About Nancy

I started practicing T’ai Chi in 2005 at my local gym.  My teacher, Katheryn, was both thorough and patient, and challenged me in a non-critical way. I don’t know why I started the class, but it was because of Katheryn that I continue practicing to this day.  Once, Katheryn was away and invited a Qigong teacher, Jessica, to fill in as a substitute.  During her class, Jessica taught me a part of a form (20 Yin Yang Medical Qigong) that included a movement about the tail of a goldfish.  I found this imagery mesmerizing. It helped me release tension and focus on the movement and my breath – one of the key features of qigong.   I knew then I wanted to do more qigong.

I started practicing Qigong regularly with Jessica in 2011.  During this time, I was trying to balance the challenges of my life as a mom with a son in elementary school and a full-time job as a systems engineer. I was driving over 400 miles a week and hated commuting, especially in the Washington D.C. area.  I found that the gentle movements, imagery, and meditation of qigong soothed my nervous system. My Qigong practice also enhanced my T’ai Chi practice, especially the principle to relax the muscles that are not needed in a posture.

During the pandemic, while I was still working, I obtained a certificate as a Medical Qigong Practice Leader from the IIQTC. I knew that I wanted to teach after retirement which was a few years away.  Then at the end of 2022, I was laid off from my job.  I decided to “retire” and obtain certifications to teach qigong and T’ai Chi from the IIQTC.  I started Cultivating InnerChi LLC and then started teaching.