Susan Hamadock, MA, MSW, is the founder and former Director of Silver Lotus Training Institute. Her lifelong interest in the connection between mind, body, movement, and wellbeing has shaped both her professional life and the development of Silver Lotus.

Susan’s background includes extensive experience in psychotherapy and contemporary mind-body psychology, as well as many years of study and teaching in yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong. Drawing upon these disciplines, she developed Svadhyaya Yoga™, a teacher-training program through which she trained more than 100 yoga teachers.

Over time, Susan increasingly devoted her attention to Tai Chi and Qigong and their potential to support health and wellbeing. Central to her teaching philosophy is the belief that these practices should meet people where they are. Rather than asking every student to practice in exactly the same way, she works to adapt movement and healing practices to the needs and abilities of the individual.

Susan continues to teach community classes, work with people experiencing movement challenges, and share Qigong with students at many levels of experience. She also remains an important member of the Silver Lotus leadership team and contributes her knowledge and experience to the Institute’s teacher-training programs.

Through her years of teaching and mentorship, Susan has helped shape not only Silver Lotus, but also the community of teachers who continue to carry its traditions forward.

Her influence remains at the heart of Silver Lotus: meeting each person where they are and helping them discover what Tai Chi and Qigong can offer in their own lives.

sjhrb@icloud.com

Janet went on to earn Level Two teaching certification in Qigong and Tai Chi Forms through Silver Lotus Training Institute and continues her in-depth studies with Master Susan Hamadock. She has also earned teaching certifications with Master Trainer Marianne Walch in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention and Tai Chi for Heart through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Through her continuing studies, Janet has had the opportunity to learn from a wide variety of teachers and traditions. She has studied with Master Trainers and teachers including Master Wing Cheung and Nick Loffree; explored Qigong Spiritual Dance with Dr. Aihan Kuhn and Yi Jin Jing with Master Faye Li Yip; and studied Qigong forms with Mimi Kuo-Deemer, including the Five Animal Frolics, Five Guardians, and Heart Qigong. Janet currently studies the traditional Yang 103 Form as taught by Grandmaster Yang Jun, the current lineage holder of the Yang Family tradition. She also continues to deepen her understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine through her studies with Master Efrain Brady.

Today, Janet teaches Tai Chi and Qigong in the community and serves as Institute Coordinator for Silver Lotus Training Institute. She believes that learning these practices is not about achieving perfection or performing every movement exactly as someone else does. Rather, it is about developing awareness, asking questions, remaining curious, and discovering what the practice can offer each individual.

As both a teacher and a continuing student herself, Janet encourages her students to give themselves time to learn, explore, and enjoy the journey.

Contact Janet: jmdtaichi@gmail.com or 302-278-9532

Deb Hunt is a retired Special Education teacher, certified Health Coach, and lifelong health and fitness enthusiast whose interest in mindfulness and wellbeing eventually led her to Tai Chi and Qigong.

Her introduction to Tai Chi came when she joined her mother for a class. Almost immediately, Deb noticed something different—a sense of calm and focused energy that stayed with her long after the class had ended. As she continued to practice and experience the benefits for herself, her curiosity grew, inspiring her to study Tai Chi and Qigong more deeply and eventually to become a teacher.

Deb holds Level Two certification in Qigong and Tai Chi through Silver Lotus Training Institute and Level One Qigong certification with Nick Loffree. Through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute, she has earned teaching certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Tai Chi for Arthritis 2, Seated Tai Chi, and Tai Chi for Heart Conditions.

A continuing student herself, Deb studies Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong with Master Efrain Brady and continues to broaden her knowledge through Silver Lotus and Tai Chi for Health instructors, as well as studies with Nick Loffree, Grandmaster Nan Lu, and Mimi Kuo-Deemer.

Deb teaches Yang and Sun styles of Tai Chi as well as Qigong. Her years as an educator are reflected in the patient, positive, and encouraging way she approaches her classes. She welcomes students at all levels of experience and encourages them to explore the practice at a pace that is comfortable for them.

For Deb, Tai Chi and Qigong offer more than learning a series of movements. They are opportunities to develop balance, strength, coordination, body awareness, tranquility, and a greater sense of connection between mind and body.

She hopes her students leave class with a sense of peace and wellbeing they can carry through the rest of their day. 

