Council of Sisters
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Sharon Smith, with 46 years of Qigong and Tai Chi practice and 41 years of teaching, is a seasoned Taoist practitioner. Trained by masters like Mantak Chia and Li Junfeng, she holds certifications from the Universal Tao system and the International Sheng Zhen Society. Furthering her expertise, she studied at China's Wudang Martial Arts Academy and practiced Iyengar Yoga for over 35 years. Smith has traveled extensively, hosted and presented at The Shift Network's Qigong summits, and founded The Immortal Sisters Foundation to support women in Taoist arts. For more information, please visit www.taosharon.com
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Marie Favorito, with 41 years of Taoist practice, directs Universal Tao Boston, teaching Qigong, Tai Chi, and Taoist meditations. A Senior Certifying Instructor in the Universal Healing Tao, she holds 14 advanced certifications and helped establish global standards for teacher certification. Serving on the UHT Council of 9 with GrandMaster Mantak Chia, she also contributed to Harvard Medical School’s Tai Chi cardiac rehab curriculum. Her engaging Qigong sessions at the Shift Network's Global Summits garnered international acclaim. More information is available at UniversalTaoBoston.com
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Master Violet Li, a 12th-generation Chen Style Tai Chi inheritor, has taught Tai Chi and Qigong to over 10,000 people globally. A prolific writer, she's authored 700+ articles on wellness, earning recognition for her unbiased reporting, with translations reaching a vast international audience. Known as a "teacher's teacher," she certifies instructors in these arts. Featured by major media outlets like NBC and NPR, she's conducted workshops and performances for diverse institutions, including universities and hospitals, both in the US and abroad. For details, visit violetli.com
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Kathryn Davis, a Qigong instructor with 30+ years of experience, founded Qigong Self Care™ and Kun Li Sheng™ Healing systems. She practices Medical Qigong, Reiki, and the Sandlin Technique. Certified in many different Qigong forms and healing techniques, she trained in Mainland China and holds certifications from OCOM, The Institute for Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, as well as other institutions. Davis also teaches Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Philosophy. She hosts "Heart of Mind Radio for the New Millenium" on WBAI Pacifica Radio and PRN.live. For details, visit daoqigonglife.com
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Anita Teresa, a lifelong spiritual seeker, integrates diverse movement and spiritual practices. With 15+ years of teaching, she emphasizes embodied integration. Her martial arts background includes JuJitsu, Tai Chi, and White Crane Silat, while her dance experience spans Middle Eastern, Latin, and Butoh styles. Pioneering holistic disciplines at NYU Langone, she introduced yoga, Qigong, and more into clinical settings. In 2013, she founded the Embodied Femme Salon, promoting a new feminine leadership paradigm, and launched the Sex & Medicine Summit in 2015. Recognized as a Women’s Economic Forum ambassador, she was nominated for the "Iconic Women Creating a Better Future" Award in 2017. For more info, visit https://magnagemventures.com/
"Surrender to the Subtle has never failed to open wonderment and infinite possibilities.”
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Chicava is certified in Universal Healing Tao and Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, blends burlesque and Taoist feminine teachings through Sacred Chrysalis. With an MFA focused on Black Burlesque herstory, she empowers women through dance, meditation, and self-exploration, fostering sexual, sensual, and creative power. Since 2008, she's cultivated "SHEROS," women rooted in feminine sovereignty. Her work, exploring sacred sexuality and spirituality in performance art, has been featured in communities like Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts and The Immortal Sisters Conferences. Chicava's dedication to her practices fuels her personal and professional growth. For more, visit https://www.chicava.com/about
"The deeper I go and the more I commit to my practices the more I receive and grow as a woman, a teacher and citizen of the world."
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Rachel Santos, a Healing Tao QiGong Instructor, merges aquatic therapy and dance. Inspired by a 2014 residency, she created unique water meditations, taught globally. blends dance and water therapy. Inspired by a 2014 artist residency, she developed unique aquatic movement meditations, taught in Thailand, Mexico, Hawaii, and NYC. She offers "Float & Flow" sessions, combining Aguahara and Janzu, aquatic martial arts, and dance meditation. Santos also produces Immortal Sisters Conference events. Find her at batheinbliss.com or @floatwithfriends on Instagram.
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Jamee Culbertson integrates Taoist practices, Alexander Technique, and spiritual healing for transformative experiences.
She teaches Tai Chi, Qigong, and Taoist Meditation at Universal Tao Boston. 1 An internationally certified Alexander Technique instructor, she trains teachers at Berklee College and Harvard Medical School’s Osher Center, contributing to research on Tai Chi's benefits for heart and lung conditions. Jamee also taught Tai Chi in the Home Base program, aiding veterans and their families. More details are available at jameec.com
Celestial Peaches
Curious about our logo? The Celestial Peaches of Immortality in our logo is inspired by an 18th-century painting by Kumashiro Yūhi. In Taoist lore, these rare fruits grow in the garden of the Queen Mother of the West and ripen only once every few thousand years—symbols of longevity, vitality, and spiritual attainment. They reflect our mission to support women in the patient cultivation of health, strength, and inner transformation.
"A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself."
~ Maya Angelou