Embrace the Moon - A Seattle Tai Chi and Qigong School

“My own words are not the medicine, but a prescription; not the destination, but a map to help you reach it.” Lao Tzu

Kimberly Ivy

Joyce Broderson

Brian Hata

Andy Walker

Christy Purdy

Linda Heuertz

Sifu Kimberly Ivy - Founder

“Let the beauty we love be what we do.” Rumi

Kimberly Ivy began her training 32 years ago in Tucson, Arizona amidst the Yin & Yang of Desert Heat and Monsoons. Her life and training passion eventually carried her to the rain forests of Oregon, the sushi bars of Japan & the temples of China. In 1993 she settled in Seattle and while serving as a Barista, founded Embrace the Moon Taijiquan and Qigong, Inc.

Along the way Kim has become certified

in several different Qigong forms, The 18 Hands of Luohan Qigong and most recently was inducted as a 20th Generation disciple of Chen Grandmaster Chen, Xiao Wang, She is also certified in Hatha yoga, holds black belt rankings in Judo and Aikido and was a National Bronze Medal Winner at the 1997 “A Taste of China" in Yang Taijiquan forms.

Kim loves to teach Taijiquan and Qigong and considers it her good fortune to have a wide range of students of all ages and fitness levels from children to athletes to those who have recently been diagnosed with a life challenging illness. Kim approaches her relationships with her students collaboratively with fun and humor, and feels those qualities are as important to a good practice as are good form and energy.

Kim was granted the title of Sifu (master teacher with lineage) by her Qigong Sifu, Dr. Gaspar Garcia, in 2007. Her Chen Lineage is with her Taijiquan Sifu, Grand Master Chen, Xiao Wang, 19th Generation Standard Bearer of Chen Family Taijiquan. Kim was accepted among Grandmaster’s 20th Generation direct disciples in March of 2006 in a formal ceremony in Chenjiago, the birthplace of Taijiquan. Additionally, she was formally tested by the International Wu Shu (Chinese Martial Arts) Association in November of 2007 and awarded the rank of 5th Duan Wei by

the committee. Kim’s Yang Taijiquan training is in the tradition of Yang Cheng-fu, with the late Jane Hallendar and Sam Masich as her primary teachers. Kim is certified by Dr. Gaspar Garcia and the European Luohan Gong Association in the Luohan Gong and her other Qigong lineages include Don Leathers in the tradition of Lily Sui, Chen, Hui Xian, for Soaring Crane, Essence & Turtle Longevity and Madame Liu He and Dr. Liu Dong for Jade Body & 1000 Hands Buddha.

Kim has developed several programs for those with special health concerns including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease in association with Swedish Medical Center, The Center for Comprehensive Care, the Aveda Corporation and the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, among others, and she maintains associations with hospitals, clinics, and individual health care professionals in the Seattle area. She also collaborated with Group Health on a National Institute of Health grant studying Taijiquan, massage, meditation, and back pain, writing and implementing the first protocol studying Taijiquan within this framework.

All teachers at Embrace The Moon are certified and expertly trained in the methods they teach. They are chosen by Ms. Ivy personally because they have the experience, skill and heart to steward their students through the breadth and depth of the practice experience.

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Laoshi Joyce Broderson - Senior Instructor

One of the founding members of Embrace The Moon, Joyce Broderson came to the internal arts a bit later in life (though you would never know it!) She now shares her joy of practice with the joy of being a grandma – twice! Over the past 14 years of ongoing training, Joyce has become expertly skilled at Yang and Chen Taijiquan, the Hands of the 18 Luohan and several forms of Qigong. Mrs. Broderson’s main interest is, however, not in form per se but in the internal quiet and strength these arts develop.

Joyce is respected throughout the school for her capacity to stay present and in the moment during each class and for her ability to communicate this challenging aspect of the practices to others. Embrace The Moon is lucky to have Joyce as its senior instructor, sharing her gracious intuitive skill in sensing and working with internal energy. In addition to her classes, she also hosts workshops on Mastering the Art of Slowness. All levels of skill benefit.

Ms. Broderson's teachers include Kim Ivy, Madame Gao-fu, Ken Wright, Dr. Gaspar Garcia and Master Chen Xiao Wang. Joyce is certified by Sifu Ivy to teach Yang Taijiquan 24 short form and certified in The Hands of the 18 Luohan, The 8 Treasures Qigong by Sifu Dr. Garcia. After 14 years of devoted training, personal development and selfless dedication to the Embrace The Moon community, Kim Ivy granted Mrs. Broderson the title of Laoshi (senior instructor with lineage) in 2008.

Read A Conversation with Joyce.

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Laoshi Brian Hata

Brian Hata’s Tai Chi training hales back to the early 70’s when the art was beginning to emerge and gain respect in the United States. For 5 years Brian studied Yang Tai Chi with Raymund Chung and T.T Tchoung, two of the Pacific Northwest’s early Chinese master instructors. Over the next two decades Brian devoted himself to family and

profession carrying the principles of his training with him. With his son in the last years of High School, Brian returned to formal studies in 2004 with Embrace The Moon. Brian studies Yang and Chen Taijiquan and the Luohan Gong system and has become a skilled teacher during his tenure with Embrace The Moon. Brian is certified in the 18 Hands of Luohan, The Eight Treasures Qigong by Sifu Dr. Garcia and is level II of the Meridian Strength and Flexibility Training system. Brian is a skilled fly fisherman, biker, skier, hiker and gardener. He enjoys his non-tai chi time with his wife Alisa and son, both Tai Chi practitioners as well.

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Linda Heuertz - Yoga

Linda Heuertz is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and a member of KYTA (Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association). Yoga has been a part of Linda’s life since she took her first class 30 years ago. From there she found herself repeatedly drawn to it, until about eight years ago when an injury (and work on a doctorate) lead her to more fully embrace its healing and life enhancing powers. When she became a yoga teacher a few years later, she knew she had followed her heart home. Linda currently teaches yoga in Ballard for people living with MS and recently taught yoga to women recovering from breast cancer (as part of a study

at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center). In her classes Linda strives to create a comfortable environment in which students of all ages and physical conditions can improve their strength, flexibility, and balance, and can steady and quiet their minds. Emphasis is placed on the breath, self-acceptance, and honoring individual needs. (Linda completed her Ph.D. December 2009. Congratulations Linda!)

email Kim Ivy
(kim@embracethemoon.com)

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