About Your Shifu (Teacher)

Shoshanna Katzman, M.S., L.Ac.

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

It was 1974 in the Panhandle of San Francisco. After a prolonged period of trying experiences, 24-year-old Shoshanna was in rough shape. What was supposed to be a vibrant time in her life instead was laden with pain and burn-out. One fateful day, she took a walk through Golden Gate Park and stumbled upon a group of people practicing Taiji (Tai Chi). She was so intrigued by the grace and beauty of their movements that she began her study the very next morning. Little did she know that this would be the beginning of a new life marked by a journey of great healing, great determination and ever strengthening heart.

Shoshanna thus began her study of Guang Ping Yang Style Taiji and Northern Shaolin Gongfu under the tutelage of Bing Gong, while occasionally attending classes with Grandmaster Kuo Lien Ying. During this period, she studied Beijing Yang Style Taiji, Yiquan and Taiji Ruler with Fong Ha. She then went on to learn Wu Style Taiji and Choy Lee Fut Gongfu with Larry Johnson, O.M.D.

Shoshanna earned a master’s degree in the “Scientific Aspects of Physical Education” from San Francisco State University in 1981, after which she taught Guang Ping Taiji at Chabot College (Hayward, CA). She then completed a California State Approved Acupuncture Tutorial Program and became a graduate of the East West School of Planetary Herbology under the tutelage of Michael Tierra, L.Ac., O.M.D. in Santa Cruz.

Simultaneously, she embarked upon a two year course of study in Chinese herbal medicine with Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. at the Institute for Traditional Medicine and Preventive Health Care also in Santa Cruz.

In 1983, Shoshanna apprenticed in Palo Alto with Miriam Lee, O.M.D. – a pioneer who was responsible for acupuncture being legalized in California. This period of intensive trainings culminated in Shoshanna earning her California acupuncture license and subsequently founding Aptos Acupuncture Center in 1984. At the same time, she began teaching Guang Ping Taiji for the Five Branches University and opened her first Taiji school in Santa Cruz.

Shoshanna’s next step was a move back east where she completed another two year program in Chinese herbal medicine this time with Ted Kaptchuk, Ph.D. at the Guatama Institute in Philadelphia. She graduated from the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City, became the 27th licensed acupuncturist in New Jersey and founded Red Bank Acupuncture & Wellness Center in 1988, all the while continuing to teach Guang Ping Taiji at Brookdale College (Lincroft, NJ) and through her center.

Shoshanna then returned to the Tri State College of Acupuncture where she earned her master’s degree in acupuncture. For the next 14 years, she emersed herself in master’s level study at the Christine Schenk Institute for Applied Body Medicine.

It was then time to integrate all that she had learned into her work as an acupuncturist, herbalist and Taiji and Qigong teacher.

In 1995, Shoshanna became the first woman president of the National Qigong Association (NQA) and has continued to serve as Chair of their Advisory Council to this day. She has also presented at NQA conferences, been a QiTalk guest and continues to be a certified qigong teacher through their organization. For 19 years Shoshanna served on the New Jersey State Acupuncture Examining Board, spending many of them in the Chair position. And in 2016, she joined the Guang Ping Yang T'ai Chi Association where she received certification as a teacher of Guang Ping Yang Taiji and is now a workshop leader for their conferences.

As co-author of “Feeling Light” (Avon Books, 1997), Shoshanna lectured throughout the United States, appearing frequently as a guest on national television and in print media. She co-produced 8 annual “Women Healing Women” conferences in New Jersey (1996-2003) where she presented as a major speaker alongside keynote speakers such as Coretta Scott King, Richard Simmons, Christiane Northrup and Caroline Myss. She is also author of “Qigong for Staying Young” (Avery/Penguin 2003) along with producing a companion DVD and digital version – providing a 20-minute workout to cultivate your vital energy. The newly released “Center of Power” curriculum has been born out of her need to share what she has synthesized about the ancient dance of Taiji over the last fifty years.

Shoshanna currently resides in Little Silver, New Jersey with her husband Michael Katzman. They have three offspring, Hilary, Noah and Jared, all of whom are practitioners of Guang Ping Taiji upholding the tradition of passing down the art to one’s children. She provides acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine at Red Bank Acupuncture & Wellness Center and teaches weekly Taiji and Qigong classes through Two Rivers Academy of Taiji & Qigong enriching lives with ancient Chinese medicine wisdom.