Local Teachers
 

Jill Penaloza, Certified Sheng Zhen Teacher

Jill was introduced to Sheng Zhen Gong in 2001 and has practiced this heart-centered system of moving and non-moving meditation since this time. From the beginning Jill felt a deep affinity for these soft yet powerful movements that expand qi and inspire deep states of awareness and connection to the universe. 

Jill studied with teachers Kimberley Rigsbee and Pamela Tanton in Annapolis, Maryland and for her ongoing teacher training with world renowned teachers Master Li Junfeng and Master Li Jing. Jill has been a certified Sheng Zhen Gong teacher since 2013 and currently offers classes at the Gampopa Center in Annapolis, Maryland and in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Jill’s love for Sheng Zhen and for her students comes through in her gentle style of teaching and in the heartfelt way she has of meeting students where they are.

Mike Kornely, Certified Sheng Zhen Teacher

Starting with Mike’s first experiences with Sheng Zhen in 1997, he was amazed at how much better he felt. Each day he felt more relaxed, and things seemed to go much smoother. Learning initially from local Virginia teacher Paul Rischard, he quickly had the opportunity to learn from the Master, when Teacher Li came to the area for a two-day weekend workshop.

At the start of the first morning, Teacher Li looked out at the group of serious East Coast faces readied for the first movement.  He stopped, did his signature warm smile and little squiggle, and said “Enjoy the movement, enjoy your life.”   

With that bit of Sheng Zhen philosophy, Mike was hooked. Soon after, he realized he wanted to pass the incredible gift of this practice onto others. 

After five years of local classes and workshops, plus two teacher trainings, Mike became a certified teacher in 2003. Teaching initially in the North Virginia area with fellow teacher, Judy Elvington, he now has classes in the Silver Spring area. 

In the years since, regular Teacher Trainings with Master Li and Li Jing have deepened his personal practice and taught him to be a better teacher. With a spirit of gratitude, he continues to have just one purpose, to share with others the benefits of Sheng Zhen Practice — a healthier, happier, more loving life.

Julia Schucker, Certified Sheng Zhen Teacher

Always a caring and spiritual individual, the events of 9/11 moved Julia to serve, and she came to the Washington, DC region to begin a career in National Security. Having learned mediation and mindfulness at a young age from her mother, Julia leaned into that tradition to deal with the hectic pace of life and traffic. However, long days and short nights and stressful work were taking their toll. 

In 2008, something led Julia to take a class in Silver Spring of Sheng Zhen Meditation. The day when the full form was practiced was magical. For the first time in years, she was fully able to breathe with her whole body. On the entire drive home, the qi kept moving through her. She had found what she had been looking for.

A few years later in 2011, Julia gathered her courage and started teaching Sheng Zhen Healing with her teacher.  As a volunteer in an established class, it let her focus on helping others. 

After becoming a Certified Teacher in 2016, Julia finds that the greatest gift of teaching is how it reinforces the lessons in her own life.

Pamela Tanton, Certified Sheng Zhen Teacher

Pamela has been a qigong practitioner and instructor since 2004. In addition to teaching this beautiful moving meditation in weekly qigong classes, Pamela also serves on the National Board of the Sheng Zhen Society of the Americas, that’s dedicated to establishing and maintaining an educational center in the U.S.

In addition, since the early 1990's, Pamela has been a health writer, with a focus on medical education, doctor-patient communication, mental health and substance abuse treatment. She lives in an old residential Baltimore neighborhood surrounded by trees.

Peter Van Buren, Certified Sheng Zhen Teacher

Peter was first introduced to tai chi practice in 1978, studying with Paul Gallagher in Hadley Massachusetts. Over the years, he studied and practiced tai chi regularly, eventually becoming an assistant teacher in the mid-2000's. Around that time he realized that he enjoyed following the Tai Chi path, BUT he wanted to lose the martial arts aspect.

That’s when Pamela Tanton entered his life and introduced him to Sheng Zhen Practice. He was hooked from the start, and gradually turned all his attention to this new form of moving meditation.

After hundreds of hours of class time with Pamela, and attending numerous workshops with Master Li, he finally attended his first Teacher Training session in the spring of 2015. The training left him with one main desire, to share this powerful practice with others by becoming a Sheng Zhen Teacher.

Since 2015, he has taught weekly classes in the local Baltimore area, along with special sessions at methadone clinics, senior centers, youth programs, and schools. He teaches open weekly classes in the Bolton Hill neighborhood where he lives.