Sara Bright is the founder of Tao River Taiji and an artist and educator rooted in Taiji and Qigong.  Her studies of the Chinese language and calligraphy were her entry point to the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts.  Studying abroad in China as a teenager, she first experienced Qigong.  Years later, her own healing journey led Sara back to the practice, which became not just a way through but a way of life. Sara’s heart is drawn to the wisdom contained in the poetry of ancient Taoists, and she enjoys guiding others towards their own paths of connection with the Tao through deepening their relationship to the energies of nature and simultaneously coming into greater awareness of subtleties of inner sensing and knowing. Sara’s intention is to uplift, beautify and encourage healing energy through her artwork, movement, and teaching. She is an enthusiastic and curious teacher who is happy to meet individual needs.

Sara currently studies primarily with Grandmaster Tenshin Hirakawa of Tenshin-Kai and is excited to open a branch of Tenshin-Kai in East Los Angeles with his guidance. 

Among her root teachers are Chungliang Huang, Daisy Lee and Claire Turner-Reid. Sara also holds a Qigong Practice Leader Certification from the Institute of Integral Qigong and Taiji and is a certified Radiant Lotus Women’s Qigong Teacher. She is fluent in many forms of Qigong as well as Yang and Wu style Taiji. In addition, Sara is a Certified Anusara Yoga Level I Teacher, a Certified Reiki I and II Practitioner, holds a BA in Visual Art from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of California Berkeley. 

About Taiji

Taiji is an incredibly joyful and healing practice that is both energizing and calming. It truly gives you exactly what you need. Taiji can be radically transformative, and it is accessible to all regardless of age or ability. Taiji is a martial art and also a form of moving meditation.

Taiji dancer drawings on this website are inspired by the Dao Yin Tu.