Canadian Instructors
Sifu George Picard
Karate | Kobudo | Qigong / Tai Chi | Iaido | Author | Public Speaker
George Picard started his martial arts journey in 1971 with Okinawan Go Ju Karate and currently holds a 7th degree Black belt and title of Shihan. In 2001 he was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and was inducted into the World Congress of Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2002. Sifu Picard produced three Martial Arts stage shows "Arts of the Ancient East" with Proceeds to Local charity's.
Sifu Picard started teaching Taiji and QiGong back in 1995 in Toronto Ontario Canada. In 2001 Sifu Picard met Grand Master Helen Wu where he was accepted as a private Student in the Wu Yi Jie He family system of Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts. Now, as 4th Generation holder of this linage, his focus is helping people heal their Heath issues through the "24 Posture Therapeutic QiGong" developed by master Wu's Grandfather Great Grand Master Dr. Wang Zi Ping. He currently has hundreds of certified QiGong instructors in Canada the United States and Europe.
Sifu Picard has also been teaching this system to individuals with cancer over the last 17 years with "significant" results. A number of these individuals have appeared in the upcoming Documentary "Cultivating Life Energy - QiGong in Cancer Care." He is also part of an international expert panel of researchers and QiGong masters who teach QiGong to cancer patients. He is an author, speaker and has produced a series of DVDs including "Recovery QiGong for individuals with Cancer." George has co-authored to published papers in medical journals and has presented Qigong in cancer care to the Society of Integrative Oncology, November 2017.
wu yi jie he academy
50 gale crescent
Niagara, Ontario
Phone: 905-684-7950
Email: george@georgepicard.com
Grandmaster Helen Hu
QiGong, Tai Chi & Kung Fu Master
Master Helen Wu was born in Shanghai, China in 1956. She was trained by her grandfather, the legendary Chinese hero Grandmaster Wang Zi Ping, and her mother, Grandmaster (Professor) Wang Ju Rong, the first woman professor of Chinese martial arts in China.
Toronto, Ontario
Phone: 416-919-7652
Email: helenxwu@sympatico.ca
www.helenwutaichistudio.com
Grandmaster Simon Hu
QiGong, Tai Chi & Kung Fu Master
Master Simon Hu was born in Shanghai in 1956. He began his training in the martial arts when he was 12 years old, studying under legendary martial artist Grandmaster Wang Zi Ping, and Grandmaster (Professor) Wang Ju Rong, the first female professor of martial arts in China.
Toronto, Ontario
Penny Klein, PT, EdD
5th Generation - Wu Yi Jie He Family System
Certified Therapeutic QiGong & Tai Chi Instructor
Doctor Klein started martial arts in 1987, first studying karate then judo where she holds a black belt and competed internationally.She has been studying and teaching tai chi/qigong for health promotion since 1999 and is also trained in Reiki.Her research on therapeutic applications of taiji/qigong has been published in leading medical journals. Her most recent work addresses Qigong in cancer care.
Buffalo, New York
email: kleinqpj@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/qpjklein/
Linda Noble
Certified Therapeutic QiGong & Tai Chi Instructor (Level 6)
Linda’s spiritual journey began in 1993 when an illness made her step back and re-assess her life. A “wake up call” she now believes was a huge nudge from the Universe, guiding her back onto her destined path in life. Feeling more drawn into Energy Medicine, she did research on QiGong and Tai Chi. They say the teacher will appear when the student is ready! Sifu George Picard became that teacher. With his great patience and guidance, she grew to love this gentle internal martial art.
Niagara, Ontario
Phone: 905-227-0645
Email: lindanoble80@hotmail.com
www.thenobletouch.ca
Ron McShane
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructor (Level 3)
Ron McShane has been practicing and studying martial arts for over 47 years. What brought me to Qigong was after years of doing hard martial arts I realized my body needed balance. Finding the soft side and healing aspect of martial arts through qigong was a natural fit for my lifestyle.
Roland Thomas
Certified Therapeutic QiGong & Tai Chi Instructor (Level 3)
Roland Thomas is a Registered Naturopath and Certified Level 3 Instructor in the Wu Yi Jie He Family System of Chinese Healing and Martial Arts.
Niagara, Ontario
Sifu Tim Moynihan
Certified Therapeutic QiGong & Tai Chi Instructor (Level 2)
Tim Moynihan currently lives in Elora with his wife Kelly and their three children Cody, Connor and Lauren. A long time resident he left the area for a period of time to pursue his love of teaching and instructing in Outdoor Education and Recreation.
Fergus, Ontario
Phone: 519-546-5920
Email: moyn@golden.net
Dennis Pounall
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructor (Level 1)
Sifu Dennis Pounall has been practising the art of taijiboxing for about 15 years and has over 30 yrs experience in various martial Arts. He has competed both nationally and Internationally representing Canada. He has a practical yet open approach to the benefits of all “Traditional Martial Arts”.
Elliot Lake, Ontario
Phone: 705-461-8846
Email: dennispounall@yahoo.com
www.taijiboxer.com
Marilyn Picard
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructor (Level 1)
Marilyn's passion is to assist humanity, one person or one group at a time in the evolution of consciousness. She has lived her life surrendering to her inner directive which led her to work in several countries, many American states and parts of Ontario. Marilyn spent many years as a facilitator of international gatherings, retreats, workshops and seminars and doing soul readings.
