Practitioners

Finding a Pracitioner Near You

If you don't live near us, you have several options for finding a qualified TCM doctor.

First of all, most states in the US have a board that licenses Acupuncturists. It's easy to go online or call to find out if a practitioner is licensed in good standing with the state. The Maryland Board of Acupuncture can be found at http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/bacc/.
Another way is to contact your local Acupuncture College or University. They will help you find a practitioner in your area. The college Mr. Landers graduated from in Houston, TX, called the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, can be found at www.acaom.edu. In the Baltimore are, Tai Sophia is the local college, and can be found at www.tai.edu.
You can also contact Acupuncture professional organizations in your state. National organizations should also be able to direct you to a licensed practitioner in your area. One national organization can be found at http://www.aaom.org/ while the Maryland organization can be found at http://www.maryland-acupuncture.org/.
Finally, you can check with NCCAOM (the National Comission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). They have a national searchable database of practitioners who have received "Diplomate" status with their organization which can be found at www.NCCAOM.org.

How do I find a good Tàijíquán Teacher in my area?

Finding a teacher can be tricky. How do you know if you have found a reputable one? How do you know if they will instruct you in the art that they claim to teach? Here are a few quick tips on finding a good teacher:

Avoid teachers who charge significantly more than most of the other teachers in that art.
Avoid teachers who insist that you sign a contract without being able to attend a class to see what you are learning. Avoid teachers that are overly-secretive about their art.
Look for teachers with whom you have a good rapport
If you have health problems or disabilities, look for a teacher that will help you learn despite your problems, without singling you out.
Look for teachers who spend their time promoting their art, not trying to tear down others
Look for teachers who know the first names of every one of their students
Look at the kind of students this teacher attracts. Are they a rough-and-tumble bunch of hooligans? Or are they there to better themselves?
Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for complaints about prospective teachers
Review your own motivations – if you want to learn how to fight, try the army or the police academy. If you want to learn an art through which to better your mind, body, and soul, then you should try Tàijí or some other martial art.

There are a number of qualities to look for in a good teacher. When trying to find a good martial arts instructor, you may want to consider this list:

They have good communication skills – don’t get me wrong, many of the best martial arts teachers don’t speak English very well, but that doesn’t mean they cannot communicate. Good teachers can always get their point across.
They want to be a good teacher – they are always learning new and better ways to teach
They have a positive attitude – they teach by means of reward incentives more than punishments
They respect their students
They know their subject matter – their lessons are organized
They can teach for various types of learners – by explaining to those with strong audial skills, showing those with strong visual skills, and walking those with strong kinesthetic skills through what they are teaching.
Last, but most importantly, they must have what the Chinese call Wŭdé (武德), or martial arts ethics. Many people believe that Wŭdé is only for older martial arts practitioners who live by a “code of honor.” But the truth of the matter is that learning any martial arts comes with a responsibility for correct conduct. Any martial arts teacher must have a sense of fairness, justice, personal honor, and honesty.

TCM Practitioners, Tàijíquán Teachers, and Qìgōng Practitioners/Teachers

Dr. Wu Chengde -- Houston, Texas

Taiji Kungfu Health Academy

6515B Corporate

Houston, TX 77036

(713) 272-0018

www.taijikungfuhealth.com

Dr. Wu has over 50 years of clinical experience in Chinese medicine. From 1959 until 1989 he served as Director of the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as Professor and Medical Doctor-In-Chief of the Long Hua Hospital in Shanghai, China. In 1989 Dr. Wu relocated to Houston, Texas, where he opened his current private practice.

Master Wu Xiaoping -- Houston, Texas

Taiji Kungfu Health Academy

6515B Corporate

Houston, TX 77036

(713) 272-0018

www.taijikungfuhealth.com

Wu Xiaoping, daughter of Grandmaster Madam Wang Jurong and Dr. Wu Chengde is a living treasure in Chinese martial arts and medicine. She carries on at her mother's school, teaching the students and classes that her mother once taught.

