Dr. Paul Lam

Dr Paul Lam, a family physician in Sydney, is a world leader in the field of Tai Chi for health improvement. He has produced several Tai Chi programs

that are supported by Arthritis Foundation of USA and Australia, Arthritis Care of UK, Diabetes Australia, and many other organizations, universities and hospitals around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have gained better health and quality of life through those programs. There are instructional video/DVD and books produced by Dr Lam's team to facilitate the learning of these programs, as welll as other video/DVD that are designed to improve tai chi skill.

Many of Dr Lam's students excelled in promoting health improvement and international competitions. Dr Lam is fluent both in English and Chinese. He enjoys working to bridge the gap between East and West, traditional and modern Tai Chi stylists.

Dr Lam has been studying Tai Chi for nearly thirty years under several teachers. He practices Yang, Chen, Sun styles as well as sets with combined styles. He has begun his Tai Chi journey with his father-in-law Mr Lum Win Gwei (now 92 years old and is still practicing tai chi regularly) who was a student of Yang Zhou Zhong (Eldest son of Yang Chen Fu). Other significant teachers includes professor Men Hui Feng and Professor Kan Gui Xiang of Beijing University of Physical Education.

To Learn More on Dr. Paul Lam

Jef Morris

is the director of Alliance Qi Gong Taiji, Inc. He has been a hospice volunteer since 1986. Jef has studied Qi Gong and Buddhist studies with several teachers and began to share Qi Gong and Tai Chi practice with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and stroke recovery support groups.

He received his TCA certification in 2002, TCD certification in 2003, TCBP certification in 2004, TCO certification in 2007, his TCA Update and Master Trainer certification in 2005. Jef is also a Reiki Master.

Jef has received the 2000 Program of the Year and 2002 Leadership Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the Tai Chi Program for individuals living with Multiple Sclerosis. He has been featured in articles in the Miami Herald and the New York Times.

Jef, with the support of the Office of the Mayor, the Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department and the Health Foundation of South Florida, offers the TCA program for individuals living with chronic and/ or terminal illness.

Most classes began with wheel chairs, canes and walkers doing TCA chair practice. Most if not all are standing, and practicing the walking forms. A former Wall Street executive, Jef finds sharing Dr. Paul Lam's TCA program is the path to a meaningful life, especially for those who need is so great, to experience the benefits of TCA practice.

"When they cross that doorway to practice, however they got here, it is a sign of great determination to feel better, so we practice."

Contact Jef at jef@miamitaichi.com

Tony Garcia

Tony is an instructor of Alliance Qi Gong Taiji, Inc., certified to teach Tai Chi for Arthritis parts 1 & 2, Back Pain, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, The Yang 24 form & Sun Style 73 form..

Tony studied martial arts for over 25 years and was an instructor of Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and Shotokan. He has studied Tai Chi for the past 13 years. He has demonstrated and taught in centers throughout Dade and Broward counties, including hospitals, fitness centers, universities, retirement homes, public parks, libraries and the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Fitness Programs. Stories of Tony’s work have appeared on Channel 7 News, Univision, TVC studios, Mega TV and in the Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel.

A former Computer Systems Analyst in New Jersey, Tony relocated to Florida in 1996. Through his practice, Tony meets people from all walks of life, and enjoys seeing people’s health and functionality improve with Tai Chi. He is certified in CPR and has master level Reiki training.

“With Tai Chi, people learn to relax and increase awareness. Muscles are strengthened, flexibility and balance increase and posture is improved.” Tony has seen marked improvement for many with health problems and is rewarded to see “people find ability within their disabilities.”

Contact Tony at tony@miamitaichi.com

Sarafaith Pekor

Sarafaith Pekor is a licensed complementary health care practitioner, with national certifications in therapeutic massage, bodywork and hydrotherapy. She is a certified teacher in Tai chi for Arthritis, Tai chi for Back Pain and she is also a Level II Reiki practitioner.

