instructor@wnctaichiarthritis.com
828-712-1150
As an APTA Certified and Advanced Clinical Instructor, Anne Plyler brings years of clinical and teaching excellence to tai chi practice.
Anne retired from her practice of physical therapy in 2019 with more than fifty years of experience in a variety of settings working with both adults and children. She is a founding member of the WNC Falls Prevention Coalition and has served on their advisory board. In the 1990’s she was instrumental in bringing tai chi workshops to Western Carolina University, MAHEC, and to Mission Hospital, where she received an award for “Outstanding Clinical Instructor” from South College.
In 1999 Anne collaborated with MAHEC & Mission to bring Dr. Tingsen Xu, Master Tai Chi Trainer for the award-winning Emory Fixit Trials, to Asheville. He introduced the role of tai chi in fall prevention during a weekend workshop for rehabilitation and martial arts practitioners in a program titled “East Meets West.” – it was her first attempt at increasing awareness of the benefits of tai chi in the medical community. (https://www.energygatesqigong.us/tai-chi-seniors/study-at-emory-university.html)
Anne collaborated with MAHEC to bring Dr. Paul Lam to Asheville for two successful workshops in 2014, and WNC Tai Chi for Health enjoyed hosting Dr. Lam and his Master Trainers on their first visit to NC. Anne is the community facilitator for his return to MAHEC for two workshops Sept. 30-October 2, 2021: Tai Chi for Heart Conditions and The Depth of Tai Chi for Arthritis. She encouraged Dr. Lam to choose Black Mountain for his successful June 2017 Week-long Conference. He reported it was his most successful week-long conference to date.
Anne is passionate about the benefits of tai chi for older adults, significantly reducing fall risk. Hundreds of tai chi for health participants inspire her teaching and create the supportive tai chi community WNC enjoys today. Their stories of personal growth, healing, friendship, and courage, their ability to listen, learn, laugh, socialize, and share with others increase their strength and that of their community.
She is delighted that many former novice participants have become certified instructors through Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. (https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org) Programs offered by WNC Tai Chi for Health continue to support instructors by providing mentorship opportunities and advanced training.
Anne is a member of the Tai Chi for Health Institute and Tai Chi for Health Community. She is certified as a premier instructor and has taught the following programs: Tai Chi for Arthritis (Sun style) – Level I & Level II, Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Falls Prevention, Tai Chi for Beginners (Yang Style), Tai Chi for Energy (movements from Chen and Sun styles ), Tai Chi for Diabetes, and Tai Chi for Osteoporosis ( both offering movements from Yang and Sun style), Tai Chi for Memory, Tai chi for Heart Conditions. Additionally, she is a member of the American Tai Chi and Qigong Association.
Anne has studied with several instructors over the years. She is grateful to each of them for a variety of learning experiences, including:
Dr. Paul Lam, Tai Chi for Health Institute
Master Trainers Bill Pickett, Dan Jones, Linda Arksey.
Senior Trainers Linda Pickett, Bob Feezer,
Tai Chi for Health Institute
Tingsen Xu, PhD and T’ai Chi Grandmaster of Emory’s NIH FICIT trials
http://www.healthpe.emory.edu/facstaff/TXu.html
Jay Dunbar, PhD “T’ai Chi & Geriatrics”, “Five Animal Frolics”
http://www.magictortoise.com/teachers.htm
Kathye E. Light PT & Paul Campbell, Eds, “Eight Ways of Tai Chi”
Robert Levine School of T’ai Chi Chun Psycho-Physical Balance Levels I & II
http://www.balanceinstitute.org
Caroline Demoise, Master Trainer & student of Dr. Paul Lam
http://www.innerpathtaichi.com/about.php
Brent Neely, student of Ben Lo, Student of Chen Man-ch’ing
Neely School of T’ai Chi – Asheville, North Carolina