Meet the people who administer and instruct the classes, workshops, and teacher training programs at Silver Lotus Training Institute. All of our instructors are highly trained and certified through Silver Lotus and/or the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Our instructors also adhere to a Code of Ethics. For more information about classes and schedules, click here.
Susan Hamadock, MA, MSW, (Retired LCSW-C, E-RYT 500, is the founder and former Director of Silver Lotus Training Institute. She continues to lead the Institute's teacher training programs. Susan trained more than 100 yoga teachers in the Svadhyaya Yoga™ that she developed from her extensive experience in psychotherapy and her interest in contemporary Body/Mind psychology. She now dedicates herself to the development of tai chi and qigong programs for health and is dedicated to individualizing healing techniques to fit the needs of those with whom she works. She teaches community classes, teacher training programs, tai chi to people with movement disorders and qigong to all levels of players. >> Read more about Susan...
Marianne Walch, Ph.D., MT, (Retired E-RYT 500), is Co-Director of the Silver Lotus Training Institute and is also a Master Trainer with the Tai Chi for Health Institute. In this role, she trains and certifies TCH instructors throughout the United States. Marianne has also served as a Director and Vice President of the U.S. Tai Chi Community, and is a professional member of the National Qigong Association. >> Read more about Marianne...
Janet's interest in health and fitness can be traced back to her career in the medical field as a radiology and ultrasound technician. As a young woman and later as a military spouse, Janet has traveled and lived throughout the U.S. and abroad. Her love of horses prompted her to learn to ride which served as a means to cope with the demands of military family life. Upon retiring to Delaware, Janet was introduced to Tai Chi and was immediately hooked. Since then, she has earned teaching certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis, Fall Prevention, Heart and Qigong for Health from Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. Janet also achieved teaching certification in Level Two training in Qigong and Tai Chi Forms from the Silver Lotus Training Institute where she continues to do in-depth study with Susan Hamadock. She has certification from Wing Cheung and has studied with Dr. Aihan Kuhn. She continues her studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Efrain Brady and studies Qigong with Mimi Kuo-Deemer. Janet’s other interests include reading and cooking, Janet teaches various Tai Chi and Qigong Forms as well as Yang Fan Forms. >> Read more about Marianne...
Susan started studying tai chi in Georgia in 2014 with an instructor associated with Dr. Paul Lam's Tai Chi for Health Institute, learning various forms specifically designed for health conditions. While spending summers in Rehoboth she met Susan Hamadock and began classes with the Silver Lotus Institute, learning other forms and some qigong. In 2018 she moved permanently to Rehoboth and has continued her studies and practice. She is certified to teach Tai Chi for Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Memory, and Heart Conditions. In addition, she is teaching Chen 36. Susan has studied Yang 24 in depth and is learning the Yang Traditional form as taught by Grand Master Yang Jun, the current Yang Family legacy holder. Most recently, Susan has been accepted as a Senior Trainer with the Tai Chi for Health Institute and will be working with Master Trainer Marianne Walch conducting workshops to train instructors. 
Sharon received her teaching certificate in Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Diabetes in 2012. She teaches a variety of classes specializing in working with beginners. Her biggest joy is when her students’ share how Tai Chi is helping them improve their health. Sharon received a Master’s Degree in Dance Education in 1979 from Temple University. She has been a Transformation Facilitator for the past 20 years, helping individuals reduce their stress and change their lives. She currently works full time as an Activity Therapist at a nearby psychiatric hospital. She teaches her patients to use Tai Chi as a positive coping skill and tool to manage stress. She continues to study Tai Chi at the Silver Lotus Training Institute under the guidance of Susan Hamadock.
Pat Hendrick moved to Southern Delaware in 2007. She was introduced to Tai Chi while working as a Project Manager for AT&T in New Jersey. Joining Silver Lotus Institute in 2010, she found a generous community of players of Tai Chi for Health. Pat has trained in and taught several Tai Chi and Qigong forms including Yang 24 Form, Sun 73 Form, Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Arthritis, Tai Chi for Energy and Tai Chi Fan forms. She has most recently taught at the Cancer Support Community in Rehoboth Beach.
Joanne Is a retired physical therapist and educator whose interest in Tai Chi began as another way to help physical therapy patients improve their balance. She attended many continuing education activities related to Tai Chi and rehabilitation and earned a certification for Tai Chi for Rehab through Dr. Paul Lam’s Health Institute in 2018. That experience not only inspired her start a personal Tai Chi practice, but also sparked a desire to learn more and to share her love of Tai Chi with others. Since then, she has become an Accredited Tai Chi Chih (TCC) instructor, earned certifications for Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, and completed Levels I and II Training in Qigong and Tai Chi Beginning Forms from the Silver Lotus Training institute. She has been teaching TCC (an easy to learn “moving meditation”) through the Indian River Senior Center, her community and even her own backyard during the pandemic. She currently offers Virtual TCC classes online via the Zoom platform.
