Si Yuan Team
Instructors :
With over 10 years’ experience as Dr. Tan’s closest apprentices, they were entrusted by the Grand Master to transmit the wisdom and knowledge passed on by their honored teacher.
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Dr. Delphine Armand, LAc, DVM
continuously worked by her Master’s side as an assistant at classes, an intern in his clinic and as a French translator during live seminars.
Dr. Delphine Armand’s introduction and immersion in the Balance Method is proof that life can change in the blink of an eye. She first met her Shifu (Master) while interning and working on her dissertation in Germany. Astonished by his charismatic and fun personality, and intrigued by the strange broken and unbroken lines (trigrams) he had drawn on her notebook, she decided to invest her entire savings to attend his next scheduled class.
Dr. Armand was immediately fascinated by the logic and effectiveness of the Balance Method and completely devoted herself to its practice and subsequent international growth.
In fulfilling this mission, she worked hand in hand with her Mentor for almost a decade.
Dr. Armand shared with her Shifu a unique connection of “work hard, play hard”. She closely assisted him in countless classes in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia and has performed live translations of all of his classes into French, as well as coordinated the French translation of his books. Most recently, she advanced her study of Ba Zi assisting her Professor in the preparation of his client’s charts.
Starting in 2008, she exclusively practiced his Balance Method in her clinic in France. During this time, he visited her busy practice and oversaw the treatment of her patients. Likewise, Delphine interned in her Master’s San Diego, California clinic on numerous occasions.
Dr. Delphine Armand holds degrees in both Veterinary Medicine as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Dr. Paul Chengpo Wang, LAc, DACM
is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a practitioner of healing, martial, and energy arts with over twenty years of teaching experience in these fields.
In 2003, Dr. Paul Wang first met his primary acupuncture Shifu (Master), Dr. Richard Tan, while completing graduate studies in Chinese medicine. Dr. Wang was so immediately and deeply affected by a resonance with his teachings that he instinctively bowed and asked to become his disciple on the spot. In response, the amused lecturer smiled and wittily replied, “Perhaps after a Ba Zi reading.” The rest is history.Over the ensuing years, Dr. Wang and his Shifu developed a close spiritual relationship as Master and Apprentice. Aside from a dedication to innovating acupuncture, the pair also shared an intellectual curiosity and systematic creativity — as well as a passion for good food and fine wine.
For more than a decade, Dr. Paul Wang honed his skills in the Balance Method as a California Licensed Acupuncturist practicing in a high-volume community acupuncture setting. He also completed training and certification in his Shifu’s Ba Zi course.
Prior to initiating professional practice, Dr. Wang was a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar at the University of California at Berkeley and an Undergraduate Research Apprentice in the Poly-PEDAL laboratory of Professor Robert J. Full. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrative Biology with an emphasis in Physiology and Biomechanics from the University of California at Berkeley. He also pursued minor studies in Classical Chinese and East Asian Philosophy, especially Daoism. His graduate degrees are a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM) and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM).
Dr. Wang has over two decades of experience in various teaching capacities. As an avid martial artist, qi cultivator, and long-term meditator, he merges these lineages into an integrative transmission called Dao De Gong Fa.
Teacher Assistants:
Experienced and qualified practitioners who exclusively apply the Balance Method in their clinics. Their responsibilities include supervising needling demonstrations, answering questions and guiding students through trainings. They also review educational content for the Network Member Practice Platform.
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Nora Morenza, Lic. Ac
A multilingual, talented acupuncturist, Nora has practiced the Balance Method in her clinic in Switzerland for over 9 years. She has translated Si Yuan seminars into both French and Spanish since 2015.
Always ready to exit her comfort zone and accept a challenge, Nora joined the Global Balance Foundation on a humanitarian mission in 2019. She appreciated sharing techniques and approaches with other practitioners and further developing her own knowledge.
Nora participated regularly on the French versions of the “Si Yuan Sunday Show” by presenting her challenging and successful cases from her clinic. She works diligently to expand the Balance Method by aiding the Core Support Team in the accreditation of trainings in Spanish and French speaking regions.
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Sandra Wilfert, Lic. Ac
Sandra exclusively practices Dr. Tan’s Balance Method as a state-certified Heilpraktiker in Germany.
Since meeting Dr. Tan in 2006, she’s whole-heartedly supported the development of his Balance Method by translating seminars in German-speaking territories for both Dr. Tan and Si Yuan. When Delphine stood in for Dr. Tan’s class in Norway for the very first time, Sandra didn’t hesitate a second to join and help.