Dr. Yang Jwing Ming -- Boston, Massachussets

YMAA Boston
38 Hyde Park Avenue

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

(617) 524-8892

www.ymaa.com

Dr. Yang is both a Tàijíquán instructor and a Chinese medicine doctor. His knowledge in Chinese martial arts is extensive, due to the time he spends relentlessly studying and pondering over ancient martial arts texts from all over China. His ability to speak intelligently and convey complex ideas in simple ways comes from his scientific background. With a Ph.D. from Perdue Univeristy in lasers and optic systems, his mindset is deeply rooted in scientific theory and analysis. But even for all his intelligence and knowledge, he is still humble and approachable. A prolific author, he has written over 40 books on both Chinese martial arts, Qìgōng, and TCM. If you have any of his books in his library, you should consider enhancing your understanding by attending one of his many workshops.

Dr. Daohe Fang -- Annapolis, Maryland

108 Old Solomons Island R. Ste U6

Annapolis, MD 21401

(410) 224-0084

Dr. Fang and Dr. Baisong Zhong (from ACAOM) were room-mates in Chengdu University, where Dr. Fang served as an assistant professor. Dr. Fang is a treasure to Annapolis, and possesses a wealth of TCM knowledge.

Jing Ying Institute -- Arnold, Maryland

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. #6
Arnold, MD 21012

(410) 431-5200

info@jingying.org

www.jingying.org

Jing Ying Institute is a community-minded, friendly, up-beat school where one can go and learn Chinese martial arts from excellent instructors. If you live in the Arnold/Annapolis area, there's no better place to go. Sifu Sean Marshall specializes in Chen-style Tàijíquán, and often has masters from Chen Village as guest instructors. Truly an excellent school.

American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine -- Houston, Texas

ACAOM

9100 Park West Dr.

Houston, TX 77063
(800) 729-4456 (toll free)
(713) 780-9777
Fax: (713) 781-5781
info@acaom.edu

www.acaom.edu

The American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is an excellent resource for those seeking inexpensive acupuncture treatments. Student interns perform the acupuncture under the supervision of highly trained, licensed clinicians. The clinicians all have a variety of specialties offering students a diverse clinical education. Here are some of the staff and their specialties:

Yanfang Liu -- Herbal Medicine/Women's Issues

Bing You -- Sports Medicine/Pain Management

Lin Jai -- Acupuncture/Tui Na

Kaixun Liu -- Cardiology/Gerontology (Problems of the Aged)

Tao Ma -- Internal Medicine/Herbal Medicine

Yaping Zhang -- Ob-Gyn/Herbal Medicine

Baisong Zhong -- Pediatrics/Autoimmune Diseases

If you have a problem that falls under one of their specialities and you don't mind a student performing the actual acupuncture, you should call and make an appointment. Be sure to ask for a day when the clinician who specializes in your particular problem is working.

Jeff Bolt's Kung Fu and Taiji -- Houston, Texas

Texas Rock Gym

1526 Campbell Rd

Houston, TX 77055

http://www.jeffbolt1.com

Jeff Bolt trained under Master Yang Jwing-Ming of Boston. Master Yang passed down a gread deal of Taiji and Qigong knowledge through Jeff. His school atmosphere is informal, friendly, and his many assistant instructors are knowledgeable and skilled in their own right. Classes are small and there are always enough instructors for personal attention. An excellent place to learn Tàijíquán.

Jill Marie Kleiber

The Right Touch
9 Hollyhock Lane
Wilton, CT 06897
203.210.7174
http://jillkleiber.com

Jill Marie Kleiber attended the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin (AOMA) where a rigorous four year post-graduate program earned her a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM). This training encompassed all aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including: nutrition, meditation (qi gong), herbology, and acupuncture.

Focusing on musculoskeletal disorders early on, Jill became a nationally certified practioner of Tuina (Chinese massage) as well as becoming a registered massage therapist in 2003. She was invited to teach tuina classes at the academy with Dr. Yongxin Fan and spent the next few years focusing on pain management at a clinic that integrated massage, acupuncture, internal medicine and chiropractic care.

After becoming a Licensed Acupuncturist, Jill Marie practiced at Light Family Acupuncture in Austin Texas, a practice which specialized in all aspects of women's health including: fertility, pregnancy, menopause and beauty. Here she developed her passion for working with pregnancy and fertility.