Deb retired from public school service and moved to the area three years ago. As a staff developer and former teacher of students with special needs, she conducted behavior modification, threading mindfulness practices into the lives of her students and their families. A lifelong health and fitness enthusiast, she taught group fitness classes prior to her teaching career. Deb has practiced yoga for several years. Aligning with her interest in holistic health, she certified as an Integrative Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, with an additional focus on gut health. When her mother moved to Delaware, Deb joined her in a Tai Chi class. She experienced the benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong and couldn’t get enough. She immersed herself in her practice and soon earned teaching certificates for Tai Chi for Arthritis, Fall Prevention, and Heart from Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute and Level One training from the Silver Lotus Training Institute. She continues to deepen her practice through further studies with these organizations as well as Mimi Kuo-Deemer. When not practicing Qigong or Tai Chi, Deb enjoys studying languages/cultures, reading, cooking, arts and crafts, jigsaw puzzles as well as doing other forms of exercise.
Martrise is a retired Network Analyst from NYC. Martrise relocated to Delaware in 2005, where she started study of Tai Chi/ Qigong with Silver Lotus. Martrise had Chair Tai Classes at the Cheer center from 2012-2014. She teaches a Parkinson’s group on Tuesdays at the Rehoboth YMCA 02:00-03:00 pm and a Chair Tai Chi at Brandywine in Rehoboth on Wednesdays 01:30-02:30. Martrise is certified in Tai Chi Arthritis, Diabetes. Energy 1&2 was certified 2014 by Dr.Paul Lam . She also studies Yang style short form with Deborah Davies at UUSD.
Maryann is a retired middle school teacher who relocated to the Lewes area in 2011. She attended classes for Tai Chi for Health with Susan Hamadock and discovered a program for health and wellness that fit into her lifestyle. Maryann is certified in the Yang Style 24 Form from Silver Lotus Institute and plans to continue her practice and training in various forms of Tai Chi for Health, including Qigong and Tai Chi for Diabetes. 
Ellen Provost is an avid Tai Chi player. She fell in love with Tai Chi when she was first introduced to it over 20 years ago. After taking a break to work and raise children, she gratefully renewed her practice, first taking classes and then completing the Silver Lotus and Tai Chi for Health certifications. The energy of the human body has been of great interest to her. She completed Reiki III in 2011 and has studied Healing Touch, Quantum Touch, and Eden Energy Medicine. Ellen loves nature and is an enthusiastic gardener, kayaker, and hiker. What could be better than practicing Tai Chi as the sun rises over the creek behind her house? Annoying her friends and family by telling them she has never been bored is a favorite pastime. Sometimes she likes doing nothing, just being. Other times she fills the days with reading, knitting, crocheting, making jewelry, cooking, or spending time with her loving family. Life truly is good. Even better with Tai Chi. And that is why Ellen wants to share her love of Tai Chi with others.
Lynda had her first experience with Tai Chi in 2008 when she was looking for an exercise program to do with her mom. After moving to Lewes in 2017 she started attending classes with Silver Lotus and decided to pursue certification. Lynda is certified with Tai Chi for Health Institute and Silver Lotus Training Institute. Lynda’s professional background is in social work and she loves how tai chi allows her to continue helping others improve their health and wellness.
Silvia’s love for Tai Chi started with a few play sessions and has become her passion. The benefits of Qigong/Tai Chi for Health are numerous, it has strengthened her back, built stronger muscles and increased her balance. She wants to spread the benefits of wellbeing of body and mind through Qigong/Tai Chi for Health and is continuing her studies. She is a certified teacher for Level I Qigong/Tai Chi from Silver Lotus Training Institute and taught beginners at CAMP Rehoboth.
Linda is a fourth degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in both Tae Kwon Do and Haidong Gumdo (Korean Sword). She has been teaching martial arts for over 15 years. Her journey with Tai Chi began almost 20 years ago in Virginia, and she has continued her practice here in Delaware with Silver Lotus Training Institute, where she recently received her Tai Chi instructor certification.
Marci is a certified and Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and is certified in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Tai Chi for Diabetes and Tai Chi for Energy with Tai Chi for Health Institute. She is certified to teach Beginning Tai Chi with Silver Lotus Training Institute. She has taught at Silver Lotus and Cancer Support Community Delaware since 2010.
Gary is a retired RN and has been practicing Tai Chi since 1987. He has previously worked with masters in Austin, TX and Denver CO, and is currently studying with instructors from Silver Lotus Training Institute in Lewes DE and Master Mearl Thompson in PA. He is certified by Silver Lotus in Qigong and Beginner Tai Chi Forms and by Dr. Lam's Tai Chi for Health Institute in Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention. Gary is also a Reiki master practitioner and a woodworker making bowls. His passion for TaiChi Chi stems from his initial Tai Chi experience where he developed better coordination, balance, strength and energy. As his practice developed he gained confidence and a positive sense of well being. His desire is to share the Tai Chi experience and help others to develop in similar ways.
Marty’s interest in Tai Chi was piqued while traveling abroad. He has since dedicated much time to exploring and studying this ancient martial art. He finds the fluid motion meditative and it has added to his creativity, especially as a professional musician. Marty tries to instill these spiritual elements of peace and balance into his classes, so that others may come to enjoy more harmony in their lives.