Chris’ tai chi journey began in 1999 just after graduating high school when he was inspired by the peaceful and challenging movements of tai chi. Moving the next year to New York City he began studying Chen style tai chi at the USA Shaolin Temple. He then studied Cheng Man-ch’ing style for several years.
In 2015 he began studying Yang Family Tai Chi in New Jersey. First taking private lessons with Ken Burgess, and later small group classes and private lessons with Jason Timony and Holly Sweeney-Hillman. He joined the Yang Family Association in 2017. In 2018 he completed the Teacher Trainer Method (TTM-1) offered by the Yang Family Tai Chi Teacher Academy. In 2024 he obtained Copper Tiger Ranking and became a Certified Instructor in the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.
Since 2018 he has taught beginner classes at Holly Sweeney-Hillman’s tai chi center, at a hospital wellness center and corporate gyms in New Jersey. He has attended multiple seminars by Master Yang Jun, as well as the 2019 International Tai Chi Symposium in Italy. He is passionate about Eastern Philosophy, and sharing his experiences with others.
In addition to his tai chi studies, Chris has a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Communications and is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), a Certified Dragon’s Way Qigong® Instructor. He is currently a doctorial candidate of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine at Virginia University of Integrative Medicine – New Jersey campus.