She presented case studies on our first-ever online project, the Si Yuan Sunday Show. She assists the Core Support Team in the creation and accreditation of seminars as well as reviewing acupuncture content. As an active contributor in the acupuncture community, she writes articles for industry publications and continually invests in enhancing her education.
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Christian Bello, Lic. Ac., D.O.
Christian is a man of many hats. He completed studies in both physiotherapy and osteopathy. He started to study acupuncture as felt he lacked the knowledge to balance the body’s energy. He first attended a Si Yuan seminar in 2018 and fell in love with the Balance Method. Motivated by the natural beauty and logic of this Method, Christian works with all his strength to grow the Si Yuan community and give back to them what Dr. Tan’s legacy brings to him every day. It is his way of remembering the Source. In his clinic near Nîmes, France, he practices exclusively the Balance Method combined with osteopathy for amazing results. With the same passion, he is an active contributor of Si Yuan through translating, moderating the French Facebook Group and presenting Si Yuan Sundays in French.
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Rafael Laballe, Lic. Ac.
Rafael completed his acupuncture studies in 2006. He soon became frustrated with the disassociation between academia and the real, clinical world. He spent years trying to grasp a deeper understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A friend introduced him to the Balance Method by insisting that he attend Dr. Tan’s seminar in Lisbon in 2015. At the seminar, Rafael had the fortune to meet with Dr. Tan and was amazed how Dr. Tan completely changed his way of thinking. He loves the logic and simplicity that the Balance Method brings to his clinic. Rafael moderates the Portuguese Facebook Group, is an active and energetic presenter in both French and English Si Yuan Sundays and provides support during online Guided Replay seminars.
Core Contributor Team
The team constantly facilitates the international growth of Si Yuan and the Global Balance Foundation (GBF) in different countries and many languages. They are the vital force and voice of Si Yuan.
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Vanessa Leite, Lic. Ac
Translator, Portuguese communications contact and social media
Vanessa practices Balance Method acupuncture in Portugal. Thanks to her enthusiasm, faith, and determination, Si Yuan’s Portuguese/Brazilian speaking communities receive prompt email support, enjoy our educational newsletters and an up-to-date website. Vanessa spreads kindness and sincerity in all her actions.
She worked tirelessly to plant the seed for Dr. Tan’s teachings in Portugal, then in Brazil
She regularly translates Si Yuan classes into Portuguese/Brazilian
She works to forge partnerships between Si Yuan and other Portuguese acupuncture organizations to help spread the Balance Method. -
Gerald Barra, Lic. Ac
Spanish Facebook Page Editor and Group Moderator; Si Yuan Spanish Communications Contact
Gerald practices Balance Method acupuncture in Chile. Since his first class at the 2016 Sao Paulo Core Foundations, Gerald has expressed the wish to bring the Balance Method to his country. Since he has joined the Si Yuan family, his creativity, seriousness and diligence are at the root of Si Yuan’s growing Spanish-speaking community in South America. His involvement through webpage translations, Facebook page editing and group moderating are a model of dedication to Dr. Tan and Si Yuan’s mission.
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Laurence Meyfroodt, Lic. Ac.
Social media coordinator
Laurence and partner Olivier practice the Balance Method in Belgium. In 2015, she completed her studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. In 2018, she started her Si Yuan adventure with an AcuCore seminar and fell in love with the Balance Method She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She treats all her patients with great understanding and compassion. She constantly improves her techniques and knowledge by reading about Chinese philosophy and travelling the world. She supports Si Yuan by contributing to social media and presenting in both German and English on the online series “Si Yuan Sundays”.
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Olivier Verbruggen, Lic. Ac.
Social media contributor
Olivier practices only Balance Method acupuncture in his shared practice with his partner Laurence in Belgium. After completing studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in Holland, he started to study under Si Yuan in Dublin in 2018. He appreciates the simplicity and consistent results of the Balance Method and loves the smiles it brings to his patients. His desire to help others in pain reflects his zest for life. He supports the Si Yuan community by contributing to social media.
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Christian Bello, Lic. Ac., D.O.
Translator, French social media contributor
Christian is an active moderator of the French Facebook Group and provides never-ending support and advice to the French speaking Balance Method community. He also translates Si Yuan’s acupuncture content and educational resources. He loves not only the logic but also the intuitiveness of the Balance Method and of course, the instant results!