Sydenham, Ontario
Email: cosmicheart13@gmail.com
Sensei Jim & Maureen Kaufman
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructors (Level 1)
Jim and Maureen Kaufman have studied and instructed martial arts for many years under Sifu George Picard. Jim has earned his Sandan (3rd rank) Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate and is a Certified Level 1 QiGong Instructor. Maureen has earned her Shodan (1st rank) Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate and is also a Certified Level 1 QiGong Instructor.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Heidi Watt
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructors (Level 2)
Heidi has a strong background in health and nutrition having worked in health food stores for 23 years. During that time she has also practiced reflexology. Heidi is also a lifelong organic gardener. She started attending Qigong and Taiji classes in the spring of 2012. At the beginning 2017 she retired from the health food store to dedicate the remainder of her life to pursue her passion for Qigong and Taiji. Heidi is now sharing this powerful healing modality in her community.
Wainfleet, Ontario
Gerda Ryckaert
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructors (Level 2)
Gerda met George Picard about 9 years ago when her mother lost her voice to larynx cancer and was introduced to his class for cancer survivors at Wellsprings. Once a week, they did the 24 posture Qigong, practiced at home every day, and would soon see her mother’s flexibility improve tremendously and would soon recover from cancer. Gerda would soon teach the 24 posture Qigong. In 2012, she earned her Level 1 Instructor’s Certification then followed by Level 2 Instructor’s Certification in 2016. Gerda teaches two small classes at two locations once a week, her students have also experienced health benefits from doing Qigong.
Email: gryckaert@bell.net
Doris Keinitz
Certified 24 Postures Therapeutic QiGong Instructors (Level 1)
In 2001, Doris took her first yoga class and fell in love with the practice. She noticed several amazing things happening to her, IBS improved, back pain that she had for 16 years completely disappeared, muscle tension in her neck and shoulders improved as well as her anxiety, all due to postures and correct breathing. She became a certified yoga instructor in 2004 and in 2005 Zaandi Yoga Studio was established where she travelled to many locations in Ontario. A home-based Zaandi Yoga Studio opened in 2010 where several qualified teachers offered various classes and workshops. Doris is a 2nd Degree Reiki Practitioner, Nia White Belt and Life Coach. Doris loves learning new things and listening to people’s stories. The gentle flowing movements of QiGong with meditative breathing resonate with Her. Yoga and QiGong will be lifelong passions. She will forever be a student of nature and learn new things.
Fisherville, Ontario
Phone: 905-541-1315
Email: dkienitz3@hotmail.com
Julia Miller
Julia Miller (she/her, settler) is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University. She has her Master of Science in Aging and Health through Queen’s University and is passionate about supporting others in living their best quality of life possible. As a Qigong Instructor and TRE® Provider, she appreciates the importance of creating and holding a safe, non-judgmental space to support self-awareness, curiosity, growth, expression and change.
Email: jm11.hlr@gmail.com
Cell: 613-453-0417
Tracy Bailey
In 2019 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. QiGong was first introduced to me by the Wellsprings Cancer Support Center. It was from there I fell in love with the practice of QiGong, then I felt a deep desire to learn and wanted to teach and help as many others that I could experience the same remarkable experience. I then went on my journey to find an instructor that would teach me and certify me to share this incredible meditative exercise, that helps relax the mind, ease pain and heal, yes heal.
Email: tracybailey45@gmail.com
Cindy Van Dyke
40 years of science and art have made my career of helping others a creative learning journey. I am a retired massage therapist that also taught at colleges in Toronto and Hamilton also a certified yoga teacher, meditation, instructor, reflexologist, and level three Reiki practitioner. This led to studying the healing, and research of sound and breath work, which led me to soulful stillness where I knew there was a way to put it all together. I was searching modalities and workshops, and found Qigong when I entered the village of Healing and wellness and began to learn the 24 postures ofQigong I was no longer a seeker , I was home the 24 postures integrates movement with stillness it integrates the breath with sounds it addresses body mind and spirit it is being researched scientifically and is an art form a way for the mind to observe the soul to absorb and the body to release. I am blessed to have found this and honoured to share the teachings of 24 pasture Qigong.
Amy Cadeau
Amy Cadeau - mother of 4, yoga teacher, Reiki Master and now QiGong Level one instructor. Amy resides in St. Catharines where she runs a cozy home based healing studio called The Calming Tree. Amy offers virtual and in studio classes. In the summer months, she specializes in teaching a mostly outdoor summer camp, incorporating peace, love, gratitude, and joy through mindfulness activities including yoga and QiGong. Amy fell in love with the 24 posture QiGong the first time she tried it, experiencing feelings of bliss and vitality! Virtual classes available Tuesdays 6:30pm and Thursdays 9:30am and Saturdays at 9am
St. Catharines, Ontario
Email: calmingtreeyoga@gmail.com
Joanne Palmateer
In my youth I instructed at Vic Tanny’s Gym in Scarborough. After working in the banking system for several years I moved to Campbellford, where I began teaching baton lessons to young girls. We were part of the Campbellford Recreation Center and enjoyed participating in the local Santa Claus and Canada Day parades. When I moved to Kingston, I became a single mother raising three children. I joined a mediation group and returned to school taking accounting and law. I started my own bookkeeping business. I have taken many courses in a variety of healing modalities. I joined a gym in 2023 and when I realized the gym instructor also taught Qigong I joined her classes. I fell in love with the gentle flowing meditative movements of Qigong and signed to become an instructor on May 14, 2024. I want to share Qigong with everyone. I suffered a neck injury about twenty years ago. A chiropractor indicated scoliosis showed on an x-ray. I was taking Tylenol daily to relieve the pain so I could get on with everyday life. I have tried different chiropractors and physical therapy to no affect. After doing Therapeutic 24 Posture Qigong exercises for 90 consecutive days, I am now Tylenol free. My posture has improved significantly. Why wouldn’t I want to share how I did that with the world?