About Dr. Ted Cibik
Dr. Ted J. Cibik, PhD, DMQ, is the founder of Inner Strength, Inc., a health and wellness organization dedicated to Classical Chinese medicine, Medical Qigong, and integrative healing practices. His commitment to wellness began at the age of four, when he was diagnosed with “incurable asthma.” Refusing to be defined by the condition, he turned to meditation, nutrition, martial arts, and breathwork to restore his health. His story of resilience continues to inspire the work he shares with others.
Dr. Cibik has advanced training in oncology and immunology within Chinese medicine and brings expertise in Qigong, moxibustion, visceral manipulation, Jing point therapy, Tui Na, bone setting, and herbology. He has more than 50 years of meditation and breathwork experience across multiple traditions and continues his studies in Classical Chinese medicine with Dr. Jeffrey Yuen.
Through Inner Strength’s clinic and education center, he provides care, professional training, and wellness programs that empower people to achieve lasting health.
About Lorelei Chang
Lorelei Chang is a pioneering modern dancer from China whose artistic journey spans nearly 50 years. She is known for weaving together Qigong, dance, Chinese calligraphy, and healing arts to create works of embodied expression that bridge cultures and traditions. As the founder of dancEnlight, a cross-cultural dance company dedicated to collaboration and spiritual enrichment, Lorelei has performed and taught internationally in the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and China. Her work has been presented at Trinity College, the University of Saint Joseph, The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, Kripalu Center, Omega Institute, and the National Qigong Association.
A professional member of the NQA, Lorelei is a Shiatsu practitioner trained by Nini Melvin and a certified Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong instructor under Daisy Lee. She currently studies Hun Yuan Tai Chi and Bagua with Zhang Qilong. Inspired by her teachers and her mother, Lorelei shares her passion to uplift others through movement and Qigong.
About Dan Jones
Dan Jones brings more than 50 years of experience as a martial arts practitioner and instructor, including over 40 years dedicated to Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and Won Chuen Temple Boxing. His background also includes 12 years of training in Japanese Karate, Taekwondo, Wing Chun Gongfu, and Shorin Ryu Karate, giving him a broad foundation across both internal and external martial arts.
Drawing on his extensive expertise, Dan has developed and taught a variety of healing Tai Chi and Qigong programs. These include Tai Chi Moving Mindfulness Meditation and Resilience Training, Silk Reeling Therapy for Shoulder Rehabilitation, and Healing Fascia Connective Tissue and Pain Management. He emphasizes the use of Silk Reeling principles as a way to enhance healing, build resilience, and deepen Tai Chi and Qigong practice.
Dan’s teaching reflects his lifelong dedication to sharing the health, therapeutic, and martial benefits of these ancient traditions.
About Sifu Chris
Sifu Chris holds a Master of Medical Qigong Certification from the International College of Medical Qigong and has been immersed in martial arts since 1978. Since 1991 he has combined training in both Eastern and Western medicine with therapeutic practices, developing a holistic approach to health and healing.
He is the creator of the nationally recognized Training Mindfully with Qigong Principles™ program, which he integrates into weekly Qigong and Tai Chi classes. For more than 13 years, Chris has provided Qigong-based somatic therapeutic programs to active duty military, veterans, and behavioral health patients, helping them recover resilience and well-being.
Together with his partner Fayne, he co-founded the SimplyAware Wellness and Training Center and the Medical Qigong Therapy Clinic. Their work specializes in using integrative Medical Qigong therapies to support physical health, behavioral health, and trauma recovery in a compassionate and effective way.
About Corinne Chaves
Corinne Chaves began her journey with yoga and dance as a teenager, discovering early on the healing potential of movement. After years in a demanding technology consulting career that left her struggling with migraines, back pain, and exhaustion, she turned back to yoga as a daily practice for stress relief and physical recovery. In 2001, she left the corporate world to pursue a life rooted in supportive, healing traditions.
Her path soon led to Master Chen (Tseng, Yun Xiang), whose Daoist teachings resonated deeply with her lifelong search for meaning. For the past 24 years, Corinne has devoted herself to the Daoist arts, cultivating stillness, resilience, and self-awareness.
Her mission is guided by three principles: teaching self-healing practices that reunite body and spirit, practicing self-cultivation to uplift others, and healing “the heart of the earth one heart at a time.” This framework continues to shape her work and life.
About Jingshan Tang
Mr. Jingshan Tang, founder of the Oriental Fitness Institute, has practiced Tai Chi Quan and Qigong since 1978. From 1982 to 1992 he taught in China, offering courses on Ancient Chinese Exercise, the History of Physical Education and Sports, and the Theory and Practice of Gymnastics.