Contact Deb: hunt4taichi@gmail.com

Marc Andonian, PhD, is an exercise physiologist and gerontologist who has been studying and teaching Taijiquan and Qigong for more than 25 years. He was first drawn to Tai Chi while seeking greater balance, ease, and overall wellbeing. What began as a personal practice soon developed into a lifelong path of study, exploration, and teaching.

Marc’s professional background gives him a unique perspective on movement, aging, and health, while his many years of Tai Chi and Qigong practice have deepened his appreciation for the connection between movement, awareness, and wellbeing.

His Tai Chi studies include the Yang 24 Form, one of the most widely practiced forms in the world, as well as Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan, or Yang Family Hidden Tradition—a traditional three-section, 127-movement lineage form. Marc has trained with senior students of Master Wang Yen-nien and has studied Taijiquan theory with Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming, as well as Tai Chi and Qigong with Jingshan Tang and Dr. Chris Viggiano.

Marc also practices and teaches several Qigong systems, including Shibashi, Yi Jin Jing, Ba Duan Jin, and Dayan. He holds certifications through both the Tai Chi for Health Institute and Silver Lotus Training Institute and is also an Okuden, or second-degree, practitioner of Usui Reiki Ryoho.

Despite the depth of his studies, Marc’s approach to teaching remains grounded and accessible. He believes that meaningful progress develops through steady, mindful practice rather than rushing toward a destination.

His goal is to help students build confidence, improve balance, move with greater ease, and develop a more grounded sense of wellbeing through their practice.

For Marc, Tai Chi and Qigong are lifelong arts—practices that continue to offer opportunities to learn, explore, and grow at every stage of the journey

Contact Marc:  marc@stillmountain.net

Pat Bower came to Tai Chi after a lifelong involvement in martial arts. Following more than 25 years of practicing Karate, she was looking for a way to continue her martial arts journey while adapting to the changing needs of her body.

She discovered Tai Chi for Health and found a practice that offered the balance she was looking for—combining movement, strength, mindfulness, and wellbeing while allowing her to work comfortably with the challenges of past injuries and physical limitations.

Her experience gave Pat a particular appreciation for the adaptability of Tai Chi and the many ways a practice can evolve with us throughout our lives.

Pat went on to become a Certified Instructor through Silver Lotus Training Institute. She teaches the Yang 24 Form, Yang 32 Sword Form, and Qigong, sharing with her students the practices that have become such an important part of her own journey.

Through her teaching, Pat enjoys helping students improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and overall wellness. She strives to create a welcoming environment where students of all experience levels can learn comfortably, build confidence, and discover for themselves the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong.

For Pat, Tai Chi has provided a way to continue a lifelong love of martial arts while discovering a gentler approach to movement—one that honors both where we have been and where we are today.

Contact Pat: 973-670-0960

Gary Tompkins is a retired registered nurse who has been practicing Tai Chi since 1987. Over nearly four decades, Tai Chi has remained an important part of his life, offering an ongoing path toward greater coordination, balance, strength, energy, confidence, and overall wellbeing.

Gary began his Tai Chi journey while living in Texas and continued his studies with teachers and masters in both Austin and Denver, Colorado. After moving to Delaware, he continued his practice and training with Silver Lotus Training Institute.

His years in nursing gave Gary a deep appreciation for health and the importance of caring for both body and mind. His own experience with Tai Chi has strengthened that understanding and inspired his desire to share the practice with others.

Gary is certified through Silver Lotus Training Institute in Qigong and beginning Tai Chi forms. He has also earned certification in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. In addition to his Tai Chi and Qigong studies, Gary is a Reiki Master practitioner.

Outside of Tai Chi, Gary enjoys woodworking and creates handcrafted wooden bowls—a practice that, much like Tai Chi, requires patience, attention, and an appreciation for the process.

Gary teaches from the perspective of someone who has experienced the benefits of Tai Chi throughout many stages of his own life. His hope is to help others develop greater balance, strength, coordination, confidence, and wellbeing through their own practice.

For Gary, Tai Chi is not something that is simply learned and completed. It is a practice that can continue to grow with us throughout a lifetime.

Contact Gary: 908-339-8226

Rosemarie's journey into wellness started long before she discovered Tai Chi, rooted in a lifelong interest in balance and wellbeing. She began her study of Seimei-a Japanese hands-off healing practice in 1999, ultimately completing Stages I and II through the Seimei Foundation.

