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Our TAI CHI Instructors


Instructor - Paul Mahoney. Photo by Marty Amberg

 

PAUL MAHONEY

Paul is the founder and chief instructor of Great Bay Tai Chi located in Newburyport and Amesbury, MA. Paul is a Tai Chi and Qigong (Chi Kung) master as well as an expert in martial Tai Chi which includes Pushing Hands and Chin Na. Great Bay Tai Chi offers instruction in Tai Chi for health as well as martial applications.

Paul has been a practitioner of martial arts for over thirty years including over twenty five years studying Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). He was an assistant instructor of the Dr. Yang Jwing Ming (founder of Yang’s Martial Arts Association) for Tai Chi and Shaolin Chin Na for many years. Finally, Paul has had the good fortune to have trained with some of the top internal martial arts masters in this country. He incorporates these experiences into his teaching style. Paul has studied Qigong and Tai Chi with several masters including Da peng, Ermei Style Qigong and Push Hands with Master Liang Shou Yu; Push Hands, Baquazhang and Qigong with Wei Lun Huang and has trained many types of martial and healing Qigong with Master Ramel Rones. In the last few years Paul has also studied Hsing Yi Chuan with Tai Ngo.

Paul began training in the martial arts in 1974, with two years of Tae Kwon Do at 4th Dan, Hak Joo Lee’s school in Salem, MA, followed by ten years of the Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate with 4th Dan Richard Pinkham in Haverhill, Ma.. Paul continued to train in both Uechi Ryu and Tai Chi for a few more years and in 1987 he decided to devote his full attention to the practice of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan with Master Ramel Rones. The training included Tai Chi Pushing Hands and Chin Na, both of which he went on to master.

In 1997, Paul decided to try competition-style Pushing Hands at the Boston Internal Arts Tournament and took a second place medal. This encouraged him to try his skill at A Taste of China (ATOC) held in Winchester, Virginia, which has long been considered to be the highest quality Tai Chi event in America at that time, and draws competitors from around the world. At the 2000 ATOC USA Championship he placed first in the middleweight division in moving Push Hands and he placed second in the restricted-step Pushing Hands. He continues to learn more about Tai Chi from training and teaching Pushing Hands and its applications to his many devoted students.

Paul has seen first hand the health benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong. Many of his students have found measurable relief from physical ailments including back injuries, respiratory ailments, arthritis, sports injuries and other chronic conditions as well as stress-related conditions of all kinds. He maintains that consistent practice of the Yang Style Short Form can lead to increased health and vigor. Tai Chi can be practiced by anyone at any age. Paul has students that range in age from people in their teen years to seniors in their eighties.

David Bodoh. Photo by Carol Mahoney

 

DAVID BODOH

David began his study of Yang Style Tai Chi over 15 years ago. His early training included solo forms, various methods of Chi Gong, including aspects of the Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong medical system and meditation. He studied the Yang Style Short Form with Sifu Dennis Furry and Professor Li De Yin (Beijing University). In 1997, David traveled to Beijing to study Tai Chi Sword with Professor Li. He then began studies at Great Bay Tai Chi, with Paul Mahoney, adding Pushing Hands, Yang Style Traditional Long Form, Yang Style Fighting Set and Chi Na to his training regimen. Soon, it became apparent to David his Tai Chi training was leading him on a path to teaching. As fate would have it, David currently instructs Yang Style Short Form, and also assists with Traditional Long Form and Push Hands classes.

Marna Badavas

 

MARNA BADAVAS

A long held fascination with Chinese culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine led Marna to pursue the health benefits of Tai Chi practice. After having practiced Tai Chi for several years, Marna began her Tai Chi training with Paul Mahoney of Great Bay Tai Chi in 2003. She continues her ongoing training with Paul and David Bodoh in Yang Style Short Form, Classical Yang Style Long Form, Tai Chi Ball, Tai Chi Qigong, Taiji Fighting Set, and Chinese Fan Boxing. Marna is a firm believer that one's Tai Chi training never ends. In 2005, Marna became an instructor at Great Bay Tai Chi in the Yang Style Short Form. Marna is now a popular teacher and leads the Great Bay Tai Chi class for beginners and seniors.







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Herb Crooks

Herb Crooks is a 45-year veteran in the field of martial arts. He began his training in the 1960’s with Okinawain Karate. He went on to study Judo for many years advancing to the level of black belt. He founded the national award-winning Newburyport Judo Club. Herb has also studied Jui Jitsu and Aikido. Currently he studies various aspects of Tai Chi under the direction of Paul Mahoney.