Sarafaith enjoys teaching Tai chi classes in a wide range of settings including schools, public parks, hospitals, nursing homes, fitness centers, colleges and universities. She designs corporate vitality programs and seminars that bring Tai chi, chair massage, and health education to workplace environments and she also provides therapeutic services to the clients of the Renfrew Clinic for Eating Disorders.

Sarafaith passionately promotes better living for people of all ages and levels of physical ability through relaxation, fitness and pain management. Tai chi has been a powerful part of her own successful rehabilitation from disability and she takes great pleasure in helping others discover how Tai chi can be a catalyst for positive change in energy, outlook and quality of life.

Contact Sarafaith at: http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/profile.aspx?id=165094

Elisa C. Smith

It was supposed to just be a warm-up exercise for an office retreat. The tai chi instructor would help the marketing staff loosen up for a day of inspirational activities designed to foster teamwork and creativity.

For Elisa C. Smith, that opening exercise was a life-changing event. During the 15-minute session, she felt the knots and tension of being a marketing executive, working mom and wife fall away from her body like a silk slip at the end of the day. It was a feeling she craved to experience again.

Tai Chi soon became part of her daily life. Elisa purchased a Tai Chi for beginners DVD by Dr. Paul Lam. Her practice became richer as she started taking classes with Jef Morris. She started experiencing more energy, less stress and her colleagues noted she wasn’t as “pushy.”

The most meaningful observation came from her then 11-year-old son.
“Mom, you used to come home from that job tired and angry,” he told her. “I think that Tai Chi is working.”

Elisa desires to help others experience the spiritual, mental and physical health that she has received through the practice of Tai Chi and Chi Gong. She’s certified to teach Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Arthritis for Beginners and Advanced.

Elisa continues to grow in the art form as she takes workshops and practices with Jef Morris, someone she calls her mentor, life coach, but most importantly her friend.

Contact Elisa at elisa@abideinchi.com
Website: http://www.abideinchi.com/

Dr. Danielle Beauvais

Dr. Danielle Beauvais is a certified, licensed, and insured Tai Chi Instructor in South Florida . Fluent in Spanish, French, Creole and English, Dr. Beauvais conducts Tai Chi classes for her multi-racial community.

Volunteering at several Senior Centers in Miami-Dade has lead to Dr. Beauvais’ participation in a health fair that would change her life for the better; she met Jeff and Tony. She was the Creole interpreter for Jeff as he demonstrated breathing techniques to the participants. It was then that Jeff and Tony invited Dr. Beauvais to learn Tai Chi.

One week after receiving certification for Tai Chi Chuan for Arthritis from “Master Jef Morris”, Dr. Beauvais began to offer classes to the City of North Miami employees. The motivation was her quick recovery from multiple bleeding fibroids after thirty-nine years of pain and suffering. It only took five hours on four consecutive days of practicing Tai Chi to achieve this amazing result. Hence, Dr. Beauvais has become a full time Tai Chi Instructor hoping to help other people live a healthier happy life.

Contact Danielle at drbeauvais1@yahoo.com Phone: 786-287-7622

Rita Stramer

Over the past years Tai Chi has become like a dear old friend. My friend challenges me when I am strong, gives me strength when I am weak, plays with me when I'm too serious, returns happiness when I am sad, picks me up when I am down, restores confidence when my self-esteem has been bruised, tests me when I am over confident, dances with me when I am happy and it feels like home when I am lost . Tai Chi has helped me learn lessons of humility, patience and compassion toward others and myself. It matters not if you only have 30 seconds or hours, Tai Chi can fit perfectly into any measure of time or space. I hope you will come and move with us, begin to feel your inner self, find your center of balance and dance with the energy of life. In cultivating my practice I have attended three of Dr. Paul Lam's week long workshops. I am certified in Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Back Pain and Tai Chi for Diabetes. I have completed the beginning and intermediate Yang 24 form and am still working on Sun Style Tai Chi 73 forms. I began with Tai Chi for Arthritis and return to it each week with a beginner's mind, still learning, still exploring the inner layers. Finding the right program is vital to your health and wellbeing which is what Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health programs offer you. Finding the right teacher is very important and that right teacher for me has been Jef Morris. He has given me the greatest gift anyone can give a person, enlightenment.