After a dream contract in 2007-2008 as an acupuncturist onboard the cruise ship, Grandeur of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, Jill returned to her native Connecticut to open her own pregnancy / fertility private practice.

LifEnhance Inc. -- Houston, Texas

LIFEnhance Inc.
3040 Post Oak Blvd.
Suite 1110
Houston, Texas 77056

Toll Free: 1-888-777-9621
Tel: 713-777-7090

Info@LIFEnhance.net

www.LIFEnhance.net

For almost a decade LIFEnhance, Inc. has been in the pharmaceutical industry, and thus adopted the exacting level of excellence for product quality and manufacturing standards, in its line of all-natural, botanical extract formulations, specifically designed to enhance the quality of one's life. Initially, rigorous scientific research was conducted as over 10,000 formulas were studied. Then development and testing were undertaken to create the formulations of maximum efficacy to address specific functions. Finally LIFEnhance’s proprietary manufacturing process uses the latest technologies in solvent-free extraction and purification to produce the highest concentration, quality and purity of product. Product analysis (COA) were conducted both at LIFEnhance’s labs and at the prestigious Milwaukee based Covance Labs for pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury), bacteria, yeast and mold.

LIFEnhance’s products are scientifically researched and clinically tested for toxicity and efficacy. The studies were conducted both in China and the U.S.A. There were also independent clinical studies done at the American Integrative Medical Association in Norfolk, Virginia. These botanical products are proven to be fast acting, potent, yet non-toxic.

Wendy Zhang, L.Ac. -- Houston, Texas

LIFEnhance, Inc.

Toll Free: 1-888-777-9621
Tel: 713-777-7090
Info@LIFEnhance.net

www.LIFEnhance.net

And LIFEnhance didn't stop there either. They have their own off-site clinic, with a TCM doctor who specializes in treating Oncology patients. Wendy Zhang, M.D. in China, is a Diplomat in Oriental Medicine and a Diplomat in Chinese Herbology from National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She is also a Texas Medical Board licensed Acupuncturist.

After earning a M.D. degree from a prestigious Traditional Chinese Medicine University, she went on to become an accomplished Head of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department in a major hospital in China.

Apart from her focus on the Chinese Traditional Medicine, Dr. Zhang also took advanced studies on Western Medicine and incorporated it into the traditional practice. She published 8 articles in both state and national journals. To date, Dr. Zhang has more than 20 years clinical experience in CAM in China, UK, and the USA. During the past years she has worked as a clinical consultant and involved in the LIFEnhance's formulas development. She specialized in applying Traditional Chinese Medicine as a complementary therapy for cancer patients.

Tai Sophia Institute -- Laurel, Maryland
7750 Montpelier Road
Laurel, Maryland 20723

Baltimore (410) 888-9048
Washington (301) 725-1674
Toll-Free 1 (800) 735-2968
Fax (410) 888-9004

To email:
Graduate admissions admissions@tai.edu
Community & continuing education communityprograms@tai.edu
Development development@tai.edu
Press relations press@tai.edu
Bookstore/café bookstore@tai.edu

www.tai.edu

The Acupuncture College in the Baltimore are (in Laurel) is called Tai Sophia. Originally just called the TAI or Traditional Acupuncture Institute, in 1987 TAI began SOPHIA or the School Of Philosophy and Healing In Action. Eventually in the year 2000, the name was changed to Tai Sophia. The name “Tai Sophia” links the Chinese word tai, meaning “great,” and the Greek word for wisdom, sophia. With tai, the new name continues to honor the Eastern healing traditions. Sophia signals the philosophy that underpins every program offered by the Institute.

Tai Sophia Institute, a leader in wellness education, offers graduate degree programs in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and the Applied Healing Arts—as well as an array of wellness resources for the general public including community and continuing education programs, clinical services, a bookstore/café, library, meditation and herb gardens.

While the emphasis in what kinds of healing techniques and training are different in Tai Sophia than in most TCM schools, it is still both a valid institution as well as a valuable part of the community. Tai Sophia emphasizes the 5 element cycle in diagnosis and treatment within their Acupuncture program. Their herbal program offered emphasizes Western herbal medicine, although there is instruction available in Chinese herbs.

Body Anew Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Health and Wellbeing