Her exploration of Japanese healing traditions continued with the study of Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki. In 2004, Rosemarie received certification as a Third Degree Reiki Master Practitioner. Her years of study in these different traditions have contributed to her continuing interest in the relationship between physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

Away from Tai Chi, Rosemarie uses high levels of empathy, deep emotional sensitivity, and a strong capacity for nurturing care to help both people and animals in need. She enjoys cooking, long walks, dancing, old classic movies, motorsports, and specifically NHRA championship drag racing.

As the Social Media Coordinator for the Institute, Rosemarie connects Silver Lotus with both its teachers, students and the broader community.

Scott Allen is a retired Information Technology Manager who began his Tai Chi journey in 2017. What started as a new practice soon became something much more meaningful.

Through Tai Chi, Scott discovered greater strength and calmness along with something equally important—a welcoming community of people with whom to learn and practice.

As his own experience with Tai Chi grew, so did his desire to share it with others. Scott considers the opportunity to teach this ancient practice a blessing and especially enjoys helping people who are just beginning their own Tai Chi journey.

Scott is certified through Silver Lotus Training Institute and the Tai Chi for Health Institute in the teaching of Qigong and beginning Tai Chi forms. He also teaches “Intro to Tai Chi” classes through the University of Delaware’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

Scott’s journey is a reminder that people come to Tai Chi for many different reasons. For him, the practice has offered strength, calmness, community, and ultimately the opportunity to share something meaningful with others.

Laurie deLaski is a retired Certified Industrial Hygienist and Safety Professional who spent more than 40 years teaching worker safety. Throughout her professional career, education and helping others were an important part of her life.

After moving to Lewes, Delaware and retiring Laurie began her Tai Chi journey. She soon discovered that the practice offered a way to reduce stress, quiet the mind, and experience a greater sense of inner peace.

As Tai Chi became a more meaningful part of her life, Laurie wanted to deepen her own practice while sharing with others what she had experienced. Teaching provided a natural way to do both.

Laurie went on to become a certified teacher through Silver Lotus Training Institute and has also earned certification through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Her many years as a professional educator continue to influence her approach to teaching. She understands that learning develops over time and that each person brings different experiences and needs to the classroom.

For Laurie, teaching Tai Chi is a continuation of something she has done throughout her life—helping others. Today, she has the opportunity to share a practice that has brought greater calm and peace to her own life while continuing to grow in her own Tai Chi journey.

Contact Laurie: lhdelaski@gmail.com

Joanne Howell is a retired physical therapist and educator whose interest in Tai Chi began through her work with physical therapy patients. Looking for additional ways to help people improve their balance, she attended continuing education programs exploring the relationship between Tai Chi and rehabilitation.

In 2018, Joanne earned certification in Tai Chi for Rehabilitation through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. What began as a professional interest soon became personal. Her studies inspired her to begin her own Tai Chi practice, deepen her understanding of the art, and eventually share her growing appreciation for Tai Chi with others.

Joanne continued her training and became an accredited Tai Chi Chih instructor. She has also earned certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention and completed Levels I and II training in Qigong and Beginning Tai Chi Forms through Silver Lotus Training Institute.

Tai Chi Chih, sometimes described as a “moving meditation,” has become an important part of Joanne’s teaching. She has offered classes through the Indian River Senior Center and within her own community.

When the pandemic made gathering for classes difficult, Joanne found ways to keep people moving and connected—including teaching in her own backyard. She also expanded her teaching to include virtual Tai Chi Chih classes, allowing students to continue practicing together from home.

Joanne’s background as both a physical therapist and educator continues to inform her approach to Tai Chi. She brings an understanding of movement and balance together with years of experience helping people learn.

What began as a search for another way to help her patients ultimately became a practice of her own—and a new way for Joanne to continue doing what she has long valued: helping others move with greater awareness, confidence, and wellbeing.

Contact Joanne: gojoanne@gmail.com

Martrise is a retired Senior Network Analyst from New York City who moved to Delaware in 2005. Soon after retiring, she began practicing Tai Chi and Qigong through Silver Lotus Training Institute, beginning a journey that would grow into nearly two decades of study, practice, and teaching.