After moving to the United States, Mr. Tang was featured on the Discovery Channel in 1995 and 1996 and taught Tai Chi Quan at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia for two semesters. He has shared his expertise at international forums, including a 2006 Tai Ji Quan gathering in Canada, where he engaged with Masters of Families, and at Georgian Court University, where he taught a two-semester Qigong course on holistic health in 2015 and 2016.
In 2023, he presented at the inaugural Science of Tai Chi & Qigong as Whole Person Health Conference hosted by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
About Mary Pinkard, M.Ed.
Pinkard, M.Ed., is a Qigong and Tai Chi instructor and Sound Therapist with more than 15 years of teaching experience. She has presented at the University of Maryland Medical School, the National Conference on Addictions, the CHEP Conference on Addictions, the Irvine Nature Center, and Brick Bodies. Her classes emphasize the healing benefits of mindful movement paired with sound.
Currently, Mary teaches Qigong and Tai Chi through Zoom, at Brightwood Retirement Community, and on her farm in Lutherville, where she creates a supportive space for students of all levels. Drawing from her background in music and education, she integrates relaxing soundscapes into her sessions, enhancing the meditative quality of these ancient practices.
Mary’s mission is to guide students toward balance, well-being, and inner peace through the combined power of movement, mindfulness, and sound.
About Fabrice Piché
Fabrice Piché is a Master Qigong Instructor and practitioner of Chinese Medicine with over 25 years of experience. He began his training in 1997 at the National Institute of Chinese Medicine in Montreal under François Caron, completing a three-year program in Qigong and Chinese Massage Therapy and later serving as Caron’s assistant.
In 2009 Fabrice studied at the International Institute of Medical Qigong in California, earning his Master’s degree in 2011. He later trained in acupuncture at the Eight Branches College of Eastern Medicine, strengthening his ability to bridge Qigong and clinical practice.
A turning point came in 2011 when he studied privately with Professor Lin Housheng, creator of Taiji Qigong Shibashi. Professor Lin appointed Fabrice as his representative for Canada and France, recognizing his dedication to preserving authentic practice. Today Fabrice teaches worldwide through Qigong18.com and Qigong18.online.
About Fayne Bouguyon
Fayne Bouguyon has dedicated more than 30 years to Qigong awareness and over 20 years to teaching Tai Chi and Qigong with a focus on posture and structural alignment. A National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, licensed massage therapist, and life coach, she integrates Qigong principles into all areas of her work to guide students toward physical, mental, and emotional resilience.
As co-founder of SimplyAware, Fayne co-developed the Training Mindfully with Qigong Principles program, which emphasizes mindful movement, body awareness, and sustainable wellness practices. She has extensive experience working with seniors and military veterans and is passionate about making Qigong accessible to underserved communities. This commitment led her to establish the nonprofit Human Resilience, which provides wellness services for those in need.
A graduate of Emory University with a Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa degree in Psychology, Fayne blends psychology, communication, and Qigong to foster lasting transformation and well-being.
About Dr. Matthew Komelski
Dr. Matthew F. Komelski, known to many of his students as Dr. K, teaches courses in integrative health and aging at Virginia Tech. With more than 30 years of experience in Taiji and Qigong, he has trained with teachers across the Pacific Rim, including China, Japan, Korea, and Hawaii. His extensive background reflects a deep commitment to both the traditional roots and modern applications of these practices.
Dr. Komelski is certified in traditional Hunyuan Taiji as well as Evidence-Based Taiji (EBT), allowing him to teach with a balance of classical depth and contemporary research. He welcomes students of all ages and abilities, creating an inclusive environment that supports personal growth, health, and resilience.
Through his teaching, Dr. Komelski combines academic insight with embodied practice, encouraging students to explore the benefits of Taiji and Qigong for lifelong well-being.
About Spencer Gee
Spencer Gee is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he specialized in kinetic and motor development studies. He is currently a personal trainer at Functional Fitness Forever in New York and serves as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, teaching Tai Chi and Self-Defense.
Spencer represented the United States in the first Wushu tour to the People’s Republic of China and has trained professional athletes including Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe, Heinz Günthardt, and Roman Hamirlik. As a junior athlete, he competed as a ranked tennis player and trained under tennis legend Billie Jean King.
Beyond athletics, Spencer is an accomplished classical pianist and has received awards for his performances. He continues his lifelong study of movement through Ballroom Dancing, Flamenco, and Capoeira, reflecting his passion for integrating diverse disciplines into a holistic approach to health, performance, and personal growth.
About Shannon Gowland
Shannon Gowland is an Indigenous Practitioner, Herbalist, and Naturalist who integrates Native and Eastern philosophies with a background in conventional medicine to create a unique whole-health approach. Her training includes Biology, Chemistry, Medical Qigong, Reiki, Yoga, and Biodynamic Agriculture, building upon ancestral wisdom in Native American Plant and Earth Medicine passed down through generations. By combining traditional knowledge with modern science, Shannon helps individuals address root causes and achieve lasting balance.
