Sky Mountain Retreats Instructors

Sifu Wheeler teaches Tai Chi on the beach

Tai Chi | Kung Fu & Self Defense | Yoga
Enneagram / Somatic Experience
Hsing Yi, Ba Gua | View All Courses

At Sky Mountain Retreats, we commission only the most experienced and motivated instructors to teach at our retreats. This is to ensure that the quality of instruction you receive is top notch. We have been very fortunate to have Grandmaster Henry Look as a guest instructor for us at numerous local daily seminars as well as the instructor for the Costa Rica retreat.

While the amount of courses at Sky Mountain Retreats may seem like a lot, we feel that becuase we are blessed to have such talented instructors that we are able to provide unparalleled instruction in each category. This synergy of course option and quality instruction is something we think you'll be hard pressed to find anywhere in the world. At our Costa Rica retreat we had instructors with over 80 years of teaching experience in their respective arts. Please click on the links at the top of the page to view each instructor profile and see for yourself the talent that awaits you.

grandmaster look henry tai chi hsing yi ba gua instructor

Guang Ping Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing Yi, and Ba Gua

Special Guest Instructor Grandmaster Henry Look

The art of Tai Chi Chuan, which for years was confined to the Orient, has gained extreme recognition due to the remarkable capacity to stimulate health and rejuvenation. No one knows this better than Grand Master Henry Look. After a stroke left the left side of his face paralyzed he used the techniques taught to him by his Sifu to heal the rest of his body. As he puts it, he "told my soldiers where to go inside of me" to seek out and destroy his disease. While it isn't necessarily that simple, it gives you an idea of how his instruction can make you understand the essence of martial arts. In addition to being an exceptional instructor with many students he has a reputation that speaks for itself. And, not to mention, he can outlast and outparty men less than half his age!

  • Founder and Honarary Chairman of the Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi Association
  • Named Inside Kung Fu magazine's "1997 Hall of Fame Instructor Of The Year," and was included in their "100 Best, Greatest, and Most Influential Martial Artists of the Twentieth Century".
  • Named Inside Kung Fu Magazine's "2004 Man of the Year".

sifu eileen wheeler

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu, and Self Defense

Sifu Eileen Wheeler

Sifu Eileen Wheeler, co-owner of Body Balance of Northern California with her husband Ty Wheeler, is a 66th generation deciple to the Tien Shan Pai system . At the age of 4, Eileen began following in her father, Master Pat Hancock's , footsteps as he practiced Kung-Fu and Tai Chi. Master Pat Hancock, a disciple of Grandmaster Huang Chien-Liang , has been studying Kung-Fu and Tai Chi for over 30 years. Eileen's intent is to teach people how to relax, balance, and heal the mind and body using the ancient Chinese knowledge contained in the martial arts. Her qualifications and accomplishments include, but are not limited to:

Over 19 years experience
National and International Champion 1992-Present as well as:

  • Nationally and Internationally certified judge and referee
  • Over 16 years teaching experience
  • International Competition and Demonstration Coach

participants look inward during an enneargram workshop by marion gilbert

Enneagram and the Somatic Experience

Marion Gilbert, P.T.

Marion Gilbert has been practicing Physical Therapy for 28 years and is the co-owner of a well established Physical Therapy practice integrating traditional and complimentary therapies as well as Stillpoint Studios Moving Arts Center in Grass Valley , CA . She has trained extensively in CranioSacral Therapy, Somato-Emotional Release and Trauma Resolution Therapy. She has been actively using the Enneagram personally and professionally for the past eight years and is a Certified Enneagram Instructor of the Helen Palmer, David Daniels Narrative Tradition.

students doing yoga at samasati nature retreat in costa rica

Vinyasa, Bikram, and Restorative Styles of Yoga

Currently Interviewing Applicants

We are currently interviewing applicants to teach the varying styles of Yoga on our retreats. Qualified applicants must posess teaching experience, knowledge of the art, and be capable of teaching worldwide. Contact Us if you are interested in this position.

Must have:
experience instructing classes of 15 or more students for over 2 years, unsupervised as well as CPR certification and insurance.


Early Bird Registration

You must Sign and complete your registration form and pay for your Sky Mountain Experience by the Early Bird Deadline to receive the early bird discounts.

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