Joe Casady

Joe is a retired Coast Guard Commander but still works for the Coast Guard as an environmental protection specialist. He is a certified “Tai Chi for Arthritis” instructor. “My wife dragged me to Tai Chi at the Deering Estate about four years ago. She dropped out but I stuck with it. She thought I would like it and she was so right! My balance has improved dramatically over the last 4 years even after having foot surgery two years ago.” Joe’s currently working on the 73 form and part I of the combined 42 form.

Emma Livia Mangual

is a Certified Instructor of the Tai Chi for Arthritis (2000), and Tai Chi for Diabetes (2007) programs.

Her specialized training includes workshops with Dr. Paul Lam, Grand Master Chen Xiaowang, Sifu Lee Gar Ke; and Sifu Humberto Pomales. Emma has attended four of Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi Conferences, and studied the Depth of Sun Style 73 Form with Master Trainer Caroline Demoise (2005).

Emma started practicing tai chi in 1994. Since then, she has been a leader in Puerto Rico, communicating the benefits of practicing tai chi. She taught classes as Assistant Instructor of Chen Style Tai Chi at the Chen Style Taijiquan Research Center of Puerto Rico (1995-1997), organized the first World Tai Chi & Qigong Day in Puerto Rico (1999), and hosted TCA and TCD instructor certification workshops led by Master Trainer Jef Morris (2007).

In addition to teaching regular TCA classes, Emma gives Tai Chi demonstrations, speaks to various groups about the health benefits of Tai Chi, organizes practice sessions for TCA Instructors, and participates in the organization of the annual World Tai Chi & Qigong Day event in Puerto Rico.

Emma Livia Mangual
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Phone: (787) 934-5350
Email: taichipr@yahoo.com

Julio M. Caraballo

Julio started studying Tai Chi in 1995 at Chen Style Taijiquan Research Center of Puerto Rico. He studied there for 7 years, during which he learned the traditional Chen style empty hands, and weapons forms. Since 2002, he has been collaborating and assisting instructor Emma Mangual in her tai chi classes, and workshops.

In 2005, Julio obtained his TCA Instructor Certification during Dr. Paul Lam’s One Week Workshop in Sarasota, Florida. His Tai Chi for Diabetes Instructor Certification was obtained in a San Juan, Puerto Rico workshop conducted by Master Trainer Jef Morris, in 2007. At present, Julio teaches TCA and TCD in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

Julio has many years of experience working as Radiotherapy Technician. He is married, has one son, and three grandchildren. Julio has a variety of goals and interests, but what he likes most is to learn, practice, and teach Tai Chi.

Julio M. Caraballo
caraballo@tld.net
(787) 755 – 0835
(787) 397 – 9953

Rachelle Liebman

I came to Tai Chi to help myself and after realizing it's many benefits want to teach others with Dr. Lam's Tai Chi for Arthritis. Many years of interest in health issues and being involved with concern for others and involved in the community have lead to this path of Tai Chi for Health.

For over 4 years I studied a unique form of Tai Chi. Grandmaster Fu Chen Song, was an accomplished master of Ba-Gua & Leung Yee. After learning the Yang style of Tai Chi, he incorporated some of the elements of his other 2 styles into his forms. This created a unique form of Tai Chi, with many students seeking out to learn this. Grandmaster Lee Koon Hung passed the art on to his students who continue to teach at Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association. They have schools in Hong Kong and in South Florida where I studied. Training also included Qi Gong, a great form of meditation using deep breathing and movement to help cultivate internal energy and promote better circulation.