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Rafael Laballe, Lic. Ac.
Translator, Portuguese social media contributor
Rafael exclusively practices the Balance Method in his clinic in Portugal. He moderates the Portuguese Facebook Group and translates acupuncture content to Portuguese. He provides support during Guided Replays by answering questions from participants and clarifications. Besides, being passionate about the Balance Method, he studies the internal arts such as Taiji and Meditation.
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Nora Morenza, Lic. Ac
Translator, French communications contact and social media
Nora has invested a lot of energy in spreading the Balance Method to Spain. She is a contributor to our French and Spanish Facebook groups and performs live translations of Si Yuan trainings in both French and Spanish. She also reviews and contributes Si Yuan’s acupuncture content and educational resources.
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Sandra Wilfert, Lic. Ac
Translator, German communications contact and social media
Sandra is a dedicated member of the Si Yuan Core Team in her endless loving support as a translator, and contributor of educational material. She takes great care of our German-speaking community by translating material, managing German communication, and moderating Facebook community groups.
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Dr. Junji Takarabe, LAc, DACM
English Facebook Page Editor and Group Moderator
Junji practices Balance Method acupuncture in Australia. He first attended a seminar under Dr. Tan in 2014 and got hooked on the Balance Method. Since then, he uses it exclusively in his practice and deepened his knowledge with Ba Zi. Since 2016, he instills an atmosphere of happiness and fun in Si Yuan’s Australian classes as well as GBF missions in Cambodia. His good mood, incomparable sense of humor, and proficiency in social cohesion are always greatly appreciated by those in his presence. From Japan, Junji translated Si Yuan’s website into Japanese and invested a lot of energy transmitting the Balance Method to Japan. With humility, truthfulness, wisdom and joy, he is a great contributor to the various projects and social media of Si Yuan and GBF.
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Silvia del Conte, Lic. Ac.
Italian communications contact and social media
The first time I heard about Dr. Tan was in Beijing, while studying Chinese Medicine at university. At the university, I met someone who explained his method to us. I found it so clear and useful to grasp the core of the treatment that I started using his reasoning and applied it to patients in China. It was so effective that I decided to join a class when he was teaching in London. I was very lucky to have met Dr. Tan in person before he left us. He gave me the perception that acupuncture is a system of dealing with living organisms and interactions and that we all are connected in a Matrix. He touched my heart with his passion and profound love for his tradition and students. Silvia contributes to Si Yuan by translating the Italian webpages and contributing to social media.
Core Support Team
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Michelle Lee, MFA, MSE
Si Yuan video editor
Michelle prepares Si Yuan videos for the website and social media. She earned master’s degrees in both documentary film and entrepreneurship. Her independent documentary work has screened in 23 festivals and conferences in five countries.
Based in Florida in U.S.A., Michelle helps NGOs tell stories through video and also teaches documentary planning and production part-time.
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Monica Dobrovolny
Si Yuan Administrator; English Communications Contact
Monica lives in the Czech Republic and has a background in editing work for NGOs and academics. She took over the foundation patiently and skillfully established by her sister Michelle for 5 years. In a joyous and relaxed way, yet with a lot of professionalism, she handles the challenging tasks of administrating all of Si Yuan’s registrations and coordinating newsletter publications.
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Michael Garcia
Si Yuan Task Manager
Michael is a naturopath, specializing in Tui Na Massage and Osteopathy. His first contact with the Balance Method was through Vanessa, a longtime friend and colleague who helped him recover from a herniated disk. He was invited by Delphine and Paul to join the Si Yuan Team at the end of 2019. His responsibility is to help coordinate the varied and numerous tasks of Si Yuan’s Core.
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Jonathan Goetz
Si Yuan and GBF Webmaster
Jonathan lives in a small city in the middle of France from where he orchestrates Si Yuan and GBF websites. From 2013, when Delphine urgently needed to professionalize Dr. Tan’s registration system for overseas events, through all the website changes that occurred until now, he was always ready to help. His creativity to find technical solutions to our very specific and often changing needs is admirable and valuable. Jonathan is a gem of patient integrity and his expertise is essential for Si Yuan’s ongoing passion to serve its community.
This is Si Yuan. Join us if you resonate.
We look forward to the ways your presence will affect our future.
Dr. Tan showed us how to tap into the source of Chinese medicine. Each of us is one drop. Together we merge into powerful meridians flowing towards oneness.