From an early age, she was taught to honor and respect nature, a lesson that has guided her life and practice. Her Muscogee heritage, carried forward from her great-grandfather, instilled a deep connection to the Earth and its healing power. Today, Shannon continues to share this wisdom, supporting others in cultivating vitality, harmony, and well-being through practices that unite ancient traditions with modern understanding.
About Camilo Sanchez, L.Ac., MAOM
Camilo Sanchez, L.Ac., MAOM, is a licensed acupuncturist, published author, and respected teacher of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Taoist Yoga with more than 36 years of clinical and teaching experience. His journey began in 1982 when he was initiated into Yoga at the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger, India, by the Himalayan Master Swami Satyananda. In 1986 he began studying Taoist Qigong and Tai Chi under Dr. Richard Browne while completing his master’s degree in Oriental Medicine in Miami, Florida.
Camilo continued his training with distinguished masters including Fenming Wang, Shu Dong Li, Frank Paolillo, and Chunyi Lin. He is recognized as a 20th-generation Chen Tai Chi and Taoist Qigong disciple under 19th-generation Master Zhang Xue Xin of Beijing.
A former faculty member at several Chinese medicine colleges, Camilo now directs 3nergy Wellness in Charlotte, NC, where he offers acupuncture, integrative healing programs, and authentic instruction in Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist Yoga.
About Gayl Hubatch
Gayl Hubatch, OMD, LAc, LMT, is a doctor of Oriental medicine and certified teacher of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga. She has been a practitioner and instructor of Chinese medicine for more than 25 years, dedicated to sharing ancient knowledge in ways that enhance modern life and transform stress into vitality and productivity.
Gayl is the author of Fabric of the Soul: 8 Extraordinary Vessels and is widely respected for her integrative approach to health and wellness. She is the founder of Blue Heron Center, Inc. in Austin, Texas, where she offers acupuncture, herbal medicine, and energy bodywork.
In addition to her clinical practice, Gayl has served on the faculty at the Academy of Oriental Medicine and teaches workshops and trainings nationwide. Her mission is to empower individuals with practical tools for balance, healing, and personal transformation through the wisdom of Chinese medicine and mind-body practice.
About Rod Ferguson
Rod Ferguson has been a leading force in promoting Tai Chi and Qigong in Australia and worldwide since 1978. He has taught thousands of students through his engaging and accessible teaching style, inspiring people of all backgrounds to experience the benefits of these arts.
His journey began at the Australian Academy of Tai Chi & Qigong in 1976 under Grandmaster Gary Khor. In recognition of his dedication and accomplishments, Grandmaster Khor awarded him the title of “Master” in 2008.
Rod is an accomplished Tai Chi performer, earning international recognition with a Gold Medal in China in 1986 and bronze medals in the United States in 1987 and 1994. He has presented at major events including the 1st and 2nd International Tai Chi Symposiums in Nashville and Louisville, as well as the NQA Annual Conference in 2024.
About Mark R. Reinhart
Mark R. Reinhart has spent his life immersed in the arts, beginning with music at the age of five and later expanding into martial and healing traditions. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he studied with legendary educator William G. Leavitt and went on to found the Reinhart Studio in 1989, where he continues to offer private instruction in guitar, piano, and music theory. As a performer, Mark has played across genres from classical and jazz to rock and big band, and for more than 26 years was the guitarist and keyboardist with Jay Black and the Americans.
Since the 1970s, Mark has studied Eastern philosophy and martial arts, leading to more than 20 years of dedicated practice in Taijiquan, Bagua, and Xingyi. He holds a Master of Medical Qigong degree, is certified in Neuromuscular Therapy, and has served as President of the National Qigong Association. He is also the founder of San Qing He Dao and Three Rivers/12 Steps: Qigong for Recovery.
About the Healing Arts Ensemble
The Healing Arts Ensemble is an improvisatory music group that brings together undergraduate and graduate students to explore music as a tool for healing and consciousness. Using both unconventional and traditional instruments, along with voice and light percussion, participants create soundscapes that emphasize group identity and deliberate healing intent rather than performance goals. Musical explorations often draw on pedal tones, drones, overtones, pentatonics, and modes.
The Ensemble serves as the practical application of the core Well-Being courses Music as a Healing Art (MUSI 455/555) and Music and Consciousness (MUSI 477). It fulfills requirements for the Music for Well-Being Minor and the Graduate Certificate in Music for Well-Being.
Through focused intent, the Ensemble seeks to cultivate a “collective vibration.” Its purpose is threefold: to practice music with healing intent, to understand and direct music’s influence on consciousness, and to explore meditative states through performance as contemplative experience.
