Janet Briggs

Janet was born in Japan, and came to the United States after her high school graduation. Her martial arts career began in 1999, when she started training in two styles of traditional Okinawan karate: Goju-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu. Her martial arts studies expanded to include kobujutsu (ancient Okinawan weapons). She currently holds fourth-degree black belts in both Goju-Ryu and Shorin-Ryu karate, and a first-degree black belt in kobujutsu. She has over 10 years of teaching experience in karate.

Janet started her tai chi training in 2004. She was introduced to Master Alex Dong in 2007 at one of his workshops, and since 2008, she has been studying directly under Master Alex by attending his monthly New York workshops, as well as other intensive workshops offered throughout the world.

Janet has been teaching tai chi since 2008. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of karate and tai chi with her students. Her solid understanding of body mechanics, gained from years of training, is particularly beneficial for her students in learning how to execute each movement in a precise manner. Having trained in both external and internal (hard and soft) martial arts, she believes that our ultimate goal is to attain a higher level of self awareness through integration of our body, mind and spirit.

Theresa Rodgers - Biography

She is a certified teacher of Alex Dong's taijiquan lineage of Tai chi
and an advanced student of Master Instructor Janet Briggs of East Wind Tai Chi in Windham NH.

In 1987, Instructor Theresa received a BA from College of the Atlantic in Human Ecology.
From 2001-2010, she was a regional champion and a national contender with USA Powerlifting, a drug free strength sport federation.

With a life-long interest in human ecology and physical fitness, Theresa says,
"In 2014, I was fortunate to begin studying qigong at the Taoist Arts Center in Nashua.
The profound physical and mental benefits I experienced fostered centeredness in the rest of my life."

Theresa began teaching the restorative qigong curriculum at the center in 2017.
Upon the center's closing, Theresa founded 7 stars qigong in 2018 and currently teaches qigong and beginner Tai chi classes in partnership
with the Town of Milford, Amherst and Peterborough NH Recreation Departments.

Excited to share her knowledge and experience, Theresa looks forward to learning and teaching qigong/tai chi for many, many years.