Cis Hinkle Instructor

Cis Hinkle, Rising Phoenix 24 T'ai Chi / Qi Gong Instructor, Certified Level 2 Movement Improvement Instructor

Cis has been studying T’ai Chi and Qi Gong intensively since 2002. Her studies have been primarily at the Rising Phoenix T’ai Chi Studio with Cate Morrill, under whose endorsement she teaches. She has also studied with Master Yun Xiang Tseng, 14^th Generation T’ai Chi Master from Wudang Mountain, China, and Master Wei Lun Huang.

As an assistant teacher and primary teacher with the Rising Phoenix T’ai Chi Studio, she has worked with various special populations, including those with visual impairments and mobility issues. She is a certified instructor in our Movement Improvement T'ai Chi program, and has been teaching older adults since 2005.

Cis has been a contra-dance instructor for over 20 years. She brings this teaching experience and love of movement to her t’ai chi and qi gong instruction. Her relaxed, personable manner, patient teaching style, and interest in her students make her an ideal teacher for beginners and intermediate practitioners alike. We are delighted to have Cis teaching with us at our studio and around Atlanta.

Donna Church has studied T'ai Chi and Qi Gong at Rising Phoenix Studio for more than 3 years, and she is a Certified Level One Movement Improvement Instructor and teaches this program as a primary teacher and assistant teacher in many venues around Atlanta. She is also a substitute teacher for our T'ai Chi 24 and Qi Gong classes. Donna has also studied with our T'ai Chi Master Yun Xiang Tseng of WuDang, China. She studied ballet seriously for many years. She taught elementary school for 31 years and retired from Atlanta Public Schools. Donna brings her keen aptitude and training in movement and teaching skills to her classes. Before her retirement, she began attending Cate’s tai chi classes because she was attracted to the movement and the health benefits. Cate encouraged her to become a teacher in training as soon as she retired from teaching. Being 67 years old, she can appreciate the good that Movement Improvement provides.

Her patient ways and bright, happy spirit are enjoyed by all of her students!

Gayle Christian has been studying tai chi with Rising Phoenix T'ai Chi since January 2005 and is a Certified Level One Movement Improvement T'ai Chi Instructor. She has been assisting with and substitute- teaching our program in many venues around Atlanta since November 2007. She has also studied with our T'ai Chi Master Yun Xiang Tseng of WuDang, China. Before coming to Rising Phoenix, she practiced tai chi with a friend sporadically for a couple years. When she decided to begin formal tai chi study, someone recommended the Rising Phoenix Tai Chi school as a supportive place to learn tai chi both as a form of physical exercise and as a tool for mental and physical healing and she heartily agrees with that description! She previously practiced aikido for over 13 years at the Aikido Center of Atlanta, has been involved with Rinzai Zen meditation since 1996, and has been formally practicing yoga since 2003 and NIA for over a year. Gayle's gentle ways and easy-going manner relax her students and make her instruction easy to follow.