Carol Shearer-Best began her martial arts training in Uechi-Ryu Karate Do in 1975 and earned her brown belt in 1978. Next, she had private Yoga training with Mahima at his Living Room Studio in Cambridge. Yoga gave Carol the foundation to make a smooth transition to Tai Chi, which she started training in 1980 through Master Bow Sim Mark’s Chinese Wushu Research Institute. While there, Carol also studied Shaolin and Bagua. In 1984, Carol joined YMAA and began teaching in 1988. In addition to teaching at YMAA, Carol has also taught Tai Chi classes and seminars at:

• Beacon Hill Athletic Club
• Clinical Partners Health Resources
• Commonwealth School
• Deaconess Hospital Mind Body Clinic
• Healthworks Foundation
• Home for Little Wanderers
• Mount Holyoke College
• Simmons College
• The Sports Club/LA

Carol is also a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, which allows her to bring her Tai Chi philosophy into mainstream Western medicine.