Herb (left) practices the Tai Chi fighting with Marty Amberg



Arnis Classes


DOUG KOZLOWSKI


This Philippine stick fighting class is being offered by Doug Kozlowski. Doug has a very diverse martial arts background spanning 13 years. He holds:
  • -- 3rd dan rank in Kempo
  • -- 1st in Arnis under Master Ben Hernando
  • -- Blue belt rank in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu under Kenny Florian

He also has multiple years experience in Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Tai Chi, Aikido and Judo.
Doug has a masters degree in psychology and is a licensed mental health counselor. He also has experience as a licensed EMT and has completed his required hours for a massage therapy certification from the Palmer institute.



OUR YOGA INSTRUCTORS


Tara Lapointe

TARA LaPOINTE

Tara has been a yoga practitioner and student since 2001.  She initially practiced Bikram Yoga for several years before passionately expanding her studies. After receiving a BS in psychology from Salem State College, she was influenced to explore the relationship of energy systems to emotion, cognition, behavior and health, and to further utilize this link as a vehicle for self-transformation.  Tara is a RYT Certified Yoga Instructor having completed her 200-hour teacher certification from the Zarnay Yoga Institute.  Tara expresses her deep gratitude for the guidance of teacher Debbie Zarnay and for the support of all  her mentors.

Her yoga classes blend the precision of Hatha Yoga with the liveliness of creative flow sequences.  Through this focus she incorporates body alignment, pranayama (breathing techniques), both Eastern and Wesstern yogic philosophy to encourage somatic healing through the mind/body/spirit connection.  She hopes to share with students the centering force that yoga has been in her own life.  

Tara says teaching yoga is the most fulfilling part of each day and that to be a teacher you must always be a student.







Ben Hernando & Arnis Class 2007

PAKA PATEL

Born in India, Paka has studied yoga for over 20 years. She is a certified yoga instructor and is currently a student of Mr. Suddhir Parikh at the Satsang Center in Woburn, MA. She has also studied with Guru Nagendraji Vivekananda Kendra from the Yoga Research Foundation. In 2006, she attended the Shibir of Baba Ramdev in Ahmedabad, India.

Paka teaches classic Patanjali yoga, named for the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, a major work containing aphorisms on the philosophical aspects of mind and consciousness. In recent years. the Yoga Sutra has become quite popular worldwide for the precepts regarding practice of Raja Yoga and its philosophical basis. Paka brings a gentle and well-rounded yoga class which addresses the physical, mental and spiritual energies. It features the study of asanas, transforming the physical into mental energy. The practice of Pranayam (control/regulation of the breath/life force) is also an integral part of this study. Paka's class offers yogic practices that are tailored to the well-rounded development of the physical, mental and spiritual components of a person. This includes loosening & stretching exercises called Sithilikarana Vyayama which function to make the body supple and flexible. She also instructs individuals in Sun Salutation sequence and asanas that are designed to conserve the energies and transform them to forms of mental energy. The Asanas also provide a means to develop an inner awareness, thus aiding in calming the mind. Pranayam provides a positive health benefit at the physical, mental, emotional, and social levels.






Ben Hernando & Arnis Class 2007

WHITNEY WILLMAN

Whitney was trained as a sculpture artist in addition to having worked as an art instructor.  She brings her creativity and passion for yoga to all of her Yoga Dynamics classes. 

She has studied over the years with several well-known yoga teachers including John Friend, David and Doug Swenson and has been influenced by a broad array of yoga styles.  Whitney's students experience the balance of ease and strength with her invigorating yoga class. 

The class consists of a sequence of asanas (yoga postures), coordinated with the breath. The result is improved circulation, a flexible and strong body, and a calm mind.  The classes have a unique blend of flow and power.  Whitney provides a comfortable and compassionate class experience and aims to challenge participants to express their inner and outer strengths through thoughtful pose progression and intuitive breathing.  Whitney seeks to guide students in finding their strength, grace and stillness in their practice.  








JENNIFER KUMP

Jennifer has been a student of yoga and martial arts for 9 years.  She is a certificy yoga teacher, having completed her 200 hour YOGA ALLIANCE RYT certification training.  Jennifer received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Emmanuel College in Boston.  She also studied graphic design and fine art sculpture at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence Italy.  Jennifer has pursued classwork in human nutrition and health.Jennifer Kump grew up dancing and her passion led her to be intrigued with yoga when she began attending Emmanual College in 1997. Her love of movement, placement and the body grew as her understanding in yoga did. What Jennifer loved most was the focus on self and what the individual body could do - a concept that was quite different from the competive world of dance and stresses on body image. Her love of yoga over the years encouraged her to pursue her yoga certification in 2006. Jennifer is a RYT Certified Yoga Instructor having completed her 200-hour teacher certification with Debbie Zarnay of the Zarnay Yoga Institute. Jennifer hopes to share with her students the passion and personal strength yoga has given to her in practice and life.