Harmony and Health: Featuring Sandi Wicher

Double Happiness

Sandi Wicher

Sandi Wicher started her own business, Dance it off Aerobic Workouts, teaching fitness, aerobic and Hatha Yoga classes in 1980, originally receiving her teacher training in Calif. She is well known for her 12 years of work teaching yoga to inmates at Washington State Penitentiary. Her interest in Qigong and Tai Chi began in 1993 when she began searching for additional programs that would benefit the prison inmates. It was at this time Sandi changed her business name to Harmony and Health.

In 1999, Sandi became a graduate of the Qigong teacher training program at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine under the direction of Professor Chen, Hui-Xian and is certified to teach several forms of Qigong. That same year Sandi was certified by Dr. Liu Dong as one of the first students in the US to teach Jade Body Qigong. In 2000, Sandi traveled to China with Professor Chen to continue her education on Qigong theory and technique studying with several masters.

It was in China practicing with the people in the park that Sandi became more interested in Tai chi and upon returning to Washington State began searching for a qualified Tai Chi instructor. Her search led to Dr. Lam and Master Trainer Nancy Kieffer who certified Sandi to teach her first Tai Chi for Arthritis classes.

Sandi has continued her studies of Tai Chi attending many workshops and intensive studies with Dr. Lam and several of his master trainers, completing additional courses and becoming certified to teach Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Back Pain, Sun Style 73 forms, Tai Chi Fan Form and Yang Style 24 Forms. In the summer of 2007, Sandi was nominated by Dr. Lam’s master trainers, approved by Dr. Lam and invited to become a senior trainer.

Sandi is a regular speaker at Arthritis and Diabetes support groups as well as several senior and retirement facilities, promoting the Tai Chi for Health programs. Her love for teaching and wanting the proper setting for increasing the Tai Chi for Health awareness led her to build and establish Many Water Wellness Center in Walla Walla. In addition to teaching regular classes for the community, Many Waters provides a space for Sandi to teach classes free or at a reduced rate to those with Cancer and other chronic and life threatening diseases. It is the hope that through Many Waters Wellness Center, teacher training workshops and updates can be provided for Washington State as well as gathering other instructors in the nearby states of the Northwest.

In addition to Sandi’s teaching schedule at Many Waters, Sandi is an active member of the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s department of Search and Rescue and a Master Trainer for the Mounted Patrol. Sandi has 4 horses that she has raised and trained keeping in condition year round, of which 2 have qualified for the mounted unit. As a master trainer for the MSAR unit, Sandi is responsible for conducting two workshops a year in useful techniques for the patrol. Her specialty is teaching relaxation, so her workshops have included both Tai Chi for the Equestrian and Yoga for the horse rider, both taught on horseback.

Harmony and Health

509-386-4305

swicher@columbiaenergyllc.com