Through Silver Lotus, Martrise completed leadership training and earned Level Two Instructor certification, with studies encompassing Qigong techniques, energy, anatomy, and teaching methodology. She has also trained through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Tai Chi for Energy I and II, Tai Chi for Diabetes, and Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis.

Her continuing Qigong studies have introduced her to a wide range of teachers and traditions. She has completed teacher training with Master Chunyi Lin; studied WuJi Jing Gong with Master William Ting; Shibashi I and II with Master Wing Cheung; and the 49 Meridians and Double Fan forms with Dr. Aihan Kuhn. She has also studied Short Yang Form with Deb Davies and trained through Silver Lotus in Meridian and Parkinson’s-focused practices.

Martrise has shared Tai Chi and Qigong in a variety of community settings over the years. She taught Chair Tai Chi at the CHEER Center in Milton, worked with people with Parkinson’s at the Rehoboth YMCA, and taught Chair Tai Chi at the Lewes Senior Center. She has also spent many years teaching Seated Tai Chi at Brandywine Senior Living in Rehoboth.

A dedicated student as well as a teacher, Martrise continues to deepen her own practice through the study of Yang 24, Yang 26, Yang 49, Yang 32 Sword, Sun 73, Tai Chi Ruler, and other Tai Chi and Qigong practices.

At the heart of Martrise’s teaching is a commitment to making Tai Chi and Qigong accessible. She is especially passionate about sharing these practices with people living with movement challenges and disabilities and believes that students at all levels should have the opportunity to experience mindful movement in ways that work for them.

For Martrise, continuing to learn and continuing to teach go hand in hand. Her years of practice reflect a belief that Tai Chi and Qigong can be adapted, explored, and enjoyed throughout many stages and circumstances of life.

Maryann is a retired middle school teacher who relocated to the Lewes area in 2011. After settling into her new community, she began attending Tai Chi for Health classes with Silver Lotus founder Susan Hamadock.

Through those classes, Maryann discovered a practice that offered a meaningful approach to health and wellness while fitting comfortably into her lifestyle. As her interest grew, she decided to deepen her understanding of Tai Chi and continue her training.

Maryann went on to earn certification in the Yang Style 24 Form through Silver Lotus Training Institute. She has continued to explore Tai Chi for Health and Qigong, expanding both her knowledge and her personal practice.

Her years as an educator and her own experience as a Tai Chi student have given Maryann an appreciation for learning as an ongoing process. She understands that developing a practice takes time and that there is always something new to discover.

For Maryann, Tai Chi has become more than something she began after retirement. It is an ongoing journey toward greater health, wellbeing, and continued learning.

Ellen began studying Tai Chi in earnest with Pat Rice at the Shenandoah Taijiquan Center and later continued her studies with Victor Franco in Winchester, Virginia. These early experiences began a journey of practice and exploration that she would continue after relocating to Delaware.

After moving to the area, Ellen discovered Silver Lotus Training Institute. She began by taking several Tai Chi classes and, as her practice deepened, decided to train as an instructor. Ellen completed Silver Lotus Level I certification in Qigong and Beginning Tai Chi Forms.

She continued her teacher training through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute, earning certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention and Seated Tai Chi.

Ellen now teaches beginner and intermediate Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention at the CHEER Center in Ocean View, Delaware. She has also offered multi-session training programs and introductory Tai Chi classes through the South Coastal Library, giving people different opportunities to experience the practice.

Alongside Tai Chi, the study of energy within the human body has been a lifelong interest for Ellen. She completed Reiki III in 2011 and has explored Healing Touch, BioEnergy, Quantum Touch, and Eden Energy Medicine. These studies reflect her continuing curiosity about the connections among energy, awareness, movement, and wellbeing.

Away from her practice and teaching, Ellen has a deep love of nature. She is an enthusiastic gardener, kayaker, and hiker—activities that keep her connected to the outdoors and the natural world.

For Ellen, Tai Chi is part of a much broader journey of learning and exploration. Whether through movement, energy practices, teaching, or time spent in nature, she continues to follow a lifelong curiosity about balance, awareness, and connection.

Contact Ellen: 540-247-2680

Linda Rolla brings a lifetime of martial arts experience to her practice and teaching. She is a fourth-degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in both Tae Kwon Do and Haidong Gumdo, the Korean art of swordsmanship, and has more than 15 years of experience teaching martial arts.

