these teachings into every class With nearly four decades of teaching experience and as a pioneer in online instruction since 2008, I've continually evolved my approach to make these arts accessible to all.
I opened my first school, the School of Tai Chi and Kung Fu, in Hilo, Hawaii in 1986. In 1992, I moved to Durango, Colorado where I built a taiji studio on 40 acres of land overlooking the LaPlata Mountains. After teaching there for seven years, I returned to Hilo in 1999 to continue sharing these arts. In 2020, I built a new taiji studio in Hilo, a space inspired by my Colorado studio, and today, it serves as the home of TaijiNature.
TaijiNature is a testament to my lifelong commitment to helping others cultivate health, vitality, focus and inner harmony. These arts give us the energy to pursue our dreams, take risks, and savor the present moment.
I look forward to sharing this path with you as we continue the journey toward wellness, vitality, and peace.
The choice is yours, but the time is now.
One Day ... or Day One? Join us today.
