Growing up:

My father had a lot of books about Qi Gong and book by Kozo Nishino.  The Breath of Life: Using the Power of Ki for Maximum Vitality   I knew about the great effect of Qi and breath, but was not sure what the best way to go about learning was. I followed some exercise on Nishino's video, and felt wonderful.  I remembered 2 exercises from the video and did it whenever I wanted to feel calm.

How I found Tai Chi:

In the winter of 2000, I was wondering around LA Fitness on Sunday morning.  Through the glass, I heard peaceful music and stepped into the Tai Chi class.  I had no idea what to expect (at this point, I didn't know this was Tai Chi class.)  One guy took time to go through the short series of Tai Chi with me one step at a time.  He told me the meaning of each movement.  The poetic, mystic, and philosophical meaning of each movement was just what I needed.  I completely fell in love with Tai Chi.

My Beginning Practice:

I started to go to this LA Fitness class on Sundays - may be twice or three times a month.  I would go to class and learn bits and pieces of new things and enjoy the new discovery each time.   Master Zi was the main instructor in this class, and I was fascinated with various approaches he takes in teaching.

My BackAche and Tai Chi

I used to have a chronic backache.  Whenever I am under stress (final exams, etc..), this backache flair up and immobilized me.  Once a day before final exam, I could not sit still any more.  I drove to see Master Zi and he helped me release the blockage in my back.

II found that I can use Tai Chi to direct energy and release tension from my back.   This is when Tai Chi became not just an exercise, but a therapeutic tool for me.  Slowly, I stopped taking Advil to relieve the pain and start to send Qi to relieve the pain.

My weight-control and Tai Chi

When I first came to the United States in 1996, I gain 40 pounds in first 3 months.  I took it off, but had to go through quite an extreme diet and exercises.  Herbalife helped me tremendously with nutrition, however, I could not find any exercise that I can stick with and enjoy for a long time.  After seeing the amazing effect on my backache, I started to practice Tai Chi regularly on my own whenever I can.  I was surprised to find my body started to change.  My body starts to have a natural muscle tone and flexibility without going to the gym and running on the treadmill!

Self-development and Tai Chi:

Between 2001 and 2004, I became deeply involved in human potential workshops.  I took Landmark education, Mastery in Transformational Trainings, various business/marketing/realestate workshops (by Robert Kiyosaki), Millionaire mind seminars (by T. Harv Ecker).  I very interested in how our mind work and volunteered, coached, and facilitated various programs and trainings.   The frequency of going to Tai Chi class became less and less...

I learned a lot about myself and got in touch with what is truly important to me through these self-development trainings.  However, when I was coaching people, I felt quite helpless.  After coaching more than 100 people in person, I started to notice the pattern in people.  Probably because of the "marketing" aspects of the self-development business, there was underlying energy about "quick fix".  There was definitely something missing for me - and my heart could not stand coaching another person with feeling this way.

Tai Chi as Life Practice:

What I what I was missing:

1. Life-long dicipline toward something greater than themselves
2. Involving physical energy from cellular level (with practical method)
3. Respecting the natural order of universe

When I thought about this, I quickly looked for my Tai Chi class.   The studio was relocated and changed to Shakti's Elements.  When I visited the studio, I felt at home.  Despite of my long absence, they welcomed me back with open arms.

After going on to various things and looking for the best answer for me, I came back to Tai Chi.  I completely admire and love what Tai Chi teaches and represents at the soul level.  It fulfill all the things I learned in human potential training and also fulfill the missing elements I was feeling.  

Teaching Tai Chi:

For a long time, I was avoiding teaching. Master Zi keeps saying the next level of learning is through teaching others;   I had no idea what to teach.  Finally opportunity came as there were opening to teach a class on Saturday morning.  When I started to teach, I instantly felt like a beginner.  There were so many things I had to clarify with my teachers.  I understood what Master Zi meant. Teaching is indeed another level of training.

I've been teaching Tai Chi at the studio since 2005 and love it.  It's a place where I learn from other students and share what I learned.    Being teacher gave me an opportunity to see things at higher perspectives than just my own.  As Master Zi says "A teacher does not exist without a student. A student does not exist without a lesson” I am very grateful to have people come to my class where I can pass on the lesson I received.  It's about paying it forward.

Sharing Tai Chi to wider audience:

It has been 3 years since I started to teach - and I am finally ready to take another step forward: to share this art with even wider audience on the website. 

My soul urged me to create this site 2 weeks ago. - and here it is. 

My adventure continues.

Welcome to my playground!