About Us

Joan Gehrke

Joan Carota Gehrke has had a variety of careers including elementary school teaching, restaurant management, volunteering with women's groups, schools and nonprofit organizations, as well as motherhood. In the early 90's, Joan found herself recuperating from a back injury. Suggestions that she try a movement of exercises called T'ai Chi sparked her interest in the Art.

In 1995 she began to study T'ai Chi Ch'uan at Ming Tao T'ai Chi Ch'uan Studio with Sifu Diane Cannon . Joan's study and continued practice has brought many healing gifts, not only to the aching back, but also to the entire mind, body and spirit. For her, T'ai Chi Ch'uan has been a journey of self-discovery, growth and increasing joy.

With Sifu Diane, she has had the opportunity to study Yang Style Solo form, Meditation, Qigong, various Solo and Two Person Weapons Forms, as well as Pa-Kua, Hsing-Yi and San Shou.  She has also studied Qigong with Roger Jahnke at Omega Institute and in China and with the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi in Santa Barbara , CA.

Joan brings her gentleness and joy to the Art of T'ai Chi. She looks forward to many more years of discovery and sharing of the ancient art of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.