FACULTY

Jampa Mackenzie Stewart, M.S.O.M., L.Ac., is the founder and director of the Healing Tao Institute. 

Background
Born in Rochester, New York in 1951, Jampa began his training in Zen meditation at age 16 with Roshi Philip Kapleau. This inspired him to pursue extensive training in Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Qigong in 1972. In 1981 he was with the first U.S. Delegation to learn the original Chen Style of Tai Chi in China with the world's top masters. He also studied extensively with many other Tai Chi and Qigong masters and with Taoist masters of the Hua Shan and Chang Bai Shan lineages. He emphasizes that his principle teacher was Taoist Master Mantak Chia, who authorized him to teach and heal.

Later he trained with many Tibetan Buddhist masters of the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages, and was ordained by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 1986.

Jampa is a Senior Healing Tao Instructor and Chi Nei Tsang Instructor, certified by the Universal Healing Tao, and is the co-founder of Healing Tao USA. He holds a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College (SWAC) in Santa Fe and has taught Medical Qigong at both SWAC and the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin, Texas. He is also an AOBTA Certified Instructor (CI)in Medical Qigong Therapy and Chi Nei Tsang,

Jampa served as editor and contributing writer for Healing Tao books from 1989-1995, and has collaborated with Chia on several books, including Awaken Healing Light of the Tao (1993) and The Inner Structure of Tai Chi (1996). In addition, he has written several books of his own, including The Life of Gampopa (Snow Lion, 1995) and Foundations of Taoist Practice (1995). He has also written over 50 published articles that have appeared in magazines such as Tantra, Qigong Magazine, Internal Arts, Black Belt, and Tai Chi.

Jampa is the immediate Past President and board member of the National Qigong Association (NQA). He served as co-chairman of their Standards Committee and guided them in developing new national standards for Qigong professionals.

He was also a board member of the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medical Association, founding board member of the Healing Tao Instructors Association and former co-chairman of their Certification Committee.

Articles by Jampa Mackenzie Stewart

Jampa Stewart is a freelance Article Writer interested in Freelance Jobs.

Justin Phillips, M.S., L.Ac., CMQP, is a California trained acupuncturist from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the oldest and most respected schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the country.

Justin is National Board Certified in Acupuncture, Herbology, and Oriental Medicine, and is a Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner through Healing Tao Institute. He is also a long time practitioner of Qigong, Bagua Zhang, and Tai Chi. He is an affiliated clinical practitioner practicing Oriental Medicine at Austin Integrative Medicine in Austin, TX.

Jim Burk is a certified instructor of Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong. Jim began studying martial arts as a child. At age 15, he began studying Karate, Taekwondo, and Hapkido. He got a BA degree in Communications from Texas State University along with a minor in mathematics. After college, Jim went to massage therapy school at the Austin School of Massage. At this point Jim found Yoga and began practicing as many styles as he could come across. After completing his massage therapy certification he moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to work in a Chiropractic Center and a Day Spa giving massage.

During his 3 years in Steamboat Jim got certifications in Cranio-Sacral therapy, Reiki (energy healing), and Jin Shin Do (Bodymind Acupressure). He also studied more Yoga.

When Jim moved back to Austin in 2005, he began studying under Jampa Mackenzie Stewart at Healing Tao Institute. Studying under Jampa for over 4 Years allowed Jim the opportunity to learn several styles of Qi Gong, meditation techniques, and knowledge in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most of all, Jim developed a passion for the Yang style short form. This has been the backbone of Jim’s Tai Chi practice. Jim graduated from Healing Tao Institute's Teacher Training Certification program in 2010.

Kenan Rote is a Certified Qigong Teacher with Healing Tao Institute and a Certified Associate Instructor in the Universal Healing Tao System founded by Taoist Master Mantak Chia. Kenan has studied Tai Chi, Qigong, and Medical Qigong with Jampa Stewart over the past six years. She has also studied Northern Wu Style Tai Chi with Tina Zhang. A resident of Hempstead, Texas, Kenan teaches there in the public school system.

Laird Bishop is a Certified Qigong Teacher by Healing Tao Institute, and is also a Certified Associate Instructor under the Universal Healing Tao System founded by Taoist Master Mantak Chia. Laird is also a student of the internal martial art of Yin Style Bagua Chang with Kwang Wang.

Shanti Dechen, C.M.T., is the Director of Healing Tao Institute's Chi Nei Tsang Program.

Background
Shanti is a Certified Senior Chi Nei Tsang Instructor, personally trained by Taoist Master Mantak Chia. She is approved to teach and certify students in Chi Nei Tsang Levels 1-3 and Instructor Level.

A certified massage therapist and health practitioner since 1978, she has assisted Master Chia in Chi Nei Tsang Instructor and Practitioner Training Retreats since 1985. She also served as contributing writer for the book, Chi Nei Tsang: Internal Organs Chi Massage (Huntington: Healing Tao Books, 1990). Her extensive knowledge and background in bodywork and healing have helped to expand and shape the international Chi Nei Tsang curriculum.

Shanti is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, with over 24 years and 15,000 hours of extensive clinical practice, training and certification in body/mind therapies. Her training and clinical practice includes many modalities of massage (including Deep Tissue), as well as Chi Nei Tsang, Visceral Rejuvenation, Pranic Healing (with Master Choa Kok Sui), Clinical Aroma therapy, Lymphatic Drainage, Acupressure, Craniosacral Therapy, Kinesiology, Polarity Therapy, Five Element Nutrition, Reflexology, Stress Management and meditation.

Shanti is also a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (Canada), and is the author of a comprehensive distance learning course on Clinical Aromatherapy that is rapidly gaining international attention by both practitioners and schools.

Shanti has a university background in the sciences, and has lectured, written, taught and practiced Chi Nei Tsang and Clinical Aromatherapy throughout the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the Virgin Islands. She brings a warm personal touch to her teaching and clinical practice that, together with her expertise, has earned her the affection and respect of her many students and clients around the world.