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 director of Silver Lotus Training Institute. She has 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. Susan 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...
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. 
Janet DeFeo’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 certification in Tai Chi for Arthritis, Fall Prevention, and Qigong for Health from Dr. Lam’s Tai Chi for Health Institute. Janet also achieved teaching certification in Level One training in Qigong and Beginning Tai Chi Forms from the Silver Lotus Training Institute where she continues to study on a regular basis. Janet’s other interests include reading, cooking, and her garden has been included in community tours. Janet is currently teaching Yang style Tai Chi and Qigong at the Lewes Activity Center. 
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.
Judy began tai chi training in Dover with Reese and Judy Rigby but quit playing due to family demands. Upon moving to Lewes 6 years ago, she found the Silver Lotus Training Institute and is now certified to teach Tai Chi for Arthritis and the 24 Forms. She finds that Qigong and Tai Chi are like coming home; they are grounding and help with both emotional and physical balance. Judy taught mindfulness to middle school students during her career as a teacher and school counselor. She especially enjoys teaching new students the joys of Qigong and Tai Chi.
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.
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.
Lynne began training in Tai Kwon Do, an external or “hard” martial art, in 1998. After observing Tai Chi classes, though, she found herself captivated by the slow, flowing movement of the forms, so she switched to this internal or “soft” martial art. Lynne studied the Yang Long Form with Irv Wynn, whose teacher had studied with Cheng Man-Ching, widely recognized for being instrumental in spreading Tai Chi to the United States. Since her move to Delaware, Lynne has been studying Qigong, Yang , Sun, and Fan forms with Susan Hamadock. Lynne is a certified Tai Chi for Health Instructor and teaches the Yang 24 Form, Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Arthritis, and Qigong. She is available for group and private classes.
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. 
Joe's telecommunications career spanned 20 years in the Washington DC area. Upon moving to Rehoboth, he took Tai Chi classes for stress reduction and after years of Tai Chi, good health and harmony followed. This good "Chi" lead him to want to share the many benefits with others. Joe was certified in Tai Chi for Arthritis with the Tai Chi for Health Institute and has been teaching Yang and Sun styles since 2008. He also studies and substitute teaches with Silver Lotus Training Institute. He currently teaches beginner and intermediate classes at the Cape Henlopen Senior Center. Classes focus on Qigong exercises and beginner forms in the Yang and Sun Styles. Qigong is an ancient Chinese health care system that incorporates physical movement, breathing techniques and mental focus. The Tai Chi forms are specifically chosen or created for their health benefits. They are low-impact forms that are slow and gentle on the joints.
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.
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.
Sharon is a retired mathematics and computer science educator. She started her tai chi and qigong journey in 2011 when she started taking private lessons to help with health problems. Over time she started to see improvement in her health and fell in love with tai chi/qigong. She developed the desire to learn all she could not only to help herself but to help others. Sharon is a Board Certified Tai Chi for Health Instructor and has completed Qigong and Tai Chi instructor trainings through Silver Lotus. Sharon teaches many classes in New Jersey. She has also volunteered and offered her services to members of the community.