Her journey with Tai Chi began more than 20 years ago while living in Virginia. Although Tai Chi offered a different approach to movement from her other martial arts disciplines, it became an enduring part of her practice.

After moving to Delaware, Linda continued her Tai Chi studies with Silver Lotus Training Institute, where she deepened her practice and earned her Tai Chi instructor certification.

Linda’s years of experience across different martial arts traditions give her a broad perspective on movement and practice. From the dynamic movements of Tae Kwon Do and the discipline of Korean sword to the slower, mindful movements of Tai Chi, each has contributed to her continuing journey as both a student and teacher.

After decades of martial arts study, Linda continues to practice, learn, and share her experience with others—reflecting the idea that no matter how long we have practiced, there is always more to discover.

Gretchen Wolfe is a retired first-grade teacher who began her Tai Chi journey while looking for a way to relieve stress and improve her flexibility and balance.

As she learned and practiced Tai Chi, Gretchen began to experience the benefits she had been seeking. But she also discovered something she hadn't necessarily expected—the simple joy of the practice itself.

That enjoyment inspired Gretchen to deepen her studies and eventually to share Tai Chi and Qigong with others. Drawing upon a lifetime spent helping children learn, becoming a Tai Chi instructor offered her a new opportunity to continue teaching in a very different way.

Gretchen completed her training through Silver Lotus Training Institute and is certified to teach Qigong and Beginning Tai Chi Forms. She has also earned certifications through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention and Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis.

Her background as an educator has given Gretchen an appreciation for patience, encouragement, and the understanding that everyone learns differently and at their own pace.

What began as a personal search for greater balance, flexibility, and relief from stress ultimately became something Gretchen wanted to share with others.

For Gretchen, Tai Chi is not only about improving how we move or feel—it is also about finding joy in the practice and in the journey of learning.

Contact Gretchen: lg27now@gmail.com

Marianne Walch, Ph.D., MT, is a longtime instructor and former Co-Director of Silver Lotus Training Institute whose involvement with the Silver Lotus community spans more than three decades.

Her journey began in the early 1990s, when she studied yoga with Silver Lotus founder Susan Hamadock while living in the Washington, D.C. area. She became certified as a Svadhyaya Yoga™ teacher in 2001 and, after moving to the Delaware shore, continued teaching and working with Susan. For several years Marianne was co-owner of a yoga studio in Bethany Beach before becoming increasingly involved in developing Silver Lotus programs and instructor training.

In 2005, Marianne became certified as an instructor through Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. She continued intensive training in Tai Chi for Health programs and eventually became a Master Trainer. In that role, Marianne trains and certifies Tai Chi for Health instructors throughout the United States and continues to provide workshops and training through Silver Lotus.

Marianne has also held leadership positions within the broader Tai Chi community, including service as a Director, Vice President, and President of the U.S. Tai Chi Community. She is also a professional member of the National Qigong Association.

Her special interests include the use of Tai Chi, Qigong, and yoga to support stress reduction, recovery, movement, and overall wellbeing. Her Tai Chi for Health training encompasses programs including Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Seated Tai Chi, Tai Chi for Heart Conditions, Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Rehabilitation, and Tai Chi for Energy.

Marianne’s studies extend well beyond these programs. Over the years, she has practiced and taught a variety of Tai Chi and Qigong forms, including Sun 73, Yang 24, Yang 40, Yang 32 Sword, 42 Combined Sword, Shibashi Qigong, Eight Brocades, Five-Element Qigong, and several fan forms.

Alongside her decades of mind-body practice, Marianne pursued an equally substantial career in environmental science. She holds master's and doctoral degrees in microbiology and applied mathematics and spent approximately 40 years working as an environmental scientist. In 2021, she retired as Director of Estuary Science and Restoration at the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.

Today, Marianne focuses much of her time on teaching Tai Chi and providing environmental consulting. Her love of the natural world remains an important part of her life. She enjoys birding, native plant gardening, hiking, kayaking, photography and art, reading, and spending time with her cat.

Throughout her years with Silver Lotus, Marianne has been both a teacher and a teacher of teachers. Her depth of experience, curiosity, and commitment to continued learning have helped shape generations of instructors while supporting the growth of the Silver Lotus community.

Contact Marianne: